University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Athletics

UW-Stevens Point Wrestling Bourbon Raffle
Thanks for your interest in our bourbon raffle. Learn more about each prize and how to buy tickets on this webpage and contact us with any questions!

2024 Bourbon Brawl
The UWSP Bourbon Raffle drawing takes place during the 2nd annual Bourbon Brawl wrestling match featuring UW-Stevens Point vs. UW-Oshkosh on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at 7 p.m. in Berg Gym, Stevens Point, WI. Do not need to be present to win.

2024 Bourbon Raffle Tickets
Tickets cost $100 each. Only 500 tickets will be sold! By Wisconsin state law, raffle tickets cannot be sold online. To inquire about purchasing raffle tickets from one of our coaches or alumni, fill out this form below and we will be in touch with you. Must be 21+ to enter. License No. R0006382-A-56350.

2024 Bourbon Raffle Prizes

2024 Top Prize
“The Old Fellas” 3 bottles of two collectibles and one hard to get drinker.
(Heaven Hill 20 year, Elijah Craig 18 year + Tullamore Dew 15 year)

• Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 20 Year Old Whiskey. Each spring, the Heaven Hill distillery from Kentucky treats us to a highly limited series, showcasing the breadth of the distillery by releasing some of the oldest inventory they possess. In 2023, the distillery released 110 barrels of corn whiskey that were produced in October of 2002 and aged for 20 years in used barrels on the third floor of one of the rickhouses in the distillery’s campus in Louisville. As part of the Heritage Collection that is showcasing the dedication, patience, and exquisite ultra-aging techniques the distillery is known for, this ultra-aged corn whiskey is a true testament to their craft. Made from a mashbill of 80% corn, 12% malted rye, and 8% rye, and bottled non-chill filtered at 57.5% ABV. This is a fabulously mellow whiskey with nicely balanced sweet notes and a lingering finish that is very easy to drink despite the powerful ABV.
• Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel. Elijah Craig Single Barrel is a rare & coveted Bourbon that is bold, robust, & incredibly complex. This 18-Year-Old Bourbon holds its place as some of the oldest Single Barrel Bourbon in the world. Bottled solely from the contents of one expertly chosen barrel, this expression of Elijah Craig is the pinnacle of Bourbon craftsmanship fit for the avid collector. It is part of the Elijah Craig family of Bourbons, named after Elijah Craig, the man who is credited as the first to char oak barrels, giving Kentucky Bourbon its signature flavor and aroma.
• Tullamore D.E.W. 15 Year Old Trilogy Irish Whiskey. Tullamore D.E.W. 15 Year Old Trilogy is the brand’s Original Triple Blend matured in bourbon and sherry casks, and then finished in select Caribbean rum casks to bring a third, delicious dimension to this remarkable Irish whiskey.

2024 First Runner-up
“The Master Collection Trilogy” Three from the Masters Collection including Woodford Select American Oak, Oat Grain and Batch Proof.

• Woodford Reserve Oat Grain. The Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Oat Grain Bourbon is the 13th release in the series. Woodford Reserve Distillery’s Master Collection™ honors the pioneering work of Pepper and Crow, applying their handcrafted methods to a variety of grain recipes, fermentation styles and maturation processes to create a range of unique whiskeys. Oat Grain uses a modification to Woodford’s traditional mashbill, subbing in a portion of oats with a final recipe of 66 percent corn, 18 percent oats, 12 percent malt, and 4 percent rye. The oat character gives the whiskey notes of brown sugar, hints of cinnamon, and a dry fruit character.
• Woodford Select Master’s Collection, Select American Oak. Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch 14, Select American Oak, 45.2%, 2018. This ‘Select American Oak’ has been matured in more carefully selected casks made from white oak sourced from the Ozark mountains. It is a rather timid whiskey that starts with hints of Cornbread, some pear drops and other hard candy. Cherries, a bit of a floral notes and has a nice long finish.
• Woodford Reserve Batch Proof. Batch Proof is the highly limited, first-ever batch proof offering from Woodford Reserve. Continuing its innovation in whiskey crafting, Woodford Reserve Batch Proof is a straight bourbon whiskey from a select batch of barrels. This limited edition, Proprietary Batch of Woodford Reserve is bottled at 125.8 proof. This dark and robust bourbon brings a mix of coffee, dark chocolate, and pecan notes. Thick layers of charred oak are strung throughout, leaving behind a dry mouthfeel.

