The Hall family of restaurants will send a historic bottle of bourbon on a journey across the state starting today. A bottle of 25-year Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon (right) will travel between all four Halls Chophouse locations, as a part of the restaurant's Chophouse for a Cause charity series.
The bottle is one of 710 produced by Pappy Van Winkle, an opportunity patriarch Julian Van Winkle calls, “a once-in-a-lifetime offering.” Every dollar from every drop goes to Happy Wheels, a nonprofit providing toys to hospitalized children across South Carolina.
The 1-oz. bourbon pours are $500 and include a hand-etched Halls Glencairn whiskey glass and the opportunity to sign the collector's case, which will reside in Halls Chophouse Charleston after the campaign. The bottle was donated to Halls Chophouse by Rick Havekost, owner of Micky Finn’s.
Halls Chophouse hopes to sell all 20 pours, amounting to a potential $10,000 donation to the local charity.
“When we found out we would be receiving one of these precious bottles, our collective mind thought immediately of how we could benefit our community,” Tommy Hall, Proprietor of Halls Chophouse, said. “Especially during this particularly different holiday season, our focus turned towards the families and children who may not have expected to celebrate this year in the hospital. It’s a way to honor the legacy of my dad (Mr. Bill Hall). I know he would have loved this.”
Happy Wheels serves the same South Carolina communities as Halls Chophouse: Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville.
“We are honored and grateful that the Hall family has chosen to partner with Happy Wheels for such a rare and unique opportunity,” Tracey Rankin, Program Director of Happy Wheels Columbia, said. “Happy Wheels will be able to provide many smiles to hospitalized kids across the state because of your generosity.”
The bourbon begins its journey in Charleston today, will travel to Halls Chophouse Nexton (Summerville) by the end of the week, then on to Halls Chophouse Columbia, and finally to Halls Chophouse Greenville. The exact travel schedule of the bourbon will be announced on the Halls Chophouse social media pages this week.
Halls Chophouse is a part of Hall Management Group, which also owns and operates High Cotton, Slightly North of Broad, Rita’s Seaside Grille, and Halls Signature Events in Charleston.