While visiting Vermont, I stopped into the tasting room for WhistlePig Rye Whiskey. It's worth the visit for this terrific rye whiskey lineup!
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Vermont's WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Distillery started with the help of the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell. They based their products on a stock of found 10-year-old blended Canadian Whiskey.
Since then their lineup has grown from that initial 10yr Straight Rye Whiskey by experimenting with different cask finishes and blends.
Farm to Bottle
Now WhistlePig is moving towards their 100% “Triple Terroir” philosophy. That's whiskey distilled from locally grown grain, proofed with water from the farm, and aged in casks made from their Estate-grown Vermont White Oak.
Called their Farmstock Rye Crop, the plan is to continually increase the percentage of their homemade whiskey in the expressions and reduce the need for other outside blends.
Tasting the whiskey
Unfortunately, the distillery itself isn’t open to the public, but there is a lovely tasting room in Waterbury, Vermont (just down the road from Ben & Jerry’s). They have free tastings where you can choose four samples from the six they have on offer, although there is a small charge for a sample of their premium whiskeys.
I decided on a comparison lineup showing the difference in Straight Rye Whiskey's aging and the difference in the Farmstock's blends. Josh Thomas, our guide in the tasting room, gave a wealth of information about each pour, and the room was comfortable and nicely appointed with WhistlePig products.
My Tasting Notes
WhistlePig Rye Whiskey
At the WhistlePig Rye Tasting Room, July 21, 2019
WhistlePig 10 year
50% ABV
Type: American
Keywords: American Whiskey, Blended Whiskey, Bourbon Cask Finish, Rye Whiskey, Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Corn, oatmeal, clover honey, ferns, light caraway
- Taste: Immediate rye, oatmeal, white pepper, corn sugar
- Finish: Fades slowly to caraway, honey, brown sugar
Comments
Canadian whiskey aged in New American Oak with a bourbon barrel finish. Sweet and spicy, not aggressive, quite flavorful.
WhistlePig 15 year
46% ABV
Type: American
Keywords: American Whiskey, Blended Whiskey, Bourbon Cask Finish, Rye Whiskey, Whiskey, White Oak Cask Finish
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Soft caraway, sweet green peas, clover honey, leathery
- Taste: Soft entry, allspice and white pepper rises, leather in the background
- Finish: Lingers on the spicy allspice, then fades to soft rye, dill pickles
Comments
Straight Rye 10 yr, aged an additional 5 yrs in Estate Vermont Oak. Gentled from the 10yr, more leather and green notes.
WhistlePig Farmstock Rye Crop No. 002
43% ABV
Type: American
Keywords: American Whiskey, Blended Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Hay, leather, musty, library bookshelves
- Taste: Cinnamon, quickly turns to caraway, dust
- Finish: Lingers long with rye spice and dust
Comments
Blended with 32% 2yr whiskey, made from the WhistlePig farm's rye, water, and wood, 46% 6yr MGP Rye, and 23% 10yr Canadian whiskey. Really interesting balance between rye whisky and aged bourbon flavors.
WhistlePig Farmstock Rye Crop No. 003
43% ABV
Type: American
Keywords: American Whiskey, Blended Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Lemongrass, granola, cedar wood
- Taste: Soft hay to start, caraway and green grass rises with white pepper, falls, then allspice rises
- Finish: Lingers on the caraway and allspice
Comments
Majorityof the blend (51%) is from the Triple Terroir whiskey. Quite a lot happening here - it's a sine wave of flavors that rise and fall.
Final thoughts
WhistlePig Rye Whiskey continues to impress me every time I try it, from the original WhistlePig 10 yr to Gordon’s WhistlePig Single Barrel Rye Select 10 yr.
Being able to select my own WhistlePig Rye Whiskey comparisons, in its home state, added to the fun this tasting.
It's definately worth the trip!
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
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