Franklin County sheriff Pat Melton backed off his suggestion that 28 bottles of the prestigious Pappy Van Winkle brand be sold at auction, with proceeds going mostly to charitable causes.
Julian Van Winkle III, grandson of Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr, raised concerns about putting the purloined whiskey up for sale, Melton said. Van Winkle wants the stolen bourbon destroyed because of concerns it might have been tampered or contaminated, the sheriff said. “We totally respect his wishes,” Melton said.
But ultimately, a judge will decide the fate of the confiscated whiskey once the theft case is completed.
The 28 bottles of the super-premium bourbon were confiscated by the sheriff’s office as part of the investigation into the theft ring. Officials say it was led by rogue distillery workers. The scheme went on for years and involved tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of whiskey before it unraveled last year, authorities said.
Melton said he suggested the auction because he wanted to “see some good” come out of the theft case. He suggested auction proceeds go to such causes as the Kentucky Sheriff’s Association’s Boys and Girls Ranch.
Industry observer F Paul Pacult, editor of the newsletter Spirit Journal, said on Wednesday that it would have been “foolhardy and irresponsible” to auction the bottles.
Not everyone agrees, though. Carla Carlton, who writes a blog about bourbon, said destroying the bottles “seems like adding a crime on top of a crime”.
Carlton said she doubted that winning bidders would buy the whiskey to drink, which would lower the value of the bottles. Instead, they would probably display the bottles as collector’s items, she said.
Carlton sent a letter last spring to then-governor Steve Beshear, asking him to “Pardon My Pappy.” She also launched a social media campaign urging bourbon fans to show support on Facebook and Twitter.
She said she plans to resume the campaign by reaching out to new governor Matt Bevin.
In announcing multiple arrests last spring , authorities said more than $100,000 in bourbon was stolen from the Wild Turkey and Buffalo Trace distilleries in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country. Pappy Van Winkle is made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, using a family recipe that traces back to the 1800s.
Prosecutors at the time said the heists included more than 20 cases of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, 50 to 70 cases of Eagle Rare bourbon and other barrels of whiskey that were stolen but not recovered.
Four people have pleaded guilty in the case. Charges are pending against several other defendants.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/06/pappy-van-winkle-stolen-whiskey-destroyed-auction?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Version+A&utm_term=148855&subid=14230036&CMP=ema_565a
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Send it to me! I'll take the chance!
It's terribly nice of you to volunteer for this very dangerous taste test knowing that either outcome (contaminated or not) could lead to an unpleasant trip to the bathroom.
Pappy cracked some corn, and I don't care. LOL
Pappy cracked some corn, and I don't care.
Too funny! I just laughed for 5 full minutes (a hearty guffaw for about a minute, intermittent yet uncontrollable giggles for about 4 minutes). Haven't done that in a while. Thanks, K.
I'm thinking that by "destroyed", the Sheriff means he and his men are going to get destroyed drinking it all if it's not sold off.
I wonder why the court gets to make a decision on it, as it was stolen and the rightful owners are known. Doesn't seem like a tough decision-give it back to the rightful owners.