Premium bourbon whiskey Pappy Van Winkle is often regarded as the best of the best. Although the award-winning drop is also incredibly rare and extremely pricey, meaning most of us haven’t experienced it for ourselves.
Typically, it’s a lucky few on a waiting list or the winners of raffle who score a bottle when a small batch is released late each year. Then there’s the price. Of the Van Winkle range, the 10-year-old bourbon goes for around USD $500 a bottle, while the 23-year-old is priced from $2,400. And of course, re-sellers add a mark-up.
They say there’s a little Pappy in every bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon and vise-versa, as the two bourbons are produced in the same renowned distillery, using the same equipment and ingredients. Best of all, Buffalo Trace is readily available at all good bottle shops for around $50-$60 a bottle. If you want to get close to Pappy without breaking the budget, or just want a quality bourbon, Buffalo Trace is the way to go.
If you’re still chasing a taste of Pappy, we’ve discovered an abundance of bars and restaurants across Australia that serve Pappy Van Winkle or Old Rip Van Winkle by the glass, and there’s a good chance one of these locals is right near you. We can’t guarantee it will be an affordable drink, but we can confirm it will cost a fraction of what a bottle goes for, should you be lucky enough to find one.
Here’s where you can find Van Winkle in Australia:
Brisbane
- The Gresham Bar – 308 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- Walters Steakhouse – 219 Alice St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- Little Valley – 6 Warner St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
- Malt Dining – 28 Market St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- Savile Row – 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
- Death and Taxes – 36 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- Brooklyn Standard – Eagle Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- Old Bill’s – Hogan’s Wellington Point Hotel – 381 Main Rd, Wellington Point QLD 4160
Sydney
- NOLA – Level 1, One International Towers Sydney 100 Barangaroo Ave Cnr Barangaroo Ave & Shipwright Walk Barangaroo, Sydney NSW 2000
- The Baxter Inn – 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
- The Gidley – Basement/161 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
- Shady Pines Saloon – 4/256 Crown St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
- Webster’s – 323 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
- Babylon – Level 7/188 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
- Burrow Bar – De Mestre Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Canberra
- Molly – 22 Odgers Ln, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
- Hippo Co – 1/17 Garema Pl, Canberra ACT 2601
Newcastle
- Coal and Cedar – 380/382 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Perth
- Foxtrot Unicorn – Basement Level, 101 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
- Mechanics Institute – REAR, 222 William St, Northbridge WA 6000
- Varnish – 75 King St, Perth WA 6000
- Old faithful – 86 King St, Perth WA 6000
- The Norfolk – 47 South Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160
Melbourne
- Beneath Driver Lane – basement, 3 Driver Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
- 1806 – 169 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Elysian – 113 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
- Heartbreaker – 234A Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
- 18th Amendment – 82A Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220
- Eau de Vie – 1 Malthouse Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Attica – 74 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea VIC 3185
Adelaide
- NOLA – 28 Vardon Ave, Adelaide SA 5000
- Hains & Co – 23 Gilbert Pl, Adelaide SA 5000
- Bad Dog – 63 Hyde St, Adelaide SA 5000
- Maybe Mae – 15 Peel St, Adelaide SA 5000
- Clever Little Tailor – 19 Peel St, Adelaide SA 5000
- Cry Baby – 11 Solomon St, Adelaide SA 5000
- Bank Street – 48 Hindley St, Adelaide SA 5000
- Mayfair – 45 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000
- Collins Bar – 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000
- Sky City – North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5001
Wollongong
- Howlin’ Wolf – 103/53-61 Crown St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Gold Coast
- Loose Moose – Oasis Shopping Centre, 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218
- Surfers Beer Garden – Orchid Ave &, Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Do you know somewhere else in Australia that serves Pappy? Let us and your fellow bourbon connoisseurs know in the comments.
General FAQ
Retail prices range from $69.99 for Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 Proof to $299.99 for Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old.
Pappy Van Winkle cannot be bought at the distillery. The bourbon is so popular and in such short supply that the distribution is closely monitored and controlled.
