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 #barrelpick
Key topics
In this episode: the team recaps the Preston Van Winkle interview and the frustration of losing most of the inside audio after the recording
Alex 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 hype
The 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 15
Timestamps
00:00 - Recapping the Preston Van Winkle visit and the lost audio
00:31 - Two and a half hours of great conversation, gone after playback failure
01:54 - Why Preston and the family’s openness made the experience special
02:23 - A closer look at family history, brand changes, and the low-key office setting
03:28 - How the Van Winkle legacy became so revered
05:28 - Signing the 23-year bottle and why the 15-year stands out
06:34 - The Lot B lesson and the surprise re-recording attempt
07:43 - Preston’s bottle-guessing skill and the value of small sensory cues
08:15 - Why Preston came across as one of the most down-to-earth people in bourbon
16:19 - Independent Stave, barrel char science, and flavor extraction
18:47 - Bernheim juice versus Buffalo Trace juice and the spicier finish
19:40 - Opening the Lot B and the Eagle Rare 17 memories
22:11 - Real family photos, family trees, and the story behind the history
23:39 - Preston’s line about pouring bourbon down people’s throats
24:05 - Bourbon as connection, not resale, and why the bottle is secondary
26:17 - Sazerac rye picks, proofing decisions, and barrel-strength preference
27:26 - Why picks are proofed down after selection
31:03 - Dusties, Old Fitzgerald, and the Molson Canadian export oddity
36:29 - Rock Hill Farms, Mash Bill No. 2, and Hancock’s Reserve
40:38 - The Browns trading Miles Garrett and a quick sports detour
45:40 - How heat and evaporation may impact barrel yields
51:07 - Lot B history, the old store-pick concept, and premium-brand pricing
52:30 - The secondary market, flippers, and frustration with markup
54:04 - Why the 15-year remains the “juice is worth the squeeze” bottle
55:43 - The Van Winkle rye story and why it is the rarest bottling
Bourbon, 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
