Whistlepig 10 Year Small Batch Rye

Finally getting around to this one. One of the more hyped ryes out there. Sourced from Alberta, 100% rye at 100 proof. I just noticed that this is finished in ex-bourbon barrels, which actually makes a lot of sense considering certain notes I've gotten in previous tastings. Let's get into it. Nose: Some standard rye notes. Heaps of black pepper. Dill and pumpernickel bread. Pistachio, caramel, and vanilla. Very low ethanol, but there is plenty of clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Allspice as well. There is also a lemon-drop sweet note. Butterscotch and some tangy citrus and orange peel notes in the background. Great nose. Palate: Peppermint, dill, and black pepper hit heavy out of the gate. Caramel and vanilla. It's a chewy whiskey. Big oak and lots of allspice. Mint chocolate and pistachio. Some grapefruit, orange, and apple. Warm apple cider note I often get in ryes. A touch of clove and nutmeg. Superb. Finish: More pistachio, more black pepper, more dill. Apple juice or apple cider. Then a wave of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and even more black pepper. Hearty oak. Long finish, even at 50% ABV. This has become of one my favorite whiskies. My second favorite rye after Willett 4. My favorite whisky to come out of Canada by miles. It's the oldest rye I've ever had by a good margin, and it really shows in the depth and all-around quality. After my first tasting, I was surprised to learn that this was 100% rye. That's because I got a lot of bourbon notes; I'd have expected this to have a high corn mash. To learn tonight that it was aged in bourbon barrels provides me a lot of clarity. 4.75. I'm still in the shallow end of the pool when it comes to rye, but I've had enough now to establish something a pecking order. And this is right at the top. In fact, it's one of the better whiskies I've had. I say buy the hype on this one. It's a special drop.

Spice finish long warm

On the nose, spiced apple cider and a touch of mint. Herbal on the palate, refreshing basil and tea. Orange and vanilla too. The apple didn’t carry over to the palate, which I was hoping for, but it’s still very enjoyable. Heavy cereal notes that carry through to the end, including the finish. There’s a slight bitterness in the aftertaste, like stevia (which happens to be my favorite artificial sweetener). It’s real nice.

There's a plastic-like taste in the mid palate that's hard to ignore

Very good rye, but honestly a little over priced for what you’re getting. It’s pretty balanced across the board and nothing stands out to make this unique. Similar to Bulleit rye but almost three times the price and maybe even less complexity. Nose: Vanilla and baking spice with a hint of orange Palate: Caramel, baking spice, vanilla, and holy crap it’s spicy. Slight hint of eucalyptus. Finish: Spicy long finish with barrel tannin and peppered oak. Mouthfeel: Very good mouthfeel. It's definitely not thin.