WhistlePig 15 Year Estate Oak Rye

Rating: 15/23 I appreciate Whistlepig Piggyback (at least considering its cost) and I found the Whistlepig 12 Old World to be acceptable (but far too expensive). The Whistlepig 10, conversely, I have not found to be pleasing. I am hopeful that the 15 will follow the positive trend of the 10 and 12. Nose: Hmm, this is quite woody, but it has a touch of some kind of fruit (lemon and ripe cherry?) providing balance and adding depth. I detect a little leather along with the wood and some pleasant herbal spices. I like this aroma: it's reasonably complex with some well-executed notes. Palate: Whoa! This is unusual. It took me a moment to discern, but there's this sort of sweet, floral-herbal, mildly spicy light flavor that's quite prominent (because the rest of the dram is rather mild and mellow). Once I figured it out, I realized that it tastes like dry vermouth. It's not an unpleasant flavor, but I'm not particularly seeking my rye to be pre-infused with vermouth. It also has a slight numbing effect (clove). When compared side-by-side, the complexities are more apparent here than in Whistlepig PiggyBack and certainly more than in Whistlepig 18, but I believe that the PiggyBack's and 18's flavor profiles are more generally appealing. I could attempt to delve into what the floral and other flavors are here, but ultimately, it genuinely just tastes like a small amount of dry vermouth was added to a spicy, dryly woody rye. Finish: Floral-herbal spice with some very mellow wood. It's difficult to believe this is 15 years old. Similar to I.W. Harper 15 in that respect, I suppose. This isn't a great finish and it continues to evoke vermouth. - Conclusion - This one is challenging to rate. It has an interesting and generally agreeable flavor profile, but it tastes quite peculiar. I feel like I could take a different (less expensive) rye, mix it with some dry vermouth, and produce a comparable product. As a cocktail experience, this is quite good. As a neat whiskey, I have reservations. The flavors here are presented very distinctly and it avoids being as sweet as the PiggyBack, but it also just doesn't taste as much like neat whiskey. I have conflicting opinions here. Either this is definitively superior to the PiggyBack and it ranks in the 16 to 17 range or it is not as good and it is more like a 14 to 15. I enjoy the PiggyBack's unique complexity, but it's sweeter and has a more pronounced alcohol flavor (though not harshness). I've gone back and forth here and I think I'm settling on a 15. Comparing it to Russell's Reserve 6 (a 15 to 16) for a quick sanity check, this doesn't seem as good. I might lower it to a 14, but for now, I'm choosing 15. That odd vermouth flavor here is difficult to overlook, and there's also considerable beet bitterness present. I appreciate certain aspects of this, but it's uninspiring overall.

Nose: peppermint, pine, clove, anise, cinnamon, lemon and grapefruit zest, pineapple, cocoa, leather, barrel char, menthol, rye bread, graham cracker, marshmallow, peanut butter, green apple, black tea, honey, white pepper, vanilla, butterscotch, moderate ethanol burn. Taste: peppermint, sweet and spicy oak, marshmallow, pine, licorice, cinnamon, clove, graham cracker, dark chocolate, rye bread, butterscotch, barrel char, leather, tobacco, honey, vanilla, ginger, black pepper, apple, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with dark chocolate, spearmint, and sweet and spicy oak flavors. The fifteen-year-old version possesses greater flavor depth and a thicker, oilier texture compared to the other WhistlePig expressions I've sampled. Its aroma is gentler than the others, featuring some cocoa, peanut, and marshmallow scents that set it apart from the ten and twelve-year-old expressions. It's subtle, but genuinely delightful. Similarly, the palate confirms its WhistlePig identity, but again, with more complexity, introducing dark chocolate, graham cracker, and leather notes. I'm actually detecting a slight resemblance to Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, though significantly less sweet and s'mores-like, and I suspect the various cask types used might contribute to this. This marks the conclusion of my WhistlePig reviews. I believe the fifteen-year-old slightly surpasses the other offerings I've evaluated. Unfortunately, the exorbitant pricing escalates to an entirely new level with this one. It costs around $250 per bottle in my area, which is astronomical considering the age and quality. It's better to experience this as a sample than to purchase a full bottle.

