NH Liquor Commission launches rare bourbon raffle to raise $250,000 for Best Buddies NH

The Telegraph, Nashua, N.H.
·4 min read

Jun. 29—CONCORD — The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) is giving one whiskey lover a chance to win a prize package of some of the world's most hard-to-find whiskeys, including Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year and 23 year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys, Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr Handmade Bourbon, E.H. Taylor 18yr Marriage Bourbon and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — representing a combined secondary market value of over $40,000 to benefit Best Buddies New Hampshire. With its "Buddy Up!" raffle, NHLC is aiming to raise $250,000 for Best Buddies New Hampshire, which provides those with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the opportunity to take part in social activities through one-to-one friendships.

Only 2,500 raffle tickets are available in the Buddy Up raffle, which runs from now through September 15. Tickets can be purchased for $100 each at https://rafflecreator.com/pages/11955/new-hampshire-liquor-&-wine-outlets-2022-buddy-up-raffle. Over the past six years, NHLC has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Best Buddies New Hampshire through rare whiskey raffles.

"We are proud to continue our partnership with Best Buddies New Hampshire to support the incredible work they do, providing friendship, resources and a social network to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities," said NHLC Chairman Joseph Mollica. "Our nonprofit raffle program features a world-class prize package that can only be described as a whiskey lover's dream. Our raffle program raises critical funding for New Hampshire's nonprofit community, while at the same time showcasing our wide variety of rare products."

NHLC will select one winner to receive a prize package consisting of one bottle each of the following products:

Pappy Van Winkle Family of Bourbons

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Van Winkle Special Reserve 12yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr Handmade Bourbon

E.H Taylor Bourbons

E.H. Taylor 18yr Marriage Bourbon

E.H. Taylor Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey

E.H. Taylor Junior Small Batch Bourbon

E.H. Taylor Junior Single Barrel Whiskey

E.H. Taylor Junior Barrel Proof Whiskey

E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Whiskey

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

Eagle Rare 17yr Straight Bourbon

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Sazerac 18yr Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey

William Larue Weller Kentucky Bourbon

The winner will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to New Hampshire to experience the NH Liquor & Wine Outlets' Distiller's Week, which includes:

Two tickets to a Buffalo Trace Tasting Dinner at the Crown Tavern

Two VIP tickets to the Distiller's Showcase of Premium Spirits

Coach airfare or mileage reimbursement

Hotel accommodations for two nights

$200 Gift Card for dining

The generous support from NHLC and its customers has allowed Best Buddies New Hampshire to broaden and enhance its programming across the board. Including the expansion of the School Friendship Program, Best Buddies also developed its Citizens program, providing 1:1 friendship for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who have transitioned out of the school system, with a peer match in their community.

Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represent one of the organization's four key mission pillars. The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers, and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD. Best Buddies New Hampshire has developed a strong Leadership Program in which many with IDD have learned to speak in public comfortably and proudly. These "Ambassadors" speak at statewide events, at fundraising galas, at trainings and more, giving them the confidence they need to get out into the community, advocate for themselves and obtain jobs.

Best Buddies is working to bring their Employment Transition Services to New Hampshire, which will provide training for individuals with IDD between the ages of 14-21 to prepare them for the workforce, with the ultimate goal of bringing the Jobs program to New Hampshire.

"We are grateful for this support from NHLC and its customers through the Buddy Up! Raffle, which will have a tremendous impact on Best Buddies New Hampshire," said Sarra Dennehy, State Director, Best Buddies New Hampshire. "Proceeds from this raffle will enable us to expand and strengthen many of our programs, allowing us the opportunity to continue transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

In addition to Best Buddies New Hampshire, NHLC has worked with suppliers and brokers over the past seven years to raise more than $3.2 million for nonprofit organizations making an impact in New Hampshire and beyond, including Crotched Mountain Foundation, New Hampshire Food Bank, Easterseals New Hampshire, Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, Homes for Our Troops, Operation Care for Troops, Toys for Tots, Granite United Way, Community Foundation Sonoma County, Napa Valley Community Foundation, New Hampshire Food Bank, and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association.