Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Bourbon 1999-2001 Clear Glass (Pre-code)

Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Bourbon — 1999–2001 vintage, Clear Glass, Pre-Code. A Stitzel-Weller era wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle family program bottled in the clear glass pre-code presentation format, from the late 1990s to early 2000s transition era when Stitzel-Weller distillate was still the primary base of the Van Winkle lineup.

The pre-code designation and clear glass bottle format identify a specific packaging era of the Pappy Van Winkle program — before the label codes and bottle designs were standardized into the current format. Bottles from the late 1990s and early 2000s contain Stitzel-Weller distillate that is now finite and irreplaceable. At 20 years and 90.4 proof, this is the wheated bourbon sweet spot of the Van Winkle lineup — extended maturation without the drying tannin profile that can emerge at 23 years.

Specs

• Producer: Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Wheated
• Age: 20 years
• Proof: 90.4 (45.2% ABV)
• Era: Clear Glass, Pre-Code (1999–2001)
• Distillate: Stitzel-Weller era
• Size: 700ml

Browse all Van Winkle expressions at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the pre-code Pappy Van Winkle? Pre-code refers to Pappy Van Winkle bottlings from before the current label code system was introduced — primarily the late 1990s and early 2000s era. These bottles contain Stitzel-Weller distillate at the peak of the wheated bourbon supply from that distillery, making them among the most collectible Van Winkle expressions.
• Why is the clear glass format significant? The clear glass bottle is the distinctive visual identifier of the pre-code era, distinguishing these bottles from the darker glass packaging used in later releases. The clear glass presentation allows the amber color of the bourbon to be fully visible.