2024 Second Place Prizes
Special Occasion Bourbons” two bottles of unique, rare and/or hard to get bourbons (x5).

1. Blanton’s and Buffalo Trace

• Blanton’s Original. Barrel 355, Warehouse H, Pick No. 8. Letter L. Taken from the center-cut or middle sections of the famous Warehouse H, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel was once designated for ambassadors, dignitaries, and Colonel Blanton’s family and friends. The taste profile of this hard-to-find bourbon is sweet, with notes of citrus and oak. The creamy vanilla nose is teased with caramel and butterscotch, all underscored by familiar baking spices such as clove, nutmeg, or cinnamon. Blanton’s Original set the standard for single barrel bourbons in 1984. Bottled at 93 Proof.
• Buffalo Trace. Incredibly well received by critics ever since it was made available in 1999. It is priced competitively and sold as a Whiskey for daily drinking. The deep amber tone has a complex aroma of vanilla, mint and molasses. Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit and anise. This whiskey finishes long and smooth with serious depth.

2. Rare Perfection 12 yr. and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

• Rare Perfection 12 yr KY bourbon Lot 1. This limited release of Rare Perfection Bourbon is a very small batch 12-year old bourbon, bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers at Willett. Rare Perfection 12 yr is a Cask Strength with very little filtering which gives this bourbon a big, rich Kentucky flavor. 
• Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has won countless awards from some of the most accredited spirits competitions, including Whiskey Advocate's Whiskey of the Year, #2 Whiskey by Wine Enthusiast, Double Gold from San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Double Gold at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and Double Gold at the International World Spirits Competition, among many other distinctions. To sip Barrel Proof Bourbon is to experience Bourbon in its purest form—uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand labeled with its unique proof and batch number but the nose, taste, and finish of every sip is pure Elijah Craig.

3. Calumet 15 year and Iron Quarter and Johnny Drum

• Calumet Farm 15yr Single Rack Black. This version of the Calumet Farm 15 Year Old is as follows: “All barrels used to craft these rare batches are aged in a single, center cut rack” — thus the release’s subtitle of “Single Rack Black.” At 15 years, there is plenty of spice, oak-leather and a constant heat, however, the taste also includes a rich and sweet profile with layers of dried aged fruits and nutty, baked chocolate notes. For its complexity, this whiskey is on the sweeter side than most older bourbons.
• Iron Quarter, 8yr, 375 ml bottle. There are no reviews and no pricing on this very unique, old world Kentucky bourbon.  This Straight Bourbon is a tribute to the origins of the whiskey trade in Kentucky.  It is an 8 year-old Straight Kentucky Bourbon at 88 proof. It is a blend of straight bourbons from many distilleries, some in Kentucky and others in Pennsylvania and Virginia and New York, as style of bourbon that was common before prohibition. Iron Quarter is available exclusively in a 375 ml size sold only at Kentucky Artisan Distillery.
• Johnny Drum. According to the bottle’s label, Johnny Drum served as a drummer boy in the year 1861 during the Civil War. At the end of the war, legend has it Johnny returned home to his native Kentucky, where he staked claim among a beautiful spring. Johnny learned the importance of finding a way to convert his excess corn crop into a profitable item, rather than allowing it to go to waste. As the story goes, it wasn’t long before Johnny’s determination produced an exceptional bourbon whiskey. Is Johnny Drum hard to find? Johnny Drum Bourbons can be hard to come by because — even though it comes from Willett — it is a small-batch label and there are just not that many bottles around to be had.

