WhistlePig 10yr Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye Specs Selection
-
Distiller:
Alberta
-
Bottler:
WhistlePig
-
ABV:
60.15%
-
Age:
10 Years
-
Price:
$$$$$
-
Intro:
WhistlePig is a hybrid spirits operation in Vermont that has previously staked its claim on importing rye whiskey from Alberta to age and bottle in Vermont. In the past, I've bumped into some of their single barrel ryes and found them really enjoyable. In recent months, WhistlePig has made a switch to digging up some older MGP rye stock for their 10 year old single barrel barrel proof rye, as well. As a result, I have set out to try 25 WhistlePig single barrel ryes to get a lay of the land. They were arranged, poured and blinded by a generous fellow who loves rye as much (or very plausibly more so) than I do. There are one or two non-WhistlePig ryes in here, also, so the stakes are pretty high. All blind, all in. Welcome to the 2019 Ryenaissance.
-
Nose:
Toffee, cocoa, oak. A bit closed but very dessert forward. Spice is at a minimum. No fruits. All dessert.
-
Taste:
Thick, rich, loaded with honey and werthers caramel. Light floral essence. Some minty perfumey character. Really rich. Some heat, great oak structure
-
Finish:
Long, rich and hot. Molasses, maple, honey, minty dill, floral herbs. Honey. Crme brulee character is off the charts. Theres some heat here but its packing with the body. Tons going on.
-
Overall:
Really great stuff here. I don't think this is Alberta distillate though. This reminds me so much of a well aged CS rye from SAOS. Maybe its a cask of the new MGP pig, but I'm not sure I expect that to be as complex as this. I'm guessing SAOS if I had to. Really impressive.
-
Score:
8
- Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources