Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Bourbon '2024 Release'. Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle, Sr., a 19th-century traveling salesman for W.L. Weller and Sons. Alongside friend Alex Farnsley, Pappy acquired the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery, merging it with their wholesale house to form Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Beyond a rich family legacy, Van Winkle bourbons stand out for their unique "wheated" recipe—crafted with corn, wheat, and barley, delivering a remarkably smooth taste and graceful aging process.