WhistlePig: A Tasty New Rye Whiskey
Rich, hearty, and aged for ten years- this is a solid whiskey, one of the best of a recent crop of "boutique" whiskeys. We first learned of today's spirit at a tasting event, but have had the chance to appreciate it a bit more over the past few weeks thanks to a couple of sample bottles. And what we found is a whiskey that deserves to be in every collection- a great value, and a perfect 100-proof note to add to cocktails or have straight.
The name: WhistlePig. We preferred ours slightly chilled, but undiluted for the most part, allowing us to enjoy the strong first nose of caramel and oak with a bit of vanilla and even grassiness. Carried through to the initial taste of cinnamon with a little mint or clove, you can tell that this is a 100-percent rye (rather than corn or wheat) spirit. We did also take the manufacturer's recommendation and try out a couple of drink recipes. The Orange Whistler mixes the rye whiskey with a bit of orange bitters, some bourbon-soaked cherries (you can find these in specialty stores or better yet make your own), a bit of maple syrup, and a dash of soda water. Served with an orange twist, the citrusy notes were definitely highlighted but the spirit not overwhelmed here.
The Champlain Sour adds a bit of lemon juice, maple syrup, and red wine (we chose something decent but inexpensive, and not too strong, like a Malbec). Combine in a 1-1-1 mix with 2 parts whiskey, and you get a very interesting combination. Here, the whiskey pushes through and you can taste the ending notes- a bit of buttery chocolate- that rounds it all out nicely. Available now, in fine stores and bars, WhistlePig is highly recommended. It's not inexpensive- expect to spend upwards of $60 for a large bottle- but that's competitive with other 10-year aged fine whiskeys in the category.
About the Author
Greg Greg dreamed up the idea for the Truly Network while living in Hawaii, which began with a single site called TrulyObscure. In 2010, when advertisers and readers were requesting coverage beyond the scope of that site, TrulyNet was launched, reaching a broader audience over a variety of niche sites. Formerly the head technology correspondent for the Des Moines Register at age 16, he has since lived and worked in five states and two countries, helping a list of organizations and companies that includes the United States Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Events Photo Group, Berlitz, and Computer Geeks. He also served as the Content Strategy Manager for HearPlanet, a multi-platform app that has reached over a million users and has been featured in the New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Fox Business News, PC Magazine, and even Apple’s own iPhone ads. Greg has written as a restaurant critic and feature journalist for a number of national and international publications, including City Weekend Magazine, Red Egg Magazine, the Newton Daily News, Capital Change Magazine, and an arm of China Daily, Beijing Weekend. In addition, he has served as a consulting editor for the Foreign Language Press of Beijing, as well as a writer and editor for the George Washington University Hatchet, the school newspaper of his alma mater. Originally from Iowa, Greg is currently living in the West Village of Manhattan.
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