Making Spirits Bright: Lexington’s Annual Bourbon Drop Draws Lottery Winners
On December 20th, enthusiasts line up for a chance at some of the rarest bourbons available in North Carolina. Just days before the holidays, bourbon fans in Davidson County gathered in Lexington for one of the most anticipated events of the season — the annual ABC Bourbon Drop.
{Barley Allan Cooksey, Lexington ABC store manager North Main welcomes customers to the annual Bourbon Drop/Photo: Antionette Kerr/Davidson Local}
The local festivities took place at the Lexington ABC Main Street store, where rare and highly sought-after bottles are released through a lottery system once a year. According to Barley Allan Cooksey, store manager at the Lexington ABC Main Street location, the Bourbon Drop is the result of careful planning throughout the year.
“It’s not just today, we hold these bottles through the whole year,” Cooksey said. “We get them and we service our restaurants in town too.”
Inside the store, customers could spot bottles that rarely appear on shelves.
“Where these are harder to find bottles, as you see behind the counter, I’ve got some Pappy Van Winkle, some George D. Stagg stuff like that, we run a lottery,” Cooksey said.
Campouts, Collectors and Community
More than a few enthusiasts arrived early — very early. Two parking lots filled with bourbon fans camped out overnight, turning the wait into a celebration. Several participants came, although they didn’t win a bottle, to enjoy the experience.
“They’ll camp out the night before, which is fun,” Cooksey said.
Not everyone in line planned to open their bottle right away. Some participants are collectors, saving rare bourbons for milestone moments or special occasions. With certain bottles valued in the hundreds of dollars, patience is part of the appeal, and for many, the thrill is as much about the hunt as the pour.
“You can only get one,” Cooksey said to a customer during the interview, noting that winners are limited to a single bottle to help spread the opportunity.
How the Bourbon Drop Lottery Works in Lexington
In North Carolina, allocated bourbon arrives at the state warehouse as a limited supply for the entire state. Those bottles are then divided among local ABC boards, which decide how and when to release them. Some boards place bottles directly on shelves, some reserve them for loyal customers, and others — like Lexington — hold lotteries.
In Lexington, the board chooses to hold rare bottles throughout the year and release them all at once during the Bourbon Drop. The lottery system helps manage demand while creating a sense of fairness and excitement.
“Some of these bottles, you know, they’re stupid hard to get,” Cooksey said. “We get maybe three bottles a year.”
Cooksey also emphasized that ABC proceeds benefit the broader community.
“The cool thing about the ABC system is we give money back to the school system,” he said, referring to additional sales tax dollars added to alcohol purchases. “And, you know, police departments, stuff like that, so it all comes out to be really fun and exciting thing for the customers.”
A Winning Moment
Among this year’s lottery winners was Pat White, who has become a familiar face at the annual event.
{Pat White of Lexington was one of the lucky Bourbon Lottery winners. Photo Credit: Antionette Kerr/Davidson Local}
“You know, this is actually my third year,” White said.
White nearly missed his winning moment. The drawing was streamed live on the Lexington ABC Board’s Facebook page, and while he was watching, he got caught up in conversation. It wasn’t until friends around him reacted that he realized his name had been called.
His prize this year was a coveted bottle of George T. Stagg.
According to the crowd, George T. Stagg is considered one of the most prestigious bourbons released each year in the United States. Produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery, the bourbon is part of an annual, limited collection that is known for its long aging, bold flavor, and extremely small supply.
White said he has built a vertical collection over several years.
“I have 2022, 2023, 2024. And now I have 2025,” he said.
When asked whether he drinks or saves his bourbon, White said rare bottles are meant to be shared.
“Good bourbon is meant to be shared,” he said. “Sharing that with people with accomplishments.”
White’s bottle carries more than bragging rights. At retail, George T. Stagg typically sells for around $125 to $150 when released as part of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s annual Antique Collection. Because of its limited supply and high demand, bottles often command several hundred dollars or more on the secondary market, depending on the release year — a reality that helps explain why many winners choose to save their bottle for a truly special occasion.
Not every ABC store hosts a bourbon drop or lottery. In Lexington, only the Main Street location participated.
As rare bourbon season continues across North Carolina, availability and release methods will vary by ABC board. In Lexington, the annual Bourbon Drop has become a holiday-season tradition — one that blends, research, community and the excitement of hearing your name called as a winner.
“Cool thing about this is it kind of brings a little community together,” Cooksey said.
