In the Van Winkle family, the bourbon business has always been a family affair. Our great grandfather Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle founded Louisville’s Stitzel-Weller Distillery on Derby Day in 1935. His son and grandson followed him into the business. And even as we embarked on our own individual careers, we never lost touch with our roots, celebrating our family’s bourbon heritage at every opportunity—every party, tailgate, horse race, holiday get-together, and family dinner we attended. At our house, bourbon represented fellowship, but it also instilled in us an appreciation for real craftsmanship and quality. As Pappy famously said: “We make bourbon at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always fine bourbon.” It was this bourbon-fueled legacy, lifestyle, and commitment to excellence that we hoped to share not only with family and close friends but with all of you when we founded Pappy & Company in 2013.
A lifestyle brand built around shared experiences, celebrations both big and small, and stolen moments that allow us to slow down and enjoy life, Pappy & Company works with a network of like minded friends, partners, artists, and craftspeople to create our collection of fine bourbon-inspired products that range from barrel-aged pantry staples to small-batch cigars to thoughtfully-made homegoods.
Sisters. Triplets. Co-founders. At Pappy & Company, we are fortunate to be able to work together, combining family and business (and the occasional after-hours cocktail) in an effort to share the Van Winkle bourbon legacy and lifestyle with all of our customers. Based in two offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and Sun Valley, Idaho, we lean on our small but mighty Pappy & Company team in order to manage all our customer service, inventory, and fulfillment in-house.
A bird hunter, dog lover, avid golfer, cigar aficionado, family man, and an occasional comic with a wonderful wry sense of humor, our “Pappy” (Julian Van Winkle, Sr.) believed in hard work, craftsmanship, hospitality, and, of course, “always fine bourbon.” A straightforward man of his word, he remained humble throughout his celebrated career at Stitzel-Weller and unshakably committed to his craft even as his success made him a legend in the bourbon business.
A bird hunter, dog lover, avid golfer, cigar aficionado, family man, and an occasional comic with a wonderful wry sense of humor, our “Pappy” (Julian Van Winkle, Sr.) believed in hard work, craftsmanship, hospitality, and, of course, “always fine bourbon.” A straightforward man of his word, he remained humble throughout his celebrated career at Stitzel-Weller and unshakably committed to his craft even as his success made him a legend in the bourbon business.
It's our mission to honor our family legacy with quality heritage-driven products. But we are so much more than this. Our core values define us as a company and the people we work with. Having fun, putting family first, always doing the right thing and our commitment to quality are all part of our brand ethos. Learn more about what makes Pappy & Company unique.
At Pappy & Company we are proud to partner with a tight-knit network of artists, craftspeople, small businesses, and friends—all experts in their individual fields, all vetted by us, and all committed to quality, craftsmanship, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence.
