Kentucky bourbon fans could be giving thanks this week as the state auctions off some rare confiscated bottles.
The Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is holding the state’s first online auction of seized alcohol, including rare bourbons like Four Roses 2011 strength and Blanton’s Single Barrel Gold.
Bidding begins Wednesday and will close at midnight on Dec. 11, the department said on its website.
A new state law signed in April grants the department the authority to auction off impounded alcohol once a criminal or administrative case has been completed.
Thirty-two bottles are up for sale, including a bundle with wine, vodka, rum and whiskey, according to the state.
Bottles available for bidding include Old Fitzgerald Counties of Ireland with a porcelain decanter; Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon aged 10 years; Blanton’s Single Barrel Gold, which comes in a box with Japanese markings on it; Eagle Rare aged 10 years; E.H. Taylor Seasoned Wood and Four Grain; Weller Antique 107; and a Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup signed by Mike Smith, the most successful jockey in Breeders’ Cup history.
Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon aged 10 years retails for at least $800. According to The Bourbon Flight, a publication that covers the bourbon industry, the distillery restricts the number of bottles released each year and they sell out quickly, which drives a secondary market where they sell for far above their retail price.
Bidders must be 21 or older. Bottles must be picked up in Frankfort, Ky.
The event’s proceeds raise money for the Alcohol Wellness and Responsibility Education (AWARE) Corporation, which provides grants to Kentucky high schools, colleges, universities, and outside organizations to support substance abuse programs.
A link to the online auction is available on the department’s website. It was not clear how much the auction is estimated to raise.
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