LOUISVILLE INNER-CITY SCHOOL LAUNCHES MASSIVE $2 MILLION ULTIMATE BOURBON RAFFLE TO ASSIST FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
May 01 2024 - 7:30AM
Through the support of bourbon CEOs and distillers, collectors and
aficionados, the West End School, a tuition-free, all-boys school
located in Louisville, has launched one of the most ambitious
bourbon raffles ever seen. Up to $200,000 worth of
hard-to-find, vintage and ultra-rare bourbons – 22 lots – currently
are being raffled off nationwide. For
tickets: ultimatebourbonraffle.org
In a show of solidarity, bourbon industry
executives, enthusiasts, collectors and school supporters have
donated important, collectable bottles and experiences to make this
one of the most sought-after bourbon raffles. In fact, 22 winners
will be drawn in this raffle, making it one of the most valuable
charity raffles to date, said Fred Minnick, who is widely
considered the world’s leading bourbon authority.
The school recognizes that its backyard and
neighborhood is located in the middle of bourbon country and, after
many years of urging from others, school officials decided a raffle
was an important way to join forces with the bourbon community. All
proceeds from the raffle support underprivileged kids at the West
End School and include the soon-to-be-built West End Girls School,
expected to be finished in fall 2025.
Live raffle drawing for the 22 lots will take place
at 11am (EDT), June 20. Tickets are $100. There will be 22 winners
who need not be present to win. Each winner can choose one of the
22 lots until all lots are taken.
“It’s an ambitious undertaking but the school has
the support to get this done,” said Paul Perconti, West End School
co-founder and Board Chair emeritus. “We hope to raise $2 million
with this initiative, which will further support fundraising for
the West End School,” he said.
Wall Street Journal-bestselling author and renowned
bourbon critic Fred Minnick, who has formally partnered with the
school, led the curation of this effort. Minnick knows first-hand
that a raffle of this size can make a difference to the school, the
students and their families. “I am a Louisvillian and love my
community. The West End School is among the very best endeavors
happening in our city and am so incredibly thankful the bourbon
community has stepped up to raise funds,” he said.Here's an
up-close look at the 22 ultra-rare prized lots:
- Brown-Forman
150th Anniversary Bottle - This extremely limited bottle
celebrating the 150th anniversary of Brown-Forman is a 150-month
old-expression that was selected from just six barrels. One of
the most valuable bottles ever put out by the distillery. Valued at
$8,000
- 2023 Michter’s 25
Year Old Bourbon - The oldest bottling from one of America's most
admired distilleries. Extremely limited production that is only
released on select years. Valued at $9,000
- Maker's Mark
Private Select Barrel - You and seven friends can craft your own
Private Select Barrel as you enjoy all of the bottles in the barrel
as well. Partake in an exclusive, private tour at one of the
greatest barrel experiences in the industry. Valued at
$20,000
- Heaven Hill
Private Tour & Tasting Experience - Private tour for 4
conducted by Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O'Driscoll, ending
with a special keepsake bottle."You Do Bourbon" experience for
four guests; each guest is to receive one of each product (Larceny
BP, Elijah Craig BP, and Bernheim BP)
- Heaven Hill
Heritage Collection- Old Fitz BIB Decanter Series VVS 2018
14YO- Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18YO Bourbon- Parker’s
Heritage Collection 5th Edition 10YO Bourbon Finished in Cognac
Barrels Autographed by Parker Beam
- Pappy 5-bottle
Vertical Signed by Julian P. Van Winkle III - A full bourbon
vertical of the most sought-after bourbon in the world, each
bottle signed by Julian Van Winkle III exclusively for this raffle.
Valued at $18,000- Old Rip Van Winkle- Van Winkle "Lot B"-
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old- Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old- Pappy
Van Winkle 23 Year Old
- 1913 Early Times
Bottled In Bond Straight Whiskey, 1 Quart - A rare
unicorn. A Pre-Prohibition bottle of Early Times, with
great clarity and fill level. Valued at
$20,000
- 2023 King of
Kentucky 16 Year Old -The 2023 16-year-old expression of Brown
Forman's most exclusive annual release.
