Move over Apple iPhone, move over Black Friday, it’s Pappy time!
When it’s time for the semi-annual release of the hard to find Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon, Pappy fans will go to great lengths just for the chance to get their hands on a bottle. Waiting in line doesn’t guarantee you will get anything, it only guarantees that you are a hardcore fan.
Will Dance for Pappy!
This Party Source store in Newport, KY sent out this message to their list of Pappy fans late last week. The announcement said the sale would start Thursday, November 12 at 8am. Fans started lining up three days in advance on Tuesday for their chance to get their hands on an elusive bottle.
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Rules, we don’t need no stinkin’ rules but, in the case of a Pappy extravaganza, there are rules, several of them.
Pappy Van Winkle Release Rules
- One bottle total per customer.
- First come, first served.
- No reservations.
- No holds.
- No paying in advance.
- No paying over the phone.
- No bartering.
- No begging.
- Bonus: NO whining!
What Was Available?
[table “” not found /]Party Source “Spirits Newsletter” to Fans
Somewhere between 300 to 400 people waited in line for the sale. Some drove more than five hours to wait inline. They came with tents, rain gear, and winter coats. For many, this was more like a tailgating party before a big football game. They brought grills, chairs, food and of course their own cocktails to keep them warm during the 35 degree long nights leading up to the sale.
The event didn’t go off without a hitch. According to BizJournals, Party Source General Manager Jon Stiles said, “People have gone from connoisseurs to fanatics to rabid to extreme fanatics this year. People are following around the trucks. I had to throw a few people out earlier this week for harassing our employees, and we didn’t even have it yet.”
In the end, it took only 42 minutes to sell out of this year’s supply!
Neither rain, wind or three days in the cold could deter these fans.
