Pappy's in the house! On Thursday, March 10th the world's largest auction of Pappy Van Winkle Whiskey will be conducted at Leland Little Auctions in Hillsborough, NC, featuring over 100 bottles from the highly sought-after Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. Included will be over 40 lots of the prized 13, 15, 20 & 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve whiskey as well as an exclusive Old Rip Van Winkle 23 year bottle of bourbon. This rare bourbon, which was distilled in 1986, was hand-selected by Julian & Preston Van Winkle. It is sold with a beautiful Glencairn crystal decanter, glasses, leather lined presentation box and carries a pre-sale estimate of $5,500 - $6,500. Bottles from the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery in this sale were assembled from across the United States.

Since its conception in 2010, the Whiskey & Fine Wine Department at Leland Little Auctions has expanded to become the largest in the mid-Atlantic & Southeastern US. It is with this in mind that the auction house announces this most impressive sale to-date. Thursday, March 10 at 6:00pm the auction begins with Whiskey, Cognac & Rare Spirits, followed by Rare & Fine Wines at 7:30pm. A reception serving wine & light hors d'oeuvres starts at 5:00pm. Come enjoy the excitement of this special auction.

History 101 - The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four generation history. In 1893, at the age of eighteen, Pappy Van Winkle entered the whiskey business as a traveling salesman for W. L. Weller. The product he sold in those days was not, strictly speaking, bourbon. Years later, as president of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Pappy had become a vehement, exacting crusader for traditionally manufactured bourbon. His son, Julian, Jr. took over operations until he was forced by stockholders to sell the distillery in 1972. The rights to all of their brands were either sold with the distillery or to other distilleries.
 
After selling the distillery, Julian, Jr. resurrected a pre-prohibition label, the only one to which the Van Winkles kept the rights, called Old Rip Van Winkle. He used whiskey stocks from the old distillery to supply his brand. Julian junior's son, Julian, III took over in 1981 when Julian, Jr. passed away. Julian, III has continued with the Van Winkle tradition of producing the highest quality wheated bourbon available. His son, Preston joined company in 2001 and the Van Winkles look to continue that tradition for generations to come.

Aside from the rich family history, Van Winkle bourbons are special for another important reason - their recipe. All of the Van Winkle bourbons are made with corn, wheat, and, barley instead of corn, rye and, barley. This "wheated" recipe gives the bourbon a much softer, smoother taste and it also allows the whiskey to age more gracefully.

Leland Little Auctions - 620 Cornerstone Ct. Hillsborough, NC 27278, Ph: (919) 225-5916. Website.

Part of The Spring Auction  
Session V: Whiskey, Cognac, Rare Spirits & Fine Wine -  Thursday, March 10
Live Auction: 6:00 P.M. - Whiskey, Cognac & Rare Spirits, 7:30 P.M. - Rare & Fine Wine. Click here to view lots.

Session VI: Fine & Decorative Arts - Friday, March 11
Live Auction: 9:30 A.M. - Asian Works of Art / Fine Silver, 10:30 A.M. - English & Continental Fine & Decorative Arts, 1:00 P.M. - Fine Estate Jewelry & Watches, 2:00 P.M. - American Fine & Decorative Arts, 4:00 P.M. - Modern Art & Design. Click here to view lots.

To Bee or Not To Bee

Leap Year's Leap of Faith

Olde Raleigh Real Estate Jill Rekuc, Broker Ph: (919)389-0555, Email, Website

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"Colored Confederates" The Wake County Historical Society is having a Civil War lecture Sunday, March 6th at the Mordecai Visitor Center, 1101 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, across Cedar Street from the Mordecai House at 2:00 PM

Earl Ijames, historian and N.C. Museum of History Curator of African American History, Black History and American History, will discuss the North Carolina black soldiers who joined the southern side during the Civil War.
Free and open to the public. Website.