Pope Francis praises Pappy Van Winkle gifted by Lexington priest

Pope Francis is already a pretty likable guy, but he became even more endearing to Kentuckians last week when he praised one of the state’s finest products: a bottle of 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon.

Father Jim Sichko of Lexington presented the Pope with the bottle of Pappy at the Vatican last week, and Sichko told the Herald-Leader’s Janet Patton the Pope immediately recognized it.

“He knew I was from Kentucky so when I handed it him, he immediately said ‘bourbon’ and I said yes, and then he said ‘very good bourbon.’”

Sichko procured the bottle through a friend and brought it, along with more Pappy, Four Roses, and Woodford Reserve, to Rome. He sent a special prayer up when he saw all the bottles survived the journey without being broken or confiscated:

All the PAPPYS, 4 ROSES and WOODFORD RESERVE made it to give to Pope Francis and his security detail! Thanks Be to God! pic.twitter.com/u7AJqpIl7B

— Father Jim Sichko (@JimSichko) April 6, 2018

He gave one of the Pappy bottles to the Commander of the Swiss Guard, who helped him get through the security line to present his gift to the Pope:

Today I delivered a bottle of Pappys to the Commander of the Swiss Guard! We love and pray for all our Military and First Responders across the world! pic.twitter.com/AmQtBIUY1E

— Father Jim Sichko (@JimSichko) April 9, 2018

Very cool. For more on Father Sichko and what he plans to take to Rome the next time he meets with the Pope, head on over to the Herald-Leader.

[Herald-Leader]

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