Pope Francis calls Pappy Van Winkle 'very good bourbon'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- What does a Kentucky priest give Pope Francis as a gift? Bourbon, of course.

And when Father Jim Sichko had a private audience at the Vatican last week, he gave His Holiness a 23-year-old bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. The priest serves in the Dioceses of Lexington and wanted to give the Pope something to symbolize his home state.

Sichko told the Lexington Herald-Leader, "So when I handed it to him, he immediately said 'bourbon' and I said yes, and then he said 'very good bourbon.'"

The bottle is worth about $2,500.

Pope Francis receiving his 23 yr old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon as we shared our love of My Ole Kentucky Home! pic.twitter.com/mWereczKs9
— Father Jim Sichko (@JimSichko) April 10, 2018

Sichko also posted a picture of multiple bottles of bourbon he gave to the Swiss Guard, which protects the Pope. The selection included several Kentucky Derby edition bottles of Woodford Reserve, Four Roses and Knob Creek.

All the PAPPYS, 4 ROSES and WOODFORD RESERVE made it to give to Pope Francis and his security detail! Thanks Be to God! pic.twitter.com/u7AJqpIl7B
— Father Jim Sichko (@JimSichko) April 6, 2018