Political strategist James Carville not-so-subtly displays a treasure. (photo by Peter Zimmerman)

On Election Night, as many of us watched the results roll in, the talking heads offered us their unique perspectives and speculations as to the potential outcomes of the voting. James Carville, that drawly staple of the Clinton era, offered his predictions—and then MSNBC anchor Brian Williams asked about the bottle of whiskey that was in plain view on his back table.

“James, I have to ask: Was that bottle full at the beginning of the evening?” Williams inquired.  “No, it’s about $200 an ounce!” Carville exclaimed.

Drinking on election night is most certainly a southern tradition and Mr. Carville, as it happens, was about to enjoy a nip of Pappy Van Winkle’s 23 Year Family Reserve bourbon. The online beverage site Drizzly has the bottle listed at $6,999 per 750 ml. At that price, it puts the cost per fluid ounce at around $280. So, what’s in the bottle?

Pappy Van Winkle’s 23 Year Family Reserve is a very rare, limited edition bourbon distilled at the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY. Only the most careful and expensive distilling methods are used to create a whiskey as special as this one. Comprised of corn, wheat and barley, the 95.6% proof spirit is aged in new, charred American oak barrels for 23 years and is carefully selected from the best barrels in the rickhouse.

If Mr. Carville were to sip it, he’d encounter the delicious aromas of brûléed bananas, citrus and toasted walnut. The first taste would reveal a pleasant marmalade richness that develops into spicy, cinnamon warmth and fades into dried fruit and oak.

I had a bottle about 12 years ago (before the price went through the roof) and it was delicious. I wish I had purchased another—but with bourbon, as with voting, you usually only get one shot.