Van Winkle 12 Year Lot B and the Buffalo Trace Distillery
Updated October 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
Can you tour the Pappy Van Winkle distillery? Pappy Van Winkle is made at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky, so Buffalo Trace is the distillery to visit. BourbonTown Tours can build it into a fully private bourbon day, with distillery tickets included. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead. No tour includes a bottle or a pour of Pappy, and we never promise one.
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Quick Facts
- Where it is made: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky.
- The tour: the Trace Tour runs about 75 minutes; allow two hours with the gift shop and grounds.
- Lead time: if Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead.
- Bottles: Pappy rarely appears in the distillery gift shop, no tour includes a bottle or a pour, and we never promise one.
- Same cluster: Castle and Key, and Woodford Reserve in Versailles, about 25 minutes away.
- Price: a private day built around the Trace Tour runs $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. The rate covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity.
Visiting Buffalo Trace, Where Pappy Is Made
Buffalo Trace describes itself as the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. On a private day, we book the Trace Tour once your tour is confirmed and build the rest of the day around it in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster, with Castle and Key or Woodford Reserve as the next stop. Our Buffalo Trace distillery guide covers the day in full, and what allocated bourbon means explains why bottles like this one are hard to find.
What the 12 Year Bottle Actually Is
The 12-year bottle people call "Pappy 12" is Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot "B". The Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve label itself starts at 15 years, with 20- and 23-year bottlings above it. Lot B is a wheated bourbon bottled at 90.4 proof, made at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort on the same wheated mash bill as the Weller range.
Aged Excellence
Lot B spends 12 years in the barrel. The master distillers behind Pappy Van Winkle have embraced the tradition of patient aging, allowing each batch to develop its own character. The result is a bourbon that offers a taste that is both refined and enduring.
Tasting Notes
What sets Lot B apart is its refined flavor profile. The initial sip introduces a harmonious blend of rich aromas, featuring notes of caramel, oak, and a hint of vanilla.
As you explore this bourbon further, you’ll uncover layers of complexity, with nuances of dried fruits, toffee, and a touch of spice. This depth adds richness to every sip. The finish is long, smooth, and satisfying. Enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as the centerpiece of a cocktail, it is a bourbon to slow down for.
Iconic Legacy
The amber hues of the liquid and the distinctive bottle design pay homage to the whiskey-making traditions that have shaped the brand’s legacy. Each bottle is a symbol of the commitment to presenting a product that captures the aged taste of the brand.
Rare Kentucky Whiskey
Pappy Van Winkle is among the hardest bottles in bourbon to find. The limited availability of each batch and the attention to detail in every step of the production process reflect the brand’s commitment to preserving the heritage of Kentucky bourbon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tour the Pappy Van Winkle distillery?
Pappy Van Winkle is made at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky, so the distillery you visit is Buffalo Trace. BourbonTown Tours builds it into a fully private bourbon day for your group, with distillery tickets included and booked once your tour is confirmed. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead, and we build the rest of the day in the same cluster.
Can you taste or buy Pappy Van Winkle at Buffalo Trace?
Not as part of any tour. Pappy Van Winkle is among the hardest bottles in bourbon to find. Bottles of Pappy turn up in the Buffalo Trace gift shop only rarely, the Trace Tour pours no Pappy, and we never promise a bottle to any guest. The Trace Tour wraps up with a tasting of the standard lineup, such as Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Sazerac Rye, and any bottle you buy in the gift shop is your own purchase.
How long does a Buffalo Trace visit take?
Allow two hours. About 75 minutes of that is the Trace Tour; the rest is the gift shop, where Pappy rarely appears, and the grounds. Buffalo Trace is open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5, so an early start leaves room for one or two more stops in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster, such as Castle and Key or Woodford Reserve, about 25 minutes away.
What does a private day around Buffalo Trace cost?
Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. The Trace Tour ticket is in that rate, and only lunch and driver gratuity are not. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call. We pick you up at your hotel or door, and a Pappy bottle is never part of the price, since no tour includes one.
Why is Pappy Van Winkle so hard to find?
Pappy Van Winkle is allocated bourbon: it is released to distributors in limited quantities, and they divide it among retailers, bars and restaurants, so a single store may receive one bottle. Allocation is a supply decision, not a quality grade. In most of the United States a distillery cannot sell straight to a shop, so the release moves through licensed wholesalers who decide which of their accounts receive bottles.
Plan your private bourbon day
BourbonTown Tours has run 3,000+ private tours since 2012. Every tour is private to your group, never mixed with strangers, and covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity. Distillery tickets are included.
Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee.
