NV WhistlePig 13yo- Boss Hog, Spirit of Mauve (57.9%)
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The profile of this already strictly allocated release has risen dramatically after its predecessor The Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince, won one of whiskey's highest awards - “Best in Show” at the prestigious 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Judged against some of the world’s most sought-after spirits, what is even more exciting is the belief that this fifth edition will eclipse what was considered one of the world’s best whiskies in 2017. “While we didn’t get the whiskey done in time to get it entered into any competitions this year, it is my belief that Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve is better even than Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince was,” says Master Distiller Dave Pickerell. Located in Vermont, USA, the WhistlePig distillery was founded in 2008 by entrepreneur Raj Bhakta. To realise his goal of creating some of the world’s best whiskies, he hired Dave Pickerell of Maker's Mark fame; a man considered the Founding Father of craft distilling and an industry legend. Under Pickerell's management, the distillery's inventory now includes Vermont made and matured Rye whiskey, as well as Vermont oak barrels and barrels sourced from Europe’s finest wine and spirits regions for finishing, including Port, Madeira, Sauternes and in the case of The Boss Hog V - Calvados barrels. Having tasted this latest release, the result is truly extraordinary and has been perfectly summarised by WhistlePig as “a unique blend of sweet and spiced flavours with a fine balance between American power and French sophistication". The Boss Hog V is one the biggest and most complex whiskies you will ever come across and, even more pleasing, the influence of the Calvados barrel finish is clearly present and acts as 'seasoning' to the immensely bold and rich Rye. This latest expression once again delivers on the five promises of every Boss Hog release: "single barrel, bottled at barrel proof, powerfully complex, distinctly unique from anything we have ever done, and stupendous.
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Rich and mature with its deep flavors of spiced oak, figgy fruit, and varnish, turning to candy apple, dried flowers, hazelnut, torched sugar, and cracked black pepper. The palate is explosive at full proof, as sweet stone fruit gives way to earthy oak and tobacco. The calvados barrel maturation really sings on the finish, where sweet apple candies and pecan pie meet big cinnamon and ginger spices. Incredibly drinkable at this proof with well-balanced oak.
About the producer
Vermont-based WhistlePig is one of the most exciting rye whiskey producers. Since it officially opened in 2015, the zero-generation farm has led the rye revival and pioneered the conversation about terroir in spirits.