While some schools claim to have the biggest, or the loudest, or the wildest, or maybe the fanciest, many of the elements you will find at any tailgate, collegiate or NFL, have the same hallmark features. Passionate fans, good food, and good drinks. 

 For some, tailgating is equally as important to a game day as - well the game itself. In fact we’d venture to guess if you happened upon a large tailgate on a Saturday in any college town across the country, from the big SEC schools to the Big Ten, you’d find nearly as many people who are just there for the tailgate. They may be dressed in their school colors and be just as ardently supportive, they just aren’t going into the stadium. They are there for the party.  

Tailgating is, after all, a giant party. A big pre-game. It can be raucous, it can start absurdly early, and while it may have originally started as simply a way to get a head start on going into the game - it has now become it's own entity. One rife with it's own recipes, essentials and specifics.

Being  from Kentucky there is a completely unique tailgating event that happens a few times each fall. A rare double header that is unlike most others. The special combination of tailgating at a University of Kentucky football game (followed by or not attending the actual game and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats) and then hitting the fall meet at Keeneland. This is not for the faint of heart, but on a crisp and cool fall day when the leaves are beginning to change and the sun is settling on the rolling fields of surrounding horse farms, there is simply nothing better. 

Now tailgating is not simply relegated to university campuses (although a fall Saturday is certainly dominated by these), as the NFL certainly boasts their own unique brand and style of tailgating as well.  Diehard fans of the Buffalo Bills already know this, (and will likely go toe-to-toe with Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Green Bay Packers over who really wins this title), but suffice it to say - tailgating is it's own passionate competitive sport. 

So wherever and however you celebrate football season - let's break down the plays so you don't fumble your next tailgate. 

1. The Tailgating Must Haves:

The advent of the portable grill certainly changed the game for tailgating, and trucks have found a way to become the most desirable tailgating vehicle (if you have been to or hosted a tailgate, particularly in the South, you may have just seen the truck bed turned into a giant ice chest). So, portability is a key factor. 

We recommend a high quality, stylish and sleek flask. Just so happens we have one that is wrapped with leather and embossed with the iconic Old Rip Van Winkle logo for prime tailgating style.
Old Rip Van Winkle Leather Wrapped Flask

Cups. While you will certainly see some red solo cups make an appearance, if you are serving up game day Bloody Mary's, a portable and flexible Pappy Hour cup (set of 12) will show your Pappy Van Winkle allegiance and give off the right game day spirit! Of course if you want to remain neutral, we have our set of Pappy Keys cups as well. 

Pappy Hour Shatterproof Cups

Pappy Keys Shatterproof Cups

Flavor is portable as well, with our Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Stave Smoking Chunks - depending on your tailgating set-up. Just be prepared, once the wafting notes of signature Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel are alighted from your grill - you will have a plenty of spectators rushing into your end zone. Enhance your tailgate regulars, from chicken wings to burgers, with sweet and smoky flavor infused from genuine Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrel staves. 

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Stave Smoking Chunks

Hosting from home? That counts too - get in on the fancy football action and curate yourself a charcuterie, cheese plate or appetizer board to rival the best of them on our Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Stave Cutting Board. 

Of course, portable is the name of the game with our portion ready travel sizes of our signature Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned Mixer. Just grab and go for a simple cocktail that only requires you to know the play call - pour, stir, sip! 

2. The Food. 

This is the big one. Food is absolutely central to tailgating. Certain regions have their specialties and a quick walk around any tailgate will have you seeing, smelling and tasting the local flavors. Of course, we have a few of our favorite dishes that work just as well at a tailgate as they do enjoying the game from the comfort of your own living room or backyard. So fire up the football flavor with the signature sweet heat of our original Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pepper Sauce, or the combination of sweet and heat from our Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Spicy Maple Syrup. 

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pepper Sauce
Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup
Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Spicy Maple Syrup

Here are some of our favorite football inspired and Pappy Van Winkle infused recipes to elevate your gameday enjoyment:

Show those tailgaters and fellow spectators you came to play with recipes that highlight the richly fragrant and delectably delicious signature taste of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged flavor. We can assure you there won't be any flags thrown on the play! 

Maple Glazed Sausage
Coffee Marinated Skirt Steak
Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Simple Maple Marinade or Easy BBQ and Hot Sauce
Spicy Chicken Wings
Red-Eye Chili
 White Chicken Chili

Country Ham Biscuits with Maple Butter

 Hot Shrimp and Artichoke Bake

3. The Drinks.

While an ice cold beer is most likely the drink of choice on game day, we happen to enjoy a festive and delicious cocktail to kick things off. Settle into the flavors of fall with a few tailgate ready Pappy Hour cocktails that work just as well around the firepit as they do around the back of the pick-up truck on game day! Or make it super easy and grab our signature mixers that are game day ready and tailgating approved! Consider the versatile Pappy Van Winkle Sour Mixer your tailgate's tight end - a ready to go mixer that plays nicely with a variety of spirits. With the subtly sweet and sour combination of honey that has been slowly smoked over a retired bourbon barrel with the bright tartness of citrus for a delicious cocktail that does it all. 

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Kentucky Sour Mixer

A betting favorite, you can't go wrong with the steady and reliable Pappy Van Winkle Old Fashioned Mixer. With the just right flavors in a ready to go classic, enjoy a perfectly poured Old Fashioned at kick-off for a perfect fall cocktail. Don't rely on a Hail Mary late in the game, bring your Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pepper Sauce to the tailgate kick things up a notch on a traditional Bloody Mary with some sweet heat from barrel-aged Georgia grown ghost peppers. 

Maple Grapefruit Old Fashioned 
Spicy Kentucky Mule Kick
Old Sage Sour

4. The Cigars.
Don't forget the cigars. A fall must have for enjoying the luxury of a fall day spent watching football and cheering for your team. Whether you are celebrating the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat (or you are just in it for the fun), we've got a Pappy Van Winkle Tradition or Barrel-Fermented Cigar for your enjoyment. 

 Tradition Churchill: You are locked in and ready to watch your team battle it out. In a game where every inch counts and every down matters, the 60-90 minute smoke time promises a luxuriously long opportunity to dial it in. 

  Tradition Robusto:   Just here for a good time. Perfectly suited for sociable celebration, end of game consolation, or halftime viewing. The Robusto is an easy cigar to smoke, and share, thanks to it's approachable size and smoke time of approximately 45 minutes.