Swahili1
WhistlePig Old World Cask Finish Rye 12 Year
Rye — Indiana (bottled in Vermont), USA
Reviewed
February 29, 2020 (edited February 25, 2021)
Tasting- 2 oz neat pour, this is Binny's 2020 release finished in Meade cask finish. Source is confirmed as MGP Indiana
Nose: Cereal bar dominates, some honey, and dill. There is a distinct rye seed in the background. It is a pronounced nose that will be hit or miss,no inbetween.
Taste: Spice hits you upfront and quickly gives way to fresh strawberry and honey. There is a grapiness on the back end and a bit of seeded rye bread.
Finish: Holiday spice cake is what I get tempered by raisin and for days. Honey is in the background but not like a floral or clover honey. I wouldn't say it finishes like a fruit cake.... because NOBODY likes fruit cake, but it reminds you of that without the chewiness.
Overall: I was pleasantly surprised. I am usually suspect of Whistlepig offerings because the sourcing is so ambiguous....sometimes Alberta, sometimes Indiana, sometimes bits of their own. These 12 year finished versions are very upfront with that and this one was 100% Indiana (MGP). That said it does have a dill on the nose for sure.....traditional MGP rye, love it, hate it but expect it. What really got me though was the flash of spice and then the smooth rich sweetness that followed. The finish on this was well done. The price is another factor. At 119.99 MSRP this is steep. I understand the age and the extra finishing barrel though. I can justify this and will use it among my fireside chat whiskey, equivalent to the way I regard Midwinter Night's Dram-- induces sweet dreams.
119.99
USD
per
Bottle
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@LeeEvolved I am with you on that. It is a steep price to pay.
I loved everything about this whiskey...except the $130 price I had to pay for a bottle. Great review.
@PBMichiganWolverine I do find it similar in that it is more of a good marriage of rye and meade like MWND marries the port and French oak finish. I would say however that the profile is a tad sweeter but not syrupy
Is this similar to the Midwinter? This year’s act 7 was nicely done, unlike in my opinion, the last few years.