Our dad, Julian, likes to say, “The better the bourbon, the better the cocktail.” But it wasn’t until we met Joe and MariElena Raya, longtime bartenders turned entrepreneurs who had begun creating their own line of mixologist-level cocktail mixes called Bittermilk, that we really gave pre-packaged cocktail mixes a shot. Their No.1 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned Mix, in particular, was an immediate hit with the Van Winkle clan. And like Bittermilk’s original mix, this one-of-a-kind collaboration is made with simple quality ingredients (bittering agents like gentian root and cinchona bark along with burnt sugar, spices, and a bit of orange peel), but our version is aged in retired Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels, creating a distinct flavor profile unique to Pappy & Company.