LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Father Jim Sichko, the Kentucky priest known for bringing Pappy and other premium bourbons to the Pope, is releasing the third in his series of Papal barrel picks from Willett Distillery.

The new release, rounding out what Sichko calls “the Holy of Holy Spirits,” will be available beginning Nov. 11 online and in select locations.

Sichko said in an interview he made the selection this spring to present to the new American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, when he visits the Vatican next May.

“This will be the first time it’s an American Pope who knows Kentucky, knows Willett. And I think that’s really unique,” Sichko said.

He said he doesn’t know if Pope Leo likes bourbon, “But I couldn’t believe that he doesn’t.”

The latest barrel was picked by Sichko with bourbon experts Pablo Moix, co-founder of Rare Character Whiskey; Zev Glesta of Sotheby’s; Joel Wilbur, co-host of Life of Luxe podcast, as well as Bishop John Stowe, Delta Airlines president Tim Mapes and Willett master distiller Drew Kulsveen.

It’s a 13-year-old Family Estate wheated bourbon barreled in 2012 and is the oldest Willett single barrel pick yet and one of the oldest Willett whiskeys ever released, according to the distillery.

Sichko said bottle No. 1 will go to the Holy Father, who may choose to keep it or to sign it and let it be auctioned to raise more money for Sichko’s Mission of Mercy.

Other bottles will be sold via online auction and raffle at my.onecause.com starting Nov. 11. Starting prices for 25 bottles online will be $750 for the auction (or you can buy a bottle outright for a donation of $1,267.) The auction ends Nov. 18, and will include some surprise items, Sichko said.

And a few will be available at Ernie’s Spirits in Lexington for $1,267 (the price is a reference to Pope Leo as the 267th pope) beginning Nov. 4.

There will be three additional bottles raffled off; tickets are $100 a chance.

The money raised will be divided between the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Trooper Island and the Diocese of Lexington: Papal Missionaries of Mercy.

Two previous bottles of Willett barrel picks chosen for Pope Francis and Jubilee of Hope have raised nearly $40,000.

Father Jim said that he hopes to have at least one additional release next year in honor of Bishop Stowe, who has served the Lexington Diocese for a decade.

“He really has a taste for bourbon,” Sichko said.

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