WhistlePig The Boss Hog 六: The Samurai Scientist

Review #022 Type: rye Proof: 60% Comments: No Age Statement, finished in Japanese umeshu barrels, sixth edition of the Boss Hog series Tasted after: WhistlePig 10 Year Single Barrel Rye Appearance (no score): Mahogany color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form slowly. Nose: 17/20 Surprisingly mild on the nose, typical rye spice, butterscotch, and a little fruity sweetness, perhaps from pears. Palate: 37/40 Very smooth and deliciously complex, rye spice forward, with orange zest, ripe syrupy plums, and burnt caramelized sugar. Finish: 35/40 Nice long finish. Medium alcohol burn accompanies the arrival of baking spices. The fruity flavor is still present but more like sour hard candies now, slowly turning from spicy to peppery and very mildly salty at the end, just enough to make you thirsty for the next sip. With Water: A drop of water didn't change much, a second drop intensified the rye spice on the palate and increased the fruity flavors in the finish. Total: 89/100 Final thoughts: I'm familiar with WhistlePig, but this is the first edition of the Boss Hog series I've tried. It's very very good, but I'm not sure I'd purchase a future release myself. Price: tasted from a friend's bottle Would recommend: yes Would buy: maybe 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.

A stellar pour, considering the price. I tried it neat and with a few drops of water. The nose was initially disappointing, with only ethanol, but opened up after water was added, smelling like a wine-finished rye, possibly from the Japanese liquor barrel. The palate truly shone, both neat and with water. It was exceptionally smooth for 120 proof, with perfectly balanced rye spice and sweetness. The finish was lengthy but didn't add new characteristics. Overall, a great pour, especially considering I got it at a good price.

Aroma- Classic rye spice; candied ginger; plums; damp wood; orange zest; smooth vanilla. Flavor- An initial wave of oranges; black licorice; rye spices; vanilla sweetness; aged wood; caramel; a hint of butterscotch. Finish- A long, spicy conclusion; dark plums; aged wood; baking spices; anise. Well-rounded, drinks lighter than its proof suggests, and most importantly, distinctive. The aroma resembles an aged rye and is quite enjoyable, but only slightly above average. The flavor is rich with citrus, rye spice, aged wood, and sweet butterscotch and vanilla. Exceptionally good flavor. The finish is where this excels, and where the plum cask truly makes its presence known. A unique dark, juicy plum note that is unlike anything else and is incredibly tasty. Regarding the price, $500 is a significant amount, but this is remarkably tasty, and the bottle is very cool too.

Aroma: Sourdough bread. Brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon. Orange blossom water. Strawberry, banana. Butter. Raisins. It brings to mind the cinnamon, sugar, and butter mixture used for cinnamon rolls. Apples. Mint. Stone fruits - peaches in particular. Very balanced, warm, and sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Flavor: Brown sugar, vanilla, prune, raisin, fig. Wood and tannin - drying and bitter, but in a very pleasing manner. Mint, apple. Figs, peaches, mandarins, banana. Molasses. The finish consists of vanilla, stone fruits, wood, tannin, char - notes of both apple and peach pie come to mind. Additional observations: This is a special drink. While the previous iteration was divisive for some, this one is much more accessible and pleasant. The alcohol content is not off-putting, and the richness and depth of flavor are worth exploring.

Unfortunately, I drank this after the Boss Hog V: Spirit of Mauve. As a dedicated rye drinker, the Samurai Scientist is underwhelming, but it compensates with a slightly more complex palate. Nose: Apples and cinnamon with subtle herbal notes. Palate: Apples, oak, and more apples. Slight spice that opens up on the tongue and burns off at the back of the throat. It doesn't travel down to the chest like the V. Lighter hints of vanilla and molasses. It feels like a much lower ABV. I could accidentally drink a whole bottle of this. Finish: The vanilla arrives late and lingers. Apples continue while the cinnamon subsides. I need to try it again, but I wouldn't pay over $50 for a pour.

Deep amber color. The aroma presents dark caramel and rye spice prominently, with abundant floral notes and dark fruit. On the palate, a fantastic combination of deep caramel infused with black pepper, cinnamon, and a hint of clove. The finish is awesome and warming; it doesn't taste like 120 proof at all. Wow. Dark, bready notes with complexity from the spice. I'm really enjoying this. It's somewhat oily, and vanilla continues to appear as the glass sits. I found this at an airport eatery and was surprised. To say the least, I was pleased.