4. Knob Creek 12 year and Jack Daniels

• Knob Creek Straight Bourbon 12 Year. Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is still made to exacting standards. Knob Creek is aged to fully draw out the natural sugars in its charred white oak barrels. This exceptional, full-bodied bourbon strikes the senses with an oak aroma, a sweet, woody, full-bodied, almost fruity taste, with a long, rich finish. Created to reflect the flavor, strength, care, and patience that defined whiskey before Prohibition.
• Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey. This hand selected expression from Jack Daniels comes to you at 94 Proof. It has a full body and a variety of concentrated flavors. The distillery’s signature notes of caramel, spice, with fruit notes and sweet aromatics. A must-have for any Jack Daniel's fan.

5. Russel Reserve 13-year and Old Forester Single Barrel

• Russel Reserve 13-year. Legendary Master Distiller's Jimmy and Eddie Russell use over 100 years of combined experience to create this thoughtfully crafted expression. Each bottle of Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old is aged for a minimum of 13 years, reaching an ABV of 57.4% and promising a distinctive, rich, warm flavor best enjoyed right out of the bottle. This extremely hard to find bourbon was named by several sources as bourbon of the year in 2022.
• Old Forester Single Barrel. Every fingerprint is unique. The same is true for every bourbon barrel. Old Forester Single Barrel is from one individual barrel, so there is no other exactly like it. At 90 Proof with rich, robust profile, Single Barrel offers a one of a kind experience.

2024 Third Place Prizes
One nice bottle (x3) of a really good Friday night sipper.

1. Restoration Single Barrel, Straight Rye Whiskey. This 2022 release is distilled from 63% rye, 20% malted rye and 17% corn is an elegant and supple pour. On the nose resinous rye spice leads with mint, wintergreen, and peppermint following closely behind. The finish is balanced and quite nice with fruit outlasting spice.


2. Boone County KY Pot Still. This Bourbon has been skillfully crafted in a 500 Gallon Copper Pot Still, giving it a full body and complex flavor not found in other Bourbons. This Bourbon has been hand-picked from a few select barrels that have been aged well beyond an ordinary Bourbon. Boone County Pot Still Bourbon has been carefully mashed, distilled, aged, and bottled in Boone County, Kentucky.


3. Makers Mark Limited Release. FAE–02 is produced using double-heat-treated virgin French oak barrel staves that undergo an infrared exposure prior to a flame toast finish. This expression creates a pallet pleasing fruit mix, spices of cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper and sweets of brown, sugared pastry, vanilla custard, buttery caramel, and maple syrup. All this sweetness is countered by slightly bitter hazelnuts which help to balance toasted wood and light barrel char.

 

Joe Trawitzki Pointer Wrestling Endowment

Funds raised through the raffle benefit Pointers Wrestling through the Joe Trawitzki Pointer Wrestling Endowment.

As a result of hard work, strong fundamentals, and a talented room, UWSP wrestling teams of the 1990s enjoyed great success. While there were many award-winning individuals, those 1990s era teams were characterized by a “team-first” approach that created a room filled with outstanding wrestlers who were dedicated training partners waiting to become varsity wrestlers themselves. Many of whom, given the opportunity became or would have become conference champions and all Americans themselves.  
 
These team members were as dedicated, well trained, and often as skilled as the varsity teammates who wrestled in front of them. Their unselfishness provided the intensity and challenging environment that made everyone better.  
 
One of those team members was Joe Trawitzki. Joe, who served as a training partner to one of UWSP’s most successful wrestlers, is known for overcoming physical challenges through hard work and perseverance to become an essential team member, training partner and successful wrestler himself. 
 
Joe’s slogan, “Win the Day,” encourages us all to get the very most from every day, no matter the challenge. His selflessness, dedication and good nature epitomized the spirit of the Pointer wrestling room of the 1990’s. For this reason, the Pointers Wrestling endowment is formally named the Joe Trawitzki Fund.