Right this moment we’re two new releases from WhistlePig, and so they couldn’t be extra totally different. One is one other oddball experiment from the Vermont operation — bourbon aged in barrels with two several types of Vermont maple serving as barrel heads, and the opposite a non-alcoholic providing made in collaboration with… Alice Cooper, who it seems has been sober for greater than 40 years.
We tried them each, and now we have ideas.
WhistlePig Snout to Tail Bourbon 10 Years Outdated Evaluate
So that is truly sourced Kentucky distillate, with an uncommon strategy to barreling: “WhistlePig’s Snout-to-Tail Bourbon experiences a one-of-a-kind craft course of with two totally different toasted barrel heads. One finish contains a Vermont oak medium toast and the opposite, a Vermont oak smoked maple wooden toast. The barrel is flipped 180°– from snout-to-tail – throughout the closing levels of maturation [the barrels are stored upright, which is why this makes sense], leaving time for the whiskey to get heat and comfortable with every barrel head.”
That’s a posh setup and building for a ten yr previous Kentucky bourbon, aged with some publicity to Vermont maple, each toasted and smoked. The nostril doesn’t actually let on concerning the odd getting old course of, displaying off a quite beefy high quality that’s usually a traditional a part of many older bourbons, however which surprises in its look in a ten yr previous providing. Components of honey wheat bread, brown banana, and BBQ brisket char all merge collectively in a surprisingly austere fragrant presentation.
The palate flips the script (hey, it’s snout to tail, proper?) and sweetens up instantly. It’s exhausting to keep away from comparisons to maple syrup right here, so I gained’t: Boldly candy, with a transparent maple syrup high quality, and sure, a contact of smoke simply as WhistlePig in all probability anticipated. Comparisons to sweet-smoked pork ribs wouldn’t be misplaced, nor would evocations of each cranberry sauce and Thanksgiving stuffing, full with hints of sage. Gently natural on the end with a traditional smear of baking spices. My suggestion: Save this one for the vacations!
88 proof.
A- / $90 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
WhistlePig Intercourse, Medication, Rock & Dry Outdated Original NA Cocktail Evaluate
“Crafted with 100% Rye Non-Whiskey, Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, adaptogenic Cordyceps and Schisandra Berry, and aphrodisiac Damiana.” 100% of income are being donated to Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit offering emergency help throughout the nation for meals service employees via monetary help and a community of neighborhood sources.
All credit score to Alice, however these things is fairly undrinkable, and in contrast to any Outdated Original I’ve ever tried. Mushroom dominates alongside skinny notes of sesame and watery maple syrup, evoking (at its finest) the flavour of the thinnest mushroom soup you’ve ever encountered. Floral notes arrive in due time (courtesy of the Damiana), including a barely sickly-sweet honeysuckle layer to the proceedings. The end in all fairness innocuous, however the injury is lengthy accomplished by that time.
D+ / $50
WhistlePig Small Batch Rye Whiskey 10 Years Outdated
USD90
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