I felt like a kid in a candy store when I first walked into Citizen Public House for their Pappy Meal Monday. It is moments like these that remind me of one of the reasons why I started this blog, and that was to have fun. You better believe that I had fun with this one.

First things first, before I could even explain what Pappy Meals are, for those of you not in the Boston area, I have to start by talking about Pappy Van Winkle and the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery.

The Van Winkle family has been involved with Bourbon since the 1800s. Even if you aren’t a bourbon drinker, the name is pretty well known so there is still a chance you might have heard the Van Winkle name before. In case you haven’t, I’ll put it in terms you can understand, Pappy is really GREAT bourbon that is simply hard to find.

I had heard of the elusive Pappy Van Winkle (the families involvement in bourbon started with Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr.) but had not been able to find it until I read about Citizens Pappy Meal Monday’s. I can honestly say that I didn’t walk there, I practically ran.

What is a Pappy Meal?

A genius idea by Citizen to simply share their supply of Old Rip Van Winkle Whiskey with everyone. Please note that only six of these meals are made available on Monday’s and will only be available while their supply of Pappy last. If you happen to be the seventh person to get there, you are going to need to wait till the following Monday to get one. Also if you are going for the Pappy Meal, be sure to call and ask if they are happening on a Monday the Boston Red Sox are in town. My understanding is that they aren’t offered during home game days.

The meal comes in a very nifty box. The box comes packed with, their house-made beef jerky, pickles, buttons, toy, temporary tattoos and finally a small bottle of the Van Winkle whiskey.

The type of Van Winkle whiskey you get all depends on the day you are there. We got our Pappy Meal on Memorial Day Monday and that days’ supply happen to be the 10 year-old, Old Rip Van Winkle for the price of $30. This $30 year old meal is the youngest meal they provide. Meals with other Van Winkle years are certainly expected to be more.

Although I enjoyed seeing everything inside the box, what I enjoyed the most was sampling the Pappy itself, along with the label on the bottle. It simply made me smile. It’s a label that certainly demands attention. If I were to be walking by, I would stop to look at it.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year-old

• This 10 year old is cask strength at a 107 proof!

Nose: Sweet, oak, caramel and vanilla

Palate: extremely silky with notes of vanilla and oak

Finish: smooth with end notes of pepper and spices

As of late, the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has joined forces with Buffalo Trace Distillery with the idea that the Van Winkles would still follow their guidelines to produce the whiskey they have produce so well for many year.

This whiskey doesn’t taste like 107 proof. It is extremely smooth and leads you to believe otherwise, which is why you have to be careful. Even though it doesn’t taste like strong stuff, it is.

I was not disappointed when I tasted this whiskey. I was expecting great whiskey and that is exactly what I got.

I highly recommend you try it if you come across it. If you happen to live in the Boston area and really want to try Pappy Van Winkle, then stopping by for a Pappy Meal might just be the best way to find this elusive whiskey.

This meal is fun, enjoyable and certainly worth every penny. It is a great way to taste the whiskey and enjoy a few other things along with it. So, I suggest you don’t walk, but rather run to get a Monday Meal, while their supplies last.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.