An image of bottles and the bag 20-year Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon is sold in.
Frankfort, KY - Information on the whereabouts of more than $26,000 worth of missing Pappy Van Winkle bourbon could now mean a big payday for the tipster.
Franklin County Sheriff Pat Melton announced Monday that a $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. The distillery reported the stolen bourbon Oct. 15.
Melton said $1,000 of the reward money is coming from Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. The other $9,000 is coming from an “undisclosed” donor.
“We’re just trying to bring Pappy home,” Melton said during a news conference.
Authorities originally said the theft of the 65 cases of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year and nine cases of Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye was being investigated as an inside job.
The reward was first offered to Buffalo Trace employees last week.
Melton said his office has interviewed about 100 employees at Buffalo Trace, which produces Pappy Van Winkle, but is not naming any people of interest.
“Detectives have worked diligently on this case,” Melton said. “I think $10,000 with Christmas in about three weeks is very, very significant.”
Bardstown High School Principal Chris Pickett was recently cleared as a person of interest after he was identified on surveillance video from an Elizabethtown liquor store.
Authorities said Pickett offered to sell the store manager a large quantity of Pappy Van Winkle, but Pickett’s attorney, Doug Hubbard, said his client was speaking about his private collection of the rare bourbon and wanted to buy more.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 502-875-8740 or using Text-A-Tip at 502-320-3306.