WhistlePig 10 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey

I've got WhistlePig in my glass now. Apparently they have their own distillery in the works but for now the brand imports all their stock. WhistlePig is currently made by Alberta Distillers, and then exported to the States where it gets bottled and deceptively labeled as an American product. This annoys some people, understandably. But I’m willing to overlook that little tidbit because I absolutely love this style. Yes, I enjoy a good Canadian whisky, but I’m a sucker for these big, ballsy ryes that are made to US specs. Best of both worlds here, I guess.

Nose: Well, it’s rye alright. Clean and fresh. Pine, fresh cut grass, orange, anise, oak, caramel, toffee, spearmint and faint vanilla. Something floral pops up after a few minutes. This is an excellent and inviting nose.

Palate: Light bodied. Quite a smooth arrival when considering the abv. Rye, grass, anise, menthol, butterscotch, cinnamon, and light honey.

Finish: Long, herbal, and clean. White pepper burn ushers us into flavours of sharp rye, orange juice, mint leaves, hay, anise, clove, cinnamon, paprika, and charred oak.

Thoughts: Excellent. I’m a sucker for strong rye flavours. Straight rye with a healthy abv is my kind of whisky. It’s got all the bite that a good rye should, but it remains balanced and drinkable. A bit pricey, yes, particularly when contrasted to my Willett’s ryes, which are cheaper and more full-flavoured. But overall it’s an excellent dram. Recommended.