A highly sought after Kentucky bourbon is available in the Maritimes for the first time ever.
There are a variety of bourbons on the shelves of liquor stores in New Brunswick. However, the most sought after is not available to the general public.
“From what I've read, it's an extremely smooth, well-aged bourbon whiskey from Kentucky. The connoisseurs say it's 99 out of a hundred,” says pub owner Frank Scott.
The rare beverage is called Pappy Van Winkle’s 23-Year-Old Family Reserve Bourbon and for the first time, NB Liquor has managed to get its hands on some, but only three bottles.
As a result, the company has decided to hold a lottery for the right to buy a bottle.
“I put mine, my wife's, my son's, and my father's name in the hat right away hoping one of us might get a chance to get one,” says Ken Arsenault of the Riverview Whiskey Society.
Arsenault says he wants to keep the news of the draw to himself.
“It's not something I'm going around telling people, 'put your name in, put your name in,' because it reduces my chances,” says Arsenault. “I don't know if that's a dirty game or not, but that's the way I'm playing.”
About 200 people have submitted their names; whoever wins the draw will have to shell out $350 for the bottle.
“I think any whiskey connoisseur would love to have an opportunity to try it. It's just so rare and extremely hard to get your hands on,” says Scott.
Arsenault has never tasted Pappy’s before, but he says even if he wins the draw he still may never taste the famous bourbon.
“A special occasion perhaps.” says Arsenault.
Pappy Van Winkles Bourbon is so highly sought after that NB Liquor’s three bottles are being held under lock and key.
Arsenault and Scott consider themselves lucky to have the chance to buy a bottle of the bourbon, as only 30 were shipped to Canada.
In Kentucky, the home of Pappy's Bourbon, 500 people are on a waitlist for just 20 bottles that can have an auction value of $5,000.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