- Four Gate
Collection Signed - A 5-bottle vertical of Four Gates' Kelvin
Collaboration, signed by Master Blender Bill Straub- Four Gate
"The Kelvin Collaboration I"- Four Gate "The Kelvin Collaboration
II"- Four Gate "The Kelvin Collaboration III"- Four Gate "The
Kelvin Collaboration IIII"- Four Gate "The Kelvin Collaboration
V"
- Watch Hill Proper
Barrels Pick Lot - 16 different bottles representing Watch Hill
Proper's amazing Barrel Pick Program. - NULU Rye- NULU
Bourbon- Knob Creek Bourbons (Three Different Barrels)- Jack
Daniel's Barrel Proof- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea- Peerless
Bourbon- Peerless Rye- Yellowstone- Rebel Cask Strength- Elijah
Craig Barrel Strength- Starlight Cigar Batch- Russell's
Reserve-Ezra Brooks Cask Strength
- Michter's 8
Bottle Vertical Signed - A complete vertical of Michter's Core 4,
Barrel Strength Bourbon and Rye, and the 10-Year-Old Bourbon and
Rye. Signed by Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation
Andrea Wilson- 2023 Michter’s 10 Year Old Bourbon- 2019
Michter’s 10 Year Old Rye- 2019 Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon-
Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye- Michter’s US1 Small Batch Bourbon-
Michter’s US1 Sour Mash Whiskey- Michter’s US1 Small Batch Whiskey-
Michter’s US1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- 15 Stars 9 Bottle
Vertical - A full 9-bottle vertical including the rare Platinum and
Triple Cask Bottles, a number of bottles are from the first batch
of a series.
- Old Forester
Birthday Bourbon & Distillery Series - A bottle of the
acclaimed Birthday Bourbon and a full vertical of the Distiller's
series including the newly released 1924 10-Year-Old.- 2023
Birthday Bourbon- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Whisky- Old
Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond Whisky- Old Forester 1920 Old Fine
Whisky- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky- Old Forester
1924 10 Year Old Whisky
- W.L. Weller
Bourbon 6 Bottle Vertical - A complete 6-bottle release of the most
popular wheated bourbon collection, including Craft Your Perfect
Bourbon (CYPB) and Single Barrel
- Berghoff 10 Year
Old Bourbon bottled in 1984. Distilled at Stitzel-Weller in
1974.
- 2022 William
Larue Weller - The Highlight of the Buffalo Trace Antique
Collection
- Daniel Weller
(Emmer Wheat Recipe) - A Very Limited Release of the most
sought-after Weller.
- Colonel EH Taylor
4 Bottle Collection - The 4 annual release EH Taylor
including the hard-to-find Barrel Proof.
- Colonel EH Taylor
4 Grain - The 2017 Limited Release of a 12-Year-Old with a great
balance of Bourbon's 4 most popular grains
- Colonel EH Taylor
18 Year Marriage - The 2020 Limited Release is a blend of the
Distillery's two bourbon mashbills and its wheated bourbon - all at
18 years old.
- Colonel EH Taylor
Amaranth - The "Grain of The Gods," first cultivated by the Aztecs,
produced one of the most remarkable EH Taylor exclusive
releases.
- 2023 Four Roses
Small Batch "135" Limited Edition - Four Roses' most anticipated
annual release, a blend of 12, 14, 16 and 25-Year-Old
whiskeys
“These bottles are not just unicorns, they
represent some of the greatest releases of the past 100 years. The
1913 Early Times bottle tells the story of the time with pre-hybrid
grains and water pure and straight from a stream. The Pappy set
needs no introduction, and you won’t see bourbon geeks get more
eager to rumble than over a King of Kentucky. Perhaps the best
part, all of this was donated by members of our community. From
Watch Hill Proper to bourbon collector Jonah Goodman, they all
represent the best of Louisville, just like the West End School
students,” said Minnick.
The West End School provides a safe, structured
environment for boys from low-income households. More than 99
percent of the school’s alumni have gone on to graduate high
school, with more than 70 percent of graduates going on to attend
private schools on full scholarships.
Marc Abrams, a well-known bourbon expert based in
Louisville, also serves as an advisor.
###
ABOUT THE WEST END SCHOOLThe West End School has been
open for 19 years with the mission of providing a safe, structured
environment for boys from low-income households alongside a
tuition-free, private school education. More than 99 percent of the
school’s alumni have gone on to graduate high school, with more
than 70 percent of graduates going on to attend private schools on
full scholarships. While the school currently serves around 140
students, the addition of the Girls School is expected to double
the size of the student body, allowing more students to be
positively impacted by the academic program, but also requiring
physical expansion of the campus. westendschool.org
- A rare unicorn. A Pre-Prohibition bottle of Early Times that's
part of the West End School Ultimate Bourbon Raffle
- A Pappy vertical being raffle off as part of 22 separate
lots
Cheri Collis White
West End School
502-494-6431
cheri@ccwpr.com