islay_emissary
WhistlePig 15 Year Estate Oak Rye
Rye — (bottled in) Vermont, Canada
Reviewed
March 7, 2018 (edited January 5, 2019)
Whistlepig was founded by Apprentice contestant Raj Bhakta in January of 2010. The company and distillery operation are located on a 500 acre farm he purchased 3 years earlier in Shoreham, VT. Successfully securing the services of master distiller Dave Pickerell (Maker’s Mark), Whistlepig began life as a bespoke whiskey producer and finishing agent specializing in rye whiskies sourced from MGP of Indiana and Alberta Distilleries of Canada. Distilling operations began in 2015 after several successful releases of award winning whiskies. This review covers their 15yo Vermont Estate Oak expression sourced from Alberta and finished for 6 months in charred new oak grown locally on their farm. The attraction of the American white oak grown here relates to the ring density of the trees due to the short growing season. They claim this adds additional flavor and complexity to their whiskey over white oak grown much further south. American white oak is also the wood required to age bourbon. Over the last year, I have become a big fan of good rye and can see why it has been gaining in popularity. Rye contains the least amount of sugar of the 4 primary grains used to make whiskey, so if you like dry, then give it a try. I decided to compete this 46% ABV rye whiskey against 3 others without regard to pricing: Col. EH Taylor Straight Rye, 50% ABV; Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (Jim Murray’s World Whiskey of the Year in 2016), 45% ABV; and Bulleit Rye, 45% ABV. Whiskies were rated in 4 different categories: Nose, Spicy Palate, Dry Palate, and Finish. 10 points were awarded per category (1st- 4 points, 2nd- 3 points, 3rd- 2 points, 4th- 1 point). Taking 1st place on the nose was Bulleit Rye. It exhibited an unusual and unique nose consisting only of baking spices and oaken tannins, with no hint of vanilla or fruitiness that were readily apparent in the Colonel and Whistlepig. I found this to be different and appealing. The nose on the Crown NHR was pleasant but faint in comparison to the other 3. The Colonel and Whistlepig were tie for 1st place in the Spicy Palate category where the spice was greatly enhanced by vanilla, red fruits, and a touch of caramel. Here, a tad of sweetness complimented well and helped to deliver the victory. Bulleit was next in this category with good spiciness, but a little flat. The Crown, again, pulled up last with faint spices and little help elsewhere. For those who like dry over sweet I decided to make things fair by adding the category of Dry Palate. Here, the Crown NHR took 1st place with Bulleit taking 2nd, followed by Whistlepig and the Colonel. In the final category of Finish, again, the Colonel and Whistlepig were tied for 1st with lengthy and satisfying finishes. Bulleit was next and the Crown was last and lacking in robustness in comparison to the other 3. In tallying the points, there was a 3-way tie for 1st place, with the Colonel, Whistlepig, and Bulleit all receiving 11 points and the Crown NHR taking only 7. As a tiebreaker, I decided to add a 5th category called Balance and Likeability, since 2 whiskies were clearly better than the others. So, at the finish line, Whistlepig takes 1st in this category by a hair over the Colonel to secure the overall victory. Whistlepig - 4.5 stars; the Colonel - 4.4 stars; Bulleit - 4.00 stars; and Crown NHR - 3.75 stars. As an aside, I had already tasted all 4 of theses rye whiskies separately, and on several occasions previously.
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@LeeEvolved @SolanaRoots I gotta say, I respect Lee for his out-of-the-Box thinking. Two years ago, he organized a “Scotland Distillery Tour”, aka SDT, which was a sampling of every active distillery in Scotland. This year, sounds like a new venture.
@SolanaRoots - it’s a possibility. I’m trying to organize a private bottle share amongst some of the heavy hitters here on Distiller. They’d make a nice duo if that event ever materializes.
@LeeEvolved Wow, nice work snagging both. Wishful thinking for a side-by-side review one day in the future :)
@SolanaRoots - I have the 12yo and I just traded for the 11yo. I haven’t opened it because it’s so rare, especially this far down the East Coast. I was trying to save it for a bottle share with my bourbon friends, but those guys haven’t held a tasting in quite some time. I don’t know if or when I’ll get to it.
@LeeEvolved Is your bottle of the Lot 40 Cask Strength the 11 Yr or 12 Yr? Any chance you cracked the bottle open & have a review forthcoming?
@SolanaRoots I have tried the Lot 40 CS and it’s delicious. I will have a review up soon, along with the rest of the Northern Borders Collection. I’d love to try the other Lock Stocks, especially the 18.
Nice @LeeEvolved - you know I always dig reading your reviews so looking forward to that one
@SolanaRoots - I have a bottle of the Lot 40 CS. I’ve heard great things so I’ll be opening mine sometime later this fall after our distillery tour stuff ends.
Hey @Richard-ModernDrinking - just reading your comment & wondering if you ever reviewed the Lot 40 Cask Strength. Also have you tried the Lock Stock 13yr or 18yr?
@SolanaRoots - yes, I really loved AMWND quite a bit. I’ve purchased 2-3 bottles of it over the last couple of years. I wanna say the finishing on those is what made me like them so much, not the rye factor. Its an interesting dram for sure.
There isn't much variation in rye because most of it comes from the same two sources and differs only according to the usual barrel variations or the finishing (which is how Whistlepig and MWND differentiate themselves). But if there's one rye that stands out as different, it's Lock, Stock & Barrel 16. That one has a deliciously unique funky nose. Also, see my forthcoming review of Lot 40 Cask Strength for another rye to rave about.
Hey @LeeEvolved - were you one of the guys that gave a rave review for the High West A Midwinter’s Night rye? Seems like that one is a consensus rye favorite
@LeeEvolved - Jim Murray’s world whiskies of the year, 2010 & 2013. I guess he likes rye too! :)
I believe the only rye I ever gave a really high score to was the Sazerac 18 and the Saz Thomas Handy Rye. I remember them both being sensational.
@LeeEvolved - The answer to your question is “no,” in my opinion. I get in the mood for rye, here and there, and I find the $30 Bulleit does the trick just as well as the $180 Whistlepig. The variation in rye seems slight in comparison to single malts.
@PBMichiganWolverine - That price is crazy for the Black Prince. Not many are buying at that price. They will sell eventually to the collectors.
@Rick_M - wow, nice review! If I had written this much for a review I’d surely have had to take a nap afterwards. Anywhy, I had a friend asking if I had access to the Whistlepig (sadly I do not) and I was wondering if you thought it is worth the $180 it would cost to have one shipped?
@Rick_M informative review! Nice one Rick. I have their Black Prince on my “to purchase “ if they come down on that silly price
Good point @Rick_M - I’ve tried the Lock Stock 13yr at a restaurant but steep price tag on the bottles always makes me hesitate & I’ve never grabbed one off the shelf. Maybe one day
@SolanaRoots - Lock Stock & Barrel? I’ll need a co-signer to fund that operation. :)
Outstanding review & great insight! Look forward to your Rye Round 2 with one of the High West & one of the Lock Stock & Barrel offerings :)
Thanks @Generously_Paul. About time I contributed something around here.
Great comparison review