WhistlePig 18 Year Double Malt Rye

A little background

WhistlePig began with the purchase of a farm in 2007. After a few years, and some help from Master Distiller Dave Pickerell, WhistlePig vowed to craft the world’s finest and most interesting Rye Whiskies. Keeping with this tradition, WhistlePig recently released an 18-year-old, double malt, rye whiskey. The mash bill consists of 79% rye, 15% malted rye, and 6% malted barley. WhistlePig Double Malt Rye is bottled at 92 proof and MSRP is set at $399 dollars.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Golden Honey

Nose

The nose is sweet and spicy. Red apples and cinnamon are accompanied by vanilla, oak, and faint hints of iced gingerbread cookies and bubblegum are also present. After some time in the glass, notes of French vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted caramel begin to appear.

Palate

The first sip has a medium viscosity and settles with a warmth in the chest. Rye spices, vanilla, and oak are most prominent. The second sip coats the mouth. Clove, allspice, cinnamon, and peppered oak are present. The third sip is oily and is an intensified combination of the tasting notes listed above.

Finish

The finish is long with a candy sweetness. Baking spices, clove, and cinnamon are most prominent.

In closing

The 18-year-old WhistlePig Double Malt Rye has an enticing nose and oily mouth feel. Notes of cinnamon and allspice are evident throughout the tasting process. This spirit has the warmth, flavor, and sweetness you would expect from an 18-year-old rye whiskey. The bottle is packaged in a handsome box and there is a beautiful, hand blown glass stopper included that amplifies the overall aesthetic.