Whistle Pig Straight Rye Whiskey is Talking Bourbon’s first review of a drink from Vermont. Though it does seem that the juice is actually distilled in Canada and just bottled in Vermont. WP is also somewhat rare in that it is a 100 % Rye.
Whistle Pig comes in a large, nice looking corked bottle. Is aged in charred Vermont oak barrels for 10 years, 100 proof and sells for around $70.00. It is not always easy to find.
Whistle Pig 10 year old Rye has gotten a lot of glowing reviews. Are they warranted?
NOSE
Ron: A sweet Rye nose with hints of pear and apricots. I can definitely smell that this is 100 proof.
Todd: Nice clean aroma of soft Rye, honey, and almonds. I also picked up scents of cherries, leather, citrus, sweetness and cocoa.
TASTE
Ron: Got a lot more on the taste than on the nose. Rye, oak, almonds, and a mustiness up front. Behind this, the citrus and pear that I got on the Nose.
Todd: I am just the opposite, got a lot more on the nose. I did taste the Rye that I got on the nose. Other than that everything else was faint, a bit of malt, a slight mustiness and a flavor I couldn’t identify
FINISH
Ron: Long with a hint of vanilla.
Todd: Medium to long with a nice burn but not much change.
OVERALL
Ron: It’s been a while since I’ve had Whistle Pig and then, was not impressed for the price point. Totally different today, definitely improved, but still not quite sure it is worth the price.
Todd: I agree, better than I remembered, and I loved the nose.
Nose 4 out of 5
Taste 8 out of 10
Finish 3.5 out of 5
Total 15.5 Barrels out of 20
As with others we have reviewed, the score doesn’t quite reflect how we feel about this Rye. One of us downgraded the nose and another the taste. Neither of us were blown away by the finish. That resulted in a lower score on a drink we both actually enjoyed.
In the end though, Whistle Pig is a little high on the price side for the drink you get. It would make a great cocktail, but again the price makes it a little hard to mix. Our final verdict is there is a lot of Rye out there you can get for a lot less that are just as good if not better.