World Whiskey Society has launched a new 20-year-old whiskey, the Family Reserve, priced at $1,500, positioning it as a direct competitor to the legendary Pappy Van Winkle collection. While Pappy Van Winkle’s rare bottles are known for their high resale prices far exceeding their original retail costs, the Family Reserve comes with a similar name and an even steeper price tag.
Founded in 2020, World Whiskey Society is not a distillery but a non-distilling producer that sources premium whiskeys. Their latest release, the Family Reserve, is a cask-strength whiskey sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery. Although the mashbill includes 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley—ingredients common to bourbons—it is marketed simply as a whiskey, possibly due to the aging process, which may not meet the strict requirements to be classified as bourbon.
The Family Reserve marks the 20th anniversary of Aiko Brands, the importer behind World Whiskey Society, and was created as a tribute to the company’s founder, Igor Kogan, a Ukrainian immigrant. The release is said to embody his vision for creating a timeless product that celebrates life’s precious moments, with the Kogan family emphasizing its symbolic connection to transformation and excellence.
In a philanthropic twist, 100% of the proceeds from the Family Reserve will be donated to the Lustgarten Foundation, an organization dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer. While detailed tasting notes, ABV, and bottle availability remain undisclosed, whiskey enthusiasts can purchase the Family Reserve directly from the World Whiskey Society website.
