WhistlePig 10 Year Single Barrel Rye

This single barrel bottling for Indiana Liquor Group Vol. 1, from barrel #119984, has a proof of 116.7 (58.4% ABV). I question the need for individual single barrel entries in the database, especially when they receive criticism. This purchase, unfortunately, was made to celebrate a new job, and given the limited options, I chose this expensive bottle. While I enjoy the standard 6-year Whistlepig, a well-rounded Canadian rye, I find it noteworthy that they source Canadian whisky and market it as their own. If I could convince people to pay more for a product, I likely would too. Regardless, this is a cask-strength rye, but I suspect its decade of aging might be excessive for my enjoyment. The light, translucent color suggests aging in an ex-bourbon or similar non-charred cask, leading to a lack of expected charred oak notes. The nose offers bright grain, almost corn-like, with the rye's characteristic spice and herbaceousness mellowed by age. Floral notes from the cask are also present, leaving much of the profile dominated by ethanol and subtle spiced rye. Fortunately, the palate brings the muted nose notes to life with floral and honey flavors. The rye's presence becomes more apparent, with moderate intensity. A touch of barrel sweetness, like a used bourbon barrel, emerges near the finish, allowing hints of caramel to appear. The finish strongly delivers the expected rye spice due to the cask strength, complemented by a mildly dry sensation that numbs the gums. Canadian distilleries excel at rye. However, without the cask strength, the rye's impact, primarily on the finish, would be far less pronounced. Diluting a decade-old spirit is also questionable. It's neither simple nor complex, but a good option for those who appreciate high-proof, non-American rye, particularly if they don't prefer heavy char. While a solid 10-year offering, its steep price is a major drawback, making it a purchase only if other cask-strength Canadian ryes are unavailable.

Review #087 Type: Canadian rye Proof: 54.6% Comments: Matured for 10 years, aged in American oak barrels, from barrel 85127 Tasted after: WhistlePig Farmstock Rye Crop No. 003 Appearance (no score): Tawny hue. When swirled, a thin film clings to the glass, and the legs form very slowly. Nose: 15/20 Notes of rye bread, butterscotch, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon zest. Palate: 32/40 Initially spicy on the first sip, but it becomes significantly smoother by the second. Flavors include rye spice, brown sugar, cinnamon, honey, a hint of black tea, and a touch of maple syrup. The maple syrup is accompanied by spicy oak tannins. Finish: 29/40 A medium-long finish that dissipates gradually rather than being bold. Flavors of burnt caramel and black pepper emerge, followed by spicy oak tannins. A subtle wintergreen note is present throughout. Gradually, the sweet, spicy, and minty notes fade into a faint hint of cough syrup, concluding with a biscuit-like taste on the tongue. With Water: Adding a few drops of water enhances the honey aroma and introduces floral notes. The palate experiences a stronger rye spice kick that feels different in the back of the jaw. Total: 76/100 Final thoughts: This is a solid rye, but it's a rare instance where I prefer the blended proof version. It has an unusual minty and cough syrupy profile that detracts from what is otherwise an excellent product. If I had to choose between buying this again or the Farmstock Rye, I would opt for the latter. This is technically my second time reviewing this expression, though it has been a couple of years. This particular bottle is from a different barrel, and I believe each single barrel warrants its own evaluation. It was interesting to revisit my notes from review #021 after finishing this one and compare. Price: $80 Would recommend: perhaps Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #021 Type: rye Proof: 53% Comments: aged 10 years, matured in American oak barrels, from barrel 50112 Tasted after: WhistlePig 6 Year Piggyback Rye Appearance (no score): Auburn color. Swirling shows a thin line that adheres to the glass; legs form slowly. Nose: 14/20 Rye spice is dominant, but there are also notes of apples, soft bananas, vanilla, and a slight mustiness reminiscent of cardboard boxes. Palate: 33/40 Rye spice, cinnamon, a touch of cayenne pepper heat, orange zest, and a hint of honey. Finish: 30/40 Medium length. A moderate alcohol burn accompanies molasses, prominent floral and pollen notes, and black pepper that gradually shifts to salt. The lingering tastes in my mouth are similar to having just consumed cough syrup. With Water: A drop of water enhances the cinnamon and spice flavors, while diminishing some of the botanical notes in the finish. Total: 77/100 Final thoughts: The palate is the highlight of this dram. While the finish is certainly complex, I personally do not enjoy how the flavors combine. Price: Sampled from a friend's bottle Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

The aroma isn't overpowering, but it's delightful. Notes of butterscotch, honey, light potpourri, cooking herbs like basil and oregano, and cinnamon sugar are present. It's enjoyable to inhale due to the complete absence of ethanol. The taste mirrors the aroma, with honey sweetness, a hint of banana, and mild herbal notes of coriander and mint. The flavors are remarkably integrated and well-balanced, allowing the herbs to stand out without being overwhelming. The aging has smoothed out any rough edges. A pleasant warm sensation is felt on the tongue. The finish is on the shorter side of medium, transitioning from the palate's flavors to a peppery rye spice. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and somewhat oily. This spirit met my expectations and ranks among the better ryes I've encountered. However, the $92 price tag is a bit steep; I expect 'stellar' at that cost, not just 'nice,' though I don't regret buying it. Compared to other ryes in the $50-$70 range, a repurchase is unlikely, but it is a very good product.

Stewed apples, vanilla, caramel, light oak, clover, eucalyptus and rye bread with caraway seed Sharp and a tad thin but absolutely exploding with flavor. Vanilla, white pepper, cayenne, apricot and a pleasant buttery, yeasty note with just a touch of oak on the medium finish. This is really good but won’t be for everyone. It is so close to the green label Seagrass - and clearly cut from the same DNA. It lacks the viscosity and the swell of fruit and molasses notes, which is to be expected with this being the unfinished base. It pains me to say that this isn’t all that far off from the 16y Gray Label Seagrass. Sure, the extra $200 gets you more viscosity and a bit more maturity with less bite. Also unclear how much variation there is with these single barrel picks but would easily reach for one once the Seagrass(es) in my cabinet [are] empty. What a find and a big thanks to a fellow enthusiast for sharing!

Corn, citrus, and vanilla. First taste: This brand consistently delivers fruit flavors for me – citrus and a subtle banana, with caramel following. It has a slight tannic quality. It's not as sweet as other expressions from this brand I've tried, notably less sweet than the standard 10-year. There's a definite warmth. After resting: Not much changes. Perhaps a hint of kettle corn, but it remains more tannic than sweet. With water: Adding a small amount intensified the heat, so I added more, which mellowed it out. However, this also reduced the flavor, which is unfortunate. I typically don't add ice to my bourbon, but I might consider it for this one. I *enjoy* it (I always like this brand), but I don't absolutely love it. I definitely don't like it as much as the standard 10-year (I'm tasting them side-by-side for comparison today), so I would likely choose the other one in the future.