Small Business Saturday

Celebrate the Legacy of Pappy Van Winkle this Small Business Saturday.
Shop Small, Shop Local and Celebrate the Season of Hospitality 

It may not be evident at first glance, but Pappy & Company is a small business, in size, heart, and our day-to-day reality. While we are fortunate to have built our small business on our uniquely positioned desire to share the legacy of a well-known name, Pappy & Company began, as many small businesses do, in a basement. Fortunately, when it comes to the hard work, passion, grit, and determination required not only to begin but also to maintain a small business, we had our heritage to turn to as well.

As for us, the Pappy Van Winkle name doesn’t simply signify one of the world’s most iconic bourbons; it is a name that is synonymous with promise, dedication, stick-to-itiveness, and the kind of perseverance that seems to be less and less common these days. Fortunately, we have generations of examples to rely on for inspiration. 

We’ve got countless stories and examples of our great-grandfather, Pappy Van Winkle, where his unwavering commitment and overwhelming passion for quality stand above all else. Beginning with the motto that has shaped every element of our small business, “We make fine bourbon, at a profit it we can, at a loss if we must...but always fine bourbon.” We can rely on stories of our grandfather's generosity, sacrifice, and dedication, as he oversaw the company during his years of military service. That allegiance and commitment were evident as he navigated the most challenging period of time for the family business, the eventual sale of the distillery. 

We have been witnesses to it our entire lives. We watched from the early years of our dad, Julian Van Winkle III, reestablishing the family distillery. He drove back and forth every day in an old truck, acting as the deliveryman, distiller, salesman, plumber, electrician, and CEO. He was a one-man operation, and he gave it his all: his time, his sweat, his tears, and his passion. 

We never knew another way, and we have watched him maintain this same dedication through every stage of Old Rip Van Winkle.  Through each generation, there has always been this sense of pride, commitment to family, self, and legacy, and of course, the hospitality that is truly the spirit of bourbon itself. Each generation of Van Winkle has understood the simple philosophy that a glass of the good stuff is meant to be shared, and above all else, enjoyed. 

This is the philosophy that was the germination of Pappy & Company’s foundation. It was the continuation of a conversation that we’ve been having our entire lives. How do we share the underlying passion and principlesof Pappy Van Winkle? How do we share the essence behind the iconic spirit that shares his name? 

For us, it started in Louise’s basement. With a laptop, a dream, and an idea. Back then, as we sourced partners to make the products, we knew we could highlight the elements of Pappy’s legacy; we were the ones personally packing and shipping each box, answering each phone call, and sending each email. While we are still figuring it out as we go, and even though we have since grown out of Louise's basement, and today operate a warehouse, a Woodshop and an office, we will never not be the small business that started with a passion and a promise. 

We know which one of our partners or collaborators is working to make each item in our growing collectionof Pappy Van Winkle-inspired, barrel-aged, or barrel-crafted products. We know who is aging, fermenting, bottling, and conducting rigorous quality control tests. We know who is packing your order. We know who is unloading the trucks, rolling the barrels, and prepping the barrels. We know who is answering the phone, opening the door, and sending the email. 

It is one of the 13 of us on our Pappy & Company team. 

This is the legacy we are proud to continue through our small business. Each generation of Van Winkle faced its own unique trials, tribulations, and challenges, yet none of them ever abandoned the original promise of quality. Perhaps it stems from Pappy’s original principles, which all seem to have been born of his underlying passion for hospitality. His office was as warm and inviting as a living room, his own home was a beacon of welcome and invitation, and co-workers were truly like family. It is this spirit that we strive to capture through the mission, vision, and operations of our own small business. Team Pappy & Company is a small family, and we are honored to share it with all of you. 

In this holiday season, when we share the idea of gifting Pappy for your Pappy™, we relish the opportunity to share what we received from our Pappy. Yet, Small Business Saturday is also a celebration of you, your belief and commitment to Pappy’s continued legacy, and a shared spirit of hospitality. A sentiment that has never been more essential than it is today. Thank you for being a part of the Pappy & Company family, this Small Business Saturday, and beyond.  

 We invite you toShop Small,Shop Local, and embrace thespirit of hospitality this Small Business Saturday.