The Bourbon boom over the last 2 decades has had one massive collateral effect – whiskies which were once languishing on retail shelves in the 80’s and 90’s are now causing increasing levels of hysteria with every successive release. All the ones listed here are outstanding whiskies but since they are limited yearly releases, it makes them even more sought after, and the supply-demand gap has resulted in a massive secondary market. Usually distributed through raffle or lottery, they become almost immediately available for resale at anywhere between 5-10X of the retail price. Very few bottles make it to the market every year; even fewer are popped open for drinking hence we will skip the tasting notes for this bunch.

Pappy Van Winkle

Three words that will either bring a wide grin to a Bourbon lovers face or make them groan in despair. There are higher odds of finding a unicorn in the wild than a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve, their flagship brand. The most cherished name amongst Bourbon fans, fence-sitters and flippers, this near-devout status has meant that the actual market price might end up costing you a kidney or two. Distilled by The Sazerac/Buffalo Trace Company at their Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, the 15 year old is the most in demand with market price ranging at an outrageous 1413% of MSRP.

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)

Another yearly release from Sazerac/Buffalo Trace, the BTAC comes second in the annual hysteria stakes behind the Van Winkles. For good measure though, since they are widely regarded as the some of the best and most sought after American Whiskies released each year. 5 whiskies make up the collection every year with slight nuances in each year’s vintage – George T. Stagg, William LaRue Weller and Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbons and Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye and the Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye. All of them are regular features on most Whiskey of the Year lists every year!

Booker’s Bourbon

Booker Noe, the Beam family’s 6^th Generation Master Distiller, had a larger than life personality and the story goes that he had originally crafted his namesake Bourbon as selections for his own personal consumption and for gifting to close friends and family. Always bottled straight-from-the-barrel at Cask Strength, he launched his selections as a brand to the general public 30 years ago in 1988. Each barrel of Booker’s was personally hand selected by Noe and aged at the center of the storehouse for the most favourable temperature and humidity conditions.

Four Roses Limited Editions

If there was ever a geek-favourite category of Bourbon, Four Roses would win it every year. Straddling the line between chemistry and consumerism, Four Roses distills ten distinct and extraordinary bourbon recipes using two mash bills – a high rye and a low rye one – and five yeast strains, ranging from fruity to spicy to floral. The results of this intermingling are some complex yet harmonious whiskies which regularly stake claim, rightfully, as the best Whiskies produced each year. For a brand that had disappeared from American shelves for nearly 40 years and only reappeared in 2002, this has been a roaring comeback, not very different from that of the industry it belongs to.

Anupam Dikhit

Anupam is a Digital Marketer by profession and American Whiskey enthusiast and collector by passion. He is based in Singapore but can be found in bars around the world trying to seek out the perfect Old Fashioned. Follow his spirited adventures on Twitter @dramstraight and on Instagram @dramstraightcollective