Pennsylvania lottery now open for rare whiskey bottles

Rare and high-end whiskeys are up for grabs though Pennsylvania's limited-release lottery until Friday at 5pm.

Why it matters: For enthusiasts, some of these high-end spirits are their white whales, and this lottery may be their only — and cheapest — opportunity to snag bottles.

State of play: 1,252 bottles of bourbons and whiskeys are available in eight lotteries through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

• The prices range from $54.99 for Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof to $7,499.99 for Weller Millennium Straight Bourbon .
• One of the lotteries is for a collection of five 375mL bottles of whiskeys from Buffalo Trace Distillery ($999.99).

The intrigue: Some of the bottles sell for significantly higher prices on the secondary market.

• Yes, but: Those in the lottery are not intended for resale, and selling alcohol in the state without a license is illegal.

How it works: Only state residents ages 21+ and retail licensees can enter the lottery.

• You'll have to activate an account with Fine Wine & Good Spirits .
• There's only one entry permitted for each product per customer, licensee and household, and attempts to submit duplicate entries will be eliminated, board spokesperson Shawn Kelly tells Axios.
• Winners are limited to one bottle per each of the eight lotteries.

By the numbers: Winning the lotteries is a long shot, but not impossible.

• There were more than 119,000 entries for the lotteries as of Wednesday, Kelly says.
• Entries for the pricey Weller Millennium Straight Bourbon topped 2,000.

What they're saying: "For some people who collect bourbon or the true enthusiasts: This is their holy grail," Kelly says about the bottles in the lotteries.

What's next: Drawings are set for next week. Winners (and losers) will be notified in the coming weeks.