Julian P. Van Winkle III
Photo provided by Buffalo Trace Website
Julian P. Van Winkle III is the third generation of distillers from the Van Winkle family. At the time he joined the family business in 1977 with his father Julian Jr. they were producing only two wheated whiskies. 90 proof 10 year old and 107 proof Old Rip Van Winkle. Since then they have added 12, 15, 20 and 23 year old labels to their bourbon line. They also have a 13 year old premium rye that was introduced to their whiskey line.
Following his father’s death in 1981, Julian ran the company by himself until his son Preston, the fourth generation, joined in 2001.
In 1972, 7 years after the death of Pappy Van Winkle Sr., the Stitzel-Weller Distillery was being forced to sell. Under the terms of the sales agreement with Somerset Imports, the Van Winkle’s were able to procure the rights of old stock in the distillery and the Old Rip Van Winkle brand name. Julian had just returned from college at Randolph- Macon College where he had studied economics and psychology.
He tried his hand as a salesman in a clothing store, but soon found himself working beside his father trying to salvage the family whiskey business. As barrels of Pappy’s bourbon were aging in the Stitzel-Weller warehouse they began to buy back the barrels and bottle it independently under the Old Rip Van Winkle label which was purchased in the 1950’s. Julian Jr. had also purchased an office building and formed the company J.P. Van Winkle and Son.
In 1981, when cancer took Julian III’s father, he made the decision to continue to run the business on his own at the age of 32. He purchased a run down building in an area of Louisville prone to flooding and continued to bottle by hand. This was probably not the best decision as the 1980’s were a bad time for the bourbon industry and he had a family with four children to support. In those days people would only spend good money on bourbon if it came in a gimmicky looking bottle like a dog or football.
In the late 1980’s, Diageo, now owners of Stitzel-Weller Distillery, were selling off old barrels of bourbon made by Pappy for as low as $200 each. Julian III purchased as many of them as he could and began bottling one of the world’s first 20 year old bourbons. For 15 years Van Winkle went with the bottle gimmicks when a salesman of his entered his 20 year old bourbon to the Beverage tasting Institute of Chicago. IL in 1996. Van Winkle received an unprecedented score of 99 for any bourbon, scotch, or whiskey. What followed was an immediate demand for his product.
During his time running the business he bought the Old Hoffman Distillery renaming it Old Commonwealth in Lawrenceburg, KY. Here he perfected the barrel storage and bottling process of maintaining the Van Winkle flavors.
By 2002, the Van Winkle’s ventured into business with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY where all their distilling is now taking place following the family traditional recipe and standards.
In 2009 Julian was nominated for a James Beard award under the category of Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional. In 2010 he was again nominated for The James Beard award. The James Beard Award is the equivalent of the Oscars of the Food & Beverage world. In 2011, he won the prestigious Wine & Spirits Professional award. He was the first Kentuckian to receive a James Beard award.
Whisky Magazine has honored Julian Van Winkle III with his induction into its Hall of Fame. Julian was also recognized by the 2017 Whisky Magazine Awards, one of only 39 to be awarded this honor. In 2022, Julian Van Winkle III was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.
