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Chenault Van Winkle James, Louise Van Winkle Breen and Carrie Van Winkle Greener.
Sister Act
Pappy & Company maintains the Van Winkle family’s history of distinction By MARIAH KLINE Photo by THOMAS HART SHELBY
Pappy & Company is located at 843 E. Market St. For more information, visit pappyco.com or call 888.834.9831. 30
THE VOICE OF LOUISVILLE
Voice March 2020.indd 30
| VO I C E -T R I B U N E . C O M
ulian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr. left a legacy like no other with the creation of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve, one of the finest bourbons in the world. Today, his great-granddaughters – sisters Louise Van Winkle Breen, Carrie Van Winkle Greener and Chenault Van Winkle James – are contributing to the family’s tradition of excellence with their brand, Pappy & Company. “It occurred to us that we should get involved in our family heritage,” says Louise. “And we wanted to start selling merchandise associated with this sought-after brand since there wasn’t any available at that point.” The company launched online in 2013 and the retail store opened its doors in NuLu in December 2018. In both places, visitors will find bourbon-inspired home decor, apparel, accessories, barware, cigars, specialty foods and more. The retail space was originally built in the 1850s and took nearly two years to restore. Its previous functions included acting as an upholstery business and a grocery store. Now, the building is also home to Chenault James Interiors, where you can find home furnishings, upholstery, lighting, rugs and art. Like their family’s bourbon, the quality of everything is impeccable. The business owners are working alongside wood artisan Jason Cohen of Bourbon Barrel Furniture, whose shop is nearby on South Shelby Street. Cohen takes Pappy bourbon barrels and transforms them into fine, modern furniture. Another neighborhood collaboration is with leather makers Clayton & Crume, who handcraft leather accessories – including luggage tags and pocket journals. One state below, the chocolatiers of Olive & Sinclair in Nashville, Tennessee, create the delectable bourbon nib brittle, aging cocoa nibs in Pappy Van Winkle barrels. Farther away – Esteli, Nicaragua, to be exact – the artisans at Drew Estate create premium cigars for the brand. Online, you can purchase them in cases of 10, but you can buy single cigars at the NuLu store. Each one is handmade in small batches and pair well with Van Winkle spirits. The sisters share a passion for the business as well as a desire to help the community. This year, Pappy & Company is serving as a sponsor of KMAC Couture: Art Walks the Runway for the second year in a row. “A few years ago I attended my first KMAC Couture,” says Louise. “I was so impressed and amazed by the creativity and the artistry. The next year, Chenault and I were mentors to a few of the artists which was really inspiring.” The three are proud to support KMAC Museum, though they sadly will not be able to attend the runway show this year due to a family reunion that is taking place alongside the opening of “The Van Winkle Family Collection” at the Frazier History Museum. The exhibition includes memorabilia and archive pieces donated by the family. Contributing to the family legacy is paramount to the women, as is creating a comforting space. In the near future, they intend to host events and experiences in their space, harkening back to the communal gathering space it may have been in the 1800s. “We’re looking forward to developing a community feel through the store,” says Chenault. “NuLu is such a special neighborhood full of creatives, and we are excited to make our store the kind of place where you would want to come hang out, even if you weren’t in the market to buy anything. Just pop in, see what’s new and feel free to stay awhile.” V MARCH 2020
2/19/20 10:15 PM