WhistlePig 10 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #15-59 Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Since the great American rye whiskey shortage began back in 2008 much of the market has gravitated over to "North American" rye whiskey, i.e. Canadian-distilled rye from above the border. Since that transition no brand has become more beloved than perhaps Whistle Pig, the Vermont-based company that sources ten year old stocks of Alberta rye whiskey and blends them into a lovely expression both rich and robust. Earlier this year the company announced a single barrel program allowing select retailers to choose single barrel, cask strength versions of the Whistle Pig to be bottled exclusively for top accounts. You can bet we were jumping up and down at the news. This third cask in our series of Whistle Pig exclusives tastes expensive. It has all the richness, intensity, and depth of flavor that you miss from old limited edition expressions of great American whiskies. The sweetness of the oak explodes on the initial sip, the pepperiness of the rye immediately contrasts all that richness, and the finish is a harmony of both elements swirling together towards a fantastic finale. At 113.2 proof there's plenty of room for ice, water, vermouth, or just plain high-intensity sipping. This is a must-have bottle of whiskey for fans of the genre. It's a rye that will please Bourbon drinkers with its big oak flavor, but it's still very much rye.