Pennsylvania lottery now open for rare bourbon, whiskey bottles
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Rare and high-end whiskeys are up for grabs though Pennsylvania's limited-release lottery until Friday at 5pm.
Why it matters: For enthusiasts, some of these high-end spirits are their white whales, and this lottery may be their only — and cheapest — opportunity to snag bottles.
State of play: 1,252 bottles of bourbons and whiskeys are available in eight lotteries through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
- The prices range from $54.99 for Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof to $7,499.99 for Weller Millennium Straight Bourbon.
- One of the lotteries is for a collection of five 375mL bottles of whiskeys from Buffalo Trace Distillery ($999.99).
The intrigue: Some of the bottles sell for significantly higher prices on the secondary market.
- Yes, but: Those in the lottery are not intended for resale, and selling alcohol in the state without a license is illegal.
How it works: Only state residents ages 21+ and retail licensees can enter the lottery.
- You'll have to activate an account with Fine Wine & Good Spirits.
- There's only one entry permitted for each product per customer, licensee and household, and attempts to submit duplicate entries will be eliminated, board spokesperson Shawn Kelly tells Axios.
- Winners are limited to one bottle per each of the eight lotteries.
By the numbers: Winning the lotteries is a long shot.
- There were more than 119,000 entries for the lotteries as of Wednesday, Kelly says.
- Entries for the pricey Weller Millennium Straight Bourbon topped 2,000.
What they're saying: "For some people who collect bourbon or the true enthusiasts: This is their Holy Grail," Kelly says about the bottles in the lotteries.
What's next: Drawings are set for next week. Winners (and losers) will be notified in the coming weeks.