Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 11, 2025 – The popular, collectible “Papal Series” of bourbon releases from Father Jim Sichko of Lexington wrap up with a first. To mark the occasion of the historic election of the first American-born Pontiff, Fr. Jim and a curated group of bourbon experts and corporate executives selected a first-ever 11-year Family Estate Wheated Bourbon bottled at 125 proof.
Featuring the coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV, the bottles will be available Tuesday, Nov. 11 via an online auction & raffle, as well as direct purchase online.
- Starting Nov. 11, people can go online to bid on 25 bottles and/or buy a raffle ticket for one of three bottles. Twenty-five bottles will be auctioned with starting prices at $750 each. There will be three additional bottles raffled at $100 a chance; 100 raffle tickets will be sold. The auction and raffle will go through Tuesday, Nov. 18, 10 PM ET.
- Donations to receive a bottle outright can be made online starting Nov. 11. With Pope Leo being the 267th Pope, donations for the rare release will be set at $1,267.
- Additionally, a limited number of bottles are available at Ernie’s Spirits on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington. The bottles will sell for $1,267; full proceeds will be donated to the three charities.
As with the previous two bottles in this unique trifecta, proceeds will support charitable initiatives, especially the work Fr. Jim carries out as a Papal Missionary of Mercy. In 2016, Pope Francis commissioned Fr. Jim as a Missionary of Mercy, making him one of 100 in the United States and 1,000 in the world. In May 2026, Fr. Jim plans to take bottle No. 1 from this year’s release to Pope Leo.
Fr. Jim is known for his incredible acts of charity. Recent examples include helping pay funeral expenses for victims of this summer’s flooding in his home state of Texas, and leading a campaign to collect $60,000 worth of gift cards for those affected by May’s deadly tornadoes in Somerset and London, Ky.
The other charities being supported by this release are:
- The Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF) – Based in Lexington, the PDJF provides financial support to permanently disabled jockeys. Currently the PDJF supports 60 former riders who have suffered paralysis, brain injuries, or both.
- Trooper Island – This initiative by the Kentucky State Police offers a free summer camp for underprivileged kids across the Commonwealth. Located in Dale Hollow Lake, the idea behind Trooper Island was to establish a permanent recreational site where troopers and children could share a week-long experience.
This year’s release was selected by Fr. Jim and Drew Kulsveen, Willett’s Master Distiller, alongside:
- The Most Reverend John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. – The Diocese of Lexington
- Tim Mapes – Delta Air Lines, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
- Tim Di Carlo – Veteran executive in media, national advertising, and sponsorship revenue
- Zev Glesta – Sotheby’s, Assistant Vice President of Whiskey North America
- Pablo Moix – Rare Character Whiskey, Co-founder
- Joel Wilbur – “Life of Luxe” podcast, Host
In 2024, Fr. Jim partnered with Sotheby’s New York to auction two limited-release Willett Distillery bottles that he had signed by Pope Francis. A third rare bottle of Willett signed by former professional football quarterback Tom Brady was also auctioned. In 2023, Fr. Jim marked the 10-year anniversary of the election of Pope Francis with a rare release of 10-year Willett.
About Father Jim Sichko – Based in Lexington, Ky., Fr. Jim Sichko is a Papal Missionary of Mercy wbo travels the world doing various random acts of kindness. A popular author and speaker, Fr. Jim makes headlines for random acts of generosity and kindness including giving thousands of dollars to people at grocery stores, on the streets and especially to those most in need. To learn more about Fr. Jim or reach out to him, please visit https://www.frjims.com/,
