About the product
Van Winkle Special Reserve "Lot B" is a highly sought wheated bourbon aged 12 years at Buffalo Trace Distillery. This allocated expression balances maturity and smoothness through its wheat-forward mash bill, delivering a refined character with layered complexity and elegant approachability. Positioned between the 10 Year and Pappy releases, Lot B offers additional depth without excessive oak influence. Limited annual production has established it as one of the most collectible wheated bourbons among serious enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Very fragrant and "bright." It leads with dried mango, spiced peach, and honey, followed by deeper layers of caramel, vanilla icing, and toasted oak.
- Palate: Exceptionally balanced and "soft." You’ll find butterscotch, dark cherry, and honeyed pecans. There is a distinct brown sugar sweetness that is supported by a "whisper" of leather and cinnamon.
- Finish: Medium-to-long and incredibly clean. It leaves a lingering "tingle" of baking spices, toffee, and a touch of floral citrus.
Food Pairings
Since Lot "B" is so elegant, it pairs best with foods that have a "creamy" or "nutty" profile.
- Savory: Grilled Duck Breast with a Cherry Reduction. The cherry notes in the sauce perfectly mirror the fruit in the bourbon.
- Cheese: Aged Gouda or Brillat-Savarin. A triple-cream brie like Brillat-Savarin matches the "velvety" mouthfeel of the 90.4 proof spirit beautifully.
- Sweet: Classic New York Cheesecake or Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée. The burnt sugar topping of a crème brûlée highlights the "charred sugar" notes found in the 12-year oak.
- The "After-Dinner" Pairing: A Mild-to-Medium Dominican Cigar. The cedar and cream notes of the cigar will dance with the vanilla and peach notes of the Lot "B."
About the brand
In the early 1990s, Julian Van Winkle III released different "lots" of sourced whiskey. "Lot B" became the most popular and eventually became the permanent name for the 12-year expression.
