Recap: Preston Van Winkle Interview and #Bourbon Talk; Ep. 84 #pappyvanwinkle #buffalotrace

Dan and Bob are joined by Alex Derthick for a recap of their interview with Preston Van Winkle from the Old Rip Van Winkle family. They break down what made the visit memorable, what they learned about the Pappy Van Winkle lineage, and why the experience was bigger than just tasting rare bourbon. They also get into bottle comparisons, barrel picks, and the science and history behind the juice.#whiskey #bourbontasting #oldripvanwinkle #podcast #bourbonbrassandbeyond #pappyandco #singlebarrel #barrelpickKey topicsIn this episode: the team recaps the Preston Van Winkle interview and the frustration of losing most of the inside audio after the recordingAlex shares why the experience still felt worthwhile because of Preston’s openness, the family history, and the chance to talk through the lineup in person.The group discusses how down-to-earth Preston was, including his willingness to sign bottles and spend time talking family, philanthropy, and the history of the brand.Preston’s tasting advice gets highlighted, especially the reminder not to swirl too aggressively and to blow off the top before nosing. They discuss secondary-market prices, collector culture, and why the Van Winkle family keeps pricing grounded rather than chasing hypeThe crew compares several bottles from their own collections, including Old Rip, Lot B, Eagle Rare 17, Stagg, Taylor Four Grain, William Larue Weller, and Elijah Craig 15Timestamps00:00 - Recapping the Preston Van Winkle visit and the lost audio00:31 - Two and a half hours of great conversation, gone after playback failure01:54 - Why Preston and the family’s openness made the experience special02:23 - A closer look at family history, brand changes, and the low-key office setting03:28 - How the Van Winkle legacy became so revered05:28 - Signing the 23-year bottle and why the 15-year stands out06:34 - The Lot B lesson and the surprise re-recording attempt07:43 - Preston’s bottle-guessing skill and the value of small sensory cues08:15 - Why Preston came across as one of the most down-to-earth people in bourbon16:19 - Independent Stave, barrel char science, and flavor extraction18:47 - Bernheim juice versus Buffalo Trace juice and the spicier finish19:40 - Opening the Lot B and the Eagle Rare 17 memories22:11 - Real family photos, family trees, and the story behind the history23:39 - Preston’s line about pouring bourbon down people’s throats24:05 - Bourbon as connection, not resale, and why the bottle is secondary26:17 - Sazerac rye picks, proofing decisions, and barrel-strength preference27:26 - Why picks are proofed down after selection31:03 - Dusties, Old Fitzgerald, and the Molson Canadian export oddity36:29 - Rock Hill Farms, Mash Bill No. 2, and Hancock’s Reserve40:38 - The Browns trading Miles Garrett and a quick sports detour45:40 - How heat and evaporation may impact barrel yields51:07 - Lot B history, the old store-pick concept, and premium-brand pricing52:30 - The secondary market, flippers, and frustration with markup54:04 - Why the 15-year remains the “juice is worth the squeeze” bottle55:43 - The Van Winkle rye story and why it is the rarest bottlingBourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery - https://www.oldripvanwinkle.com Pappy & Co - https://www.pappyco.com Alex Derthick - IG: @captalex8