WhistlePig 10 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey

“Wow. What a nose!” ? When I first came across this heavenly Rye Whiskey I almost missed it. As I passed by the table, I was slightly distracted and then at the last moment I noticed this smiling pig with a top hat. I had heard good things,but wanted to form my own opinion.

Boy, I am glad I stopped.

“Wow. What a nose!” ? ????I write this phrase more than once, because I said it more than once.

I want to make this into a scented candle!

I want it as my car freshener! ?? One of the main men behind WhistlePig is former Makers Mark master distiller David Pickerell. He is well respected in the whiskey world after his 14 years there, and WhistlePig is yet another feather in his cap. I love that this whiskey is not just a Rye…it is 100% Rye. That is pretty significant considering how tricky Rye can be to work with, and how most Rye whiskeys are actually only partially Rye to meet the 51% requirement…not 100%! Something else I like? The proof. Going at 50% ABV makes me a happy whiskey guy. I love being able to dictate the water content in my whiskey (which this needs nothing by the way).

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Light, Straw

Nose: Absolutely amazing. Trying to catch it all. So floral, beautiful wood notes, vanilla & caramel, slight fruitiness (orange peels?)

Palate: Cinnamon sticks in vanilla ice cream, full bodied and spicy, butterscotch

Finish: Even creamier as this goes on, with a slight hint of chocolate and oranges.

Overall:

This one is a stunner. To this date, I must say that it is one of the best Rye Whiskeys I have had. Worth noting that this juice is made in Canada and only bottled in Vermont. One of the joys of having Canadian friends that enjoy whisky is that you quickly figure out that Canada makes some of the best Rye whiskeys in world. It must be the extra years of aging and some magical Canadian yeast strains that help tame the pine cone characteristics that I tend to get in ryes. If I were a cocktail guy, I imagine this would make a great Manhattan, but alas, I will keep it nice and neat. Paired with nothing other than a glass. Man, that nose is absolutely fantastic. From a comparison perspective, the only other Rye that comes close to this nose , so far in my journey, is the High West Double Rye (also a high rye content option) but this one takes the aroma award. Once the sweetness fades a little and the cinnamon rye spicy kick pops in, I am in some type of nutmeg heaven. Worth seeking out.