FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky bourbon collectors will have another opportunity to bid on some hard-to-find bottles this month as the state prepares to auction 70 bottles of confiscated bourbon, including Old Rip Van Winkle, Blanton’s, E.H. Taylor, Weller and Michter’s.
Team Kentucky announced Tuesday that its second online auction of bourbon confiscated by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will open Sept. 15 and run through midnight Sept. 30.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit alcohol responsibility and education programs across Kentucky.
“This auction has raised nearly $10,000 to fund alcohol responsibility events for our youth,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “By repurposing these funds, we’re helping Kentucky high school graduates celebrate legally and responsibly in an alcohol-free environment and providing alcohol education at 11 Kentucky college campuses.”
For bourbon enthusiasts, however, the headline is likely to be what is going on the auction block.
The state says this year’s auction includes 70 bottles, with several highly collectible Kentucky bourbons and American whiskeys among the offerings.
Highlights announced so far include:
- Five bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year
- An eight-bottle Blanton’s Single Barrel set containing each of the eight collectible stopper letters
- A four-bottle E.H. Taylor collection featuring Small Batch, Sour Mash, Barrel Proof and Single Barrel
- A four-bottle Weller collection featuring Special Reserve, Antique 107, Single Barrel and 12-Year
- Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel
- Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel
A complete list of bottles included in the auction is expected to be posted on the Kentucky ABC website by Sept. 15.
The Blanton’s set could be particularly appealing to collectors. Blanton’s distinctive horse-and-jockey bottle stoppers are marked with the letters B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S, with collectors frequently attempting to assemble a complete eight-stopper set.
The E.H. Taylor collection also includes an unusual entry in E.H. Taylor Sour Mash, alongside Barrel Proof, Single Barrel and Small Batch expressions.
“We have some unique bottles of bourbon in our sale this year, and we are excited to offer these to Kentucky bourbon enthusiasts,” ABC Commissioner Scotty Tracy said. “We are proud of our partnerships including Project Graduation and the college campus initiative Responsible Alcohol and Substance Misuse Education (RASME), two important programs that provide alcohol education to Kentucky students.”
How to bid in Kentucky’s confiscated bourbon auction
The auction will be conducted entirely online, beginning Sept. 15 and ending at midnight Sept. 30. Kentucky ABC says a link to the online auction will be posted on its website when bidding opens.
There is one significant restriction prospective bidders should know: The bottles cannot be shipped.
Winning bidders will be required to pick up their purchases in Frankfort on Oct. 2, Oct. 3 or Oct. 5. The pickup period coincides with Frankfort’s annual Bourbon on the Banks event.
That means collectors interested in bidding should plan for an in-person trip to Kentucky’s capital if they win.
From confiscated bourbon to alcohol education
Kentucky’s ability to auction the bottles stems from legislation enacted in 2024.
Gov. Beshear signed House Bill 439 in April 2024, expanding the former Malt Beverage Education Corp. into the Alcohol Wellness and Responsibility Education board, commonly known as AWARE.
The legislation also authorized Kentucky ABC to dispose of alcoholic beverages through public auction when the products were confiscated as part of closed criminal investigations.
Rather than allowing potentially valuable bottles to sit in storage or be destroyed, the program creates a way for the state to put collectible whiskey back into the marketplace while directing the proceeds toward alcohol responsibility initiatives.
AWARE provides grants supporting alcohol responsibility programs at Kentucky high schools, colleges, universities and outside organizations. Among the initiatives supported are Project Graduation events, which provide alcohol-free celebrations for graduating high school students, and alcohol education efforts on Kentucky college campuses.
The upcoming sale will mark Kentucky’s second auction under the program.
For collectors, the Sept. 15 auction offers something different from a traditional retailer allocation, bottle lottery or commercial whiskey auction. The state itself is putting confiscated bottles back into circulation, and the proceeds are being directed toward alcohol education and responsibility programs.
With five Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year bottles, a complete Blanton’s letter set and collections from Weller and E.H. Taylor among the announced lots, there should be plenty of competition when bidding gets underway.
Auction dates: Sept. 15-30, 2026
Number of bottles: 70
Winning bidder pickup: Oct. 2, 3 or 5 in Frankfort
Shipping: Not available
Full auction list: Expected from Kentucky ABC by Sept. 15
