If that store got the Pappy's from a distributor, and marked them up to those prices, I'm sure the Van Winkles would like to know. Might be the last time they get any. If they bought them from a store, who bought them from another store ...., well that's another story.
As far as the bourbon goes, I think the Pappy 15YO is worth every bit of it's [normal] asking price. The 20 & 23 are probably priced correct for their age but I think the 15 is better (confession - I have never had the 23) so I doubt I will ever get a 20 (and almost certainly will never get a 23). I would however, buy up every 15 that I could get my hands on [again, at normal price]. Both the 2011 and 2012's are
THE best whiskey I have ever tasted. Every once in a while another bourbon comes along (BTAC Stagg, BTAC Weller, Jefferson Pres., 4 Roses Ltd., etc.) that I think might be better, but over time I come to the conclusion that the Pappy 15 is still my favorite. If all I had in my cabinet was Pappy 15 and Rare Breed, I would be quite content. Fortunately though, this is not the case
Cheers,
RG