The Whistlepig 15 returns to a 100% rye mash bill and presents sweet aromas like caramel, vanilla, or toffee, complemented by an oaky complexity. Aromas—initially, sweet scents (caramel, vanilla, toffee) are prominent, followed by woody (oak) and subtle buttery notes. After several sniffs, it evoked a kettle corn scent that greatly enticed my palate. Taste—the flavor profile is quite intricate, offering much to discern. The initial taste began with a warm, inviting sweetness of caramel/vanilla, which was swiftly followed by spicy and peppery notes. Upon a second tasting, it was considerably smoother and more pleasant, as I could anticipate the intense and complex shift in characteristics. The initial sweet caramel welcome transitioned more smoothly into the warmth of the rye and the spice from the peppery elements, with minor hints of herbal/earthy notes accompanying a moderately complex finish that leaves a small trace of caramel sweetness, making you desire more. The WP15 is certainly a more complex and challenging drink, with fantastic and well-integrated aromatics. The taste is a captivating blend of multiple flavors, from sweet caramel to pepper and herbal/earthy notes, which linger on your palate longer than the WP10; the lasting impression makes you want another sip. Those who enjoy the WP10 might miss the velvety vanilla notes that define that experience for an easy drink—whereas the WP15 is a more complex, daring, and rewarding dram with each taste. Given the price, it might not offer enough value to justify the cost—consider this. — a whiskey enthusiast

Released in 2020. This is a $200 bottle that lacks intensity and complexity. Aside from that, it's perfectly acceptable. At 15 years old, it's not overly oaked, but it does have a slightly dusty aroma and taste, reminiscent of an aged Scotch. Perhaps aging in Vermont differs from aging in Kentucky. There are notes of tobacco, cinnamon powder, and sawdust, with just the right amount of toasted oak. The palate offers familiar caramel, vanilla, and honey, along with a pleasant musty mushroom note. This expression doesn't reveal itself as a rye until the finish, which is a smooth lingering of clove, black pepper, and cardamom. This rye is very drinkable and inoffensive, likely to please those who aren't avid rye drinkers. The flavors are subdued, but there's excellent balance and maturity. It's priced comparably to Johnnie Walker Blue and will appeal to the same audience who appreciate Blue for its silky smooth refinement. However, I suspect the refinement comes from restraint and dilution. For those seeking intensity and complexity and willing to spend $200 on a rye, I would recommend the Kentucky Owl 10 Year Old Rye Batch #3, which I reviewed previously. Score: 0 (forgettable) Bottle Cost: $190-230 Perceived Value: $110

Received as part of a $20 sampler pack. Given the full bottle's price is more than I'm willing to spend, I was keen to try this. The nose is really quite faint, almost nonexistent. I detect some grass, lemon pepper, and a sweet floral note, possibly magnolia. An unpromising beginning. With such a mild nose, there's no hint of ethanol. On the palate, I'm not sure I've encountered a whiskey this well-balanced. Distinguishing individual flavors is somewhat challenging, but I'm getting butterscotch, honeysuckle, lemongrass, caramel, and a gentle rye. It's definitely enjoyable, but very subtle. The finish is short and dry, with notes of grains of paradise and fresh oak. The mouthfeel is soft, delicate, and silky. Overall? Wow. It's evident this is a finely crafted product, but it simply didn't resonate with me. The flavors are too soft and far too rounded for my palate. Frankly, I preferred the standard 10-year offering. And I must address the obvious; at $159 (in my region) for a 750ml, the pricing is, in my opinion, outrageous. With its mild subtlety, this will undoubtedly appeal to some, but it's just not for me.

This is the final and best component of the "piglet trio" Christmas set (costing $20). I'm very reluctant to spend $250 on this bottle, so the Christmas set was an obvious choice. Nose: Honestly, it's quite different from the ten-year-old. A very rich aroma with more complex fruit notes. It genuinely smells considerably older. Palate: It feels oily right away, but the fruit flavors emerge earlier than in the ten and twelve-year-old. The palate is also much more complex. I don't detect much oak, as I might have expected. Everything here seems further mellowed compared to the twelve-year-old. It's exceptionally smooth and reminds me of Scotch (in its cleanliness, etc.). Finish: A very brief finish. You have to search hard to find any lingering notes. Overall: A profoundly underwhelming whiskey. For $250, I would never buy this. I'm not saying it's bad, but I prefer the ten-year-old over this. I'm glad I found this Christmas set to help me realize this.