The Bourbon Culture
Critic
Bourbons: avg 7.5/10 · median 7.9/10 · range 1–10 · 514 rated
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Product
Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old
Old Rip Van Winkle DistillerySpiritsBourbon
ShelfRead verdict
Overpriced
Worth it only if you want this exact bottle. Mid-pack reviews at a top-third price. The Bourbon Culture gives it 7.9/10, vs. 7.8/10 for the typical bourbon (473 rated). Whiskybase drinkers give it 84.6 across 7 ratings, vs. 84.3 for the typical bourbon (51 rated). Thin data, two sources.
Van Winkle Special Reserve is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery (Buffalo Trace), crafted from the Van Winkle wheated mash bill and aged 12 years. Bottled at 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV), it is prized for its rich notes of honey, oak, tobacco, dried fruit and spiced peach, and is one of the most sought-after expressions in the Van Winkle range.
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4 offersOfficial state lists
Price by state
Control states post one official price per bottle (750 ml). These come from the published state price lists, so each number is the real shelf price statewide. As of October 12, 2026.
- North CarolinaNC ABC · item #25405$199.95
- PennsylvaniaPA PLCB · item #000009530$199.99
- VirginiaVirginia ABC · item #021906$199.99
Cross-state typical price: $199.99.
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