Pope Francis Signed These Bottles of Willett Bourbon. Now They’re Headed to Auction.
When most people think of the Catholic Church, things like rosaries, holy water, and crucifixes usually come to mind. Maybe even some wine. It’s pretty safe to say that bourbon is not on that list, but nevertheless Sotheby’s just announced that it was auctioning off a couple of bottles of America’s native whiskey that were signed by Pope Francis, and we have the details.
The bourbon in question comes from Willett, a popular distillery among whiskey fans. Willett has been around since the 1930s, but has gone through various incarnations over the years. Evan Kulsveen purchased the distillery in 1984 during a period when it was closed and renamed it Kentucky Bourbon Distillers Ltd. For years, Willett sourced whiskey from other distilleries, releasing brands like Rowan’s Creek, Noah’s Mill, and Johnny Drum. In 2008, Willett launched Family Estate Bottled Bourbon, Rye, and Pot Still Reserve as sourced whiskeys (believed by many to be Heaven Hill), and the purple tops of these bottles became semi-iconic in the American whiskey industry. Four years later, the distillery started making its own whiskey again under the Willett name, initially releasing younger expressions along with the other brands it continues to bottle and sell.
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There are two bottles of single barrel bourbon going up for auction, each estimated to fetch up to $10,000. The first is a 10-year-old bourbon that marks the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ election as the 266th pope. According to Sotheby’s, this whiskey was distilled using Willett’s original recipe of 72 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and 15 percent malted barley, and bottled at 132.6 proof. This bourbon, part of a run of just 149 bottles, features the papal coat of arms and is signed by “the People’s Pope” himself. The second bottle is also a ten-year-old bourbon, one of just 59 bottles that comes in at a very high 144.2 proof. This bottle is meant to mark 2025 Jubilee Year, which has the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” and is also signed by His Holiness.
Proceeds from this auction will benefit several Catholic charities in Texas and Kentucky. “We’re honored to bring these unique bottles to auction, not only for their rarity but for the good they’ll do,” said Father Jim Sichko, diocesan evangelist and papal missionary of mercy, in a statement. “Each bottle marks an important moment in the church’s history, and we hope collectors will appreciate them as symbols of tradition and generosity, supporting causes that reflect Pope Francis’ values of compassion.”
Both of these bottles are part of Sotheby’s bigger Whisky & Whiskey auction, which runs from today through December 7, and includes other collectible bottles from the Macallan, Remy Martin, and Pappy Van Winkle. You can register now at the Sotheby’s website for your chance to own one of these holy spirits.
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