Whistle Pig

[rzelinka]

I've found my preference for rye is in an old fashioned rather than neat, or even on a rock. My favorite rye so far has been the Whistle Pig 10 year which I don't mix in an old fashioned.  I have noted recently in my local stores some higher end Whistle Pig offerings. Like for instance the Boss Hog. Anyone tried this one?

[Mattk]

I really liked whistlepig in it's early years. They were sourcing really great adl at the beginning. And with Dave pickerell and bhakta at the helm were consistently putting out fantastic products. Unfortunately pickerell died some years back and bhakta left afterwards. The really stellar adl stuff dried up and they started mgp sourcing and in house distilling. Not that there is a problem with that, mgp can be really good, but it was different then what they excelled at. Many of their earlier special releases were incredible. Particularly boss hog 1 and 2.  Personally I lost faith in that line with the independent. And just don't find the quality to be anywhere near the price. I have has quite a few single barrel 10 year ryes in more recent times that have been delightful. Hope this helps.

[0895]

44 minutes ago, rzelinka said:

I've found my preference for rye is in an old fashioned rather than neat, or even on a rock. My favorite rye so far has been the Whistle Pig 10 year which I don't mix in an old fashioned.  I have noted recently in my local stores some higher end Whistle Pig offerings. Like for instance the Boss Hog. Anyone tried this one?

 

I lost interest in boss hog when they started doing gimmicky finishes and packaging.

 

It always was expensive at $200-300 but you were getting really good well aged “normal” rye back then (releases 1-3).  I think #4 onwards is when the price stated jumping up, the packaging became more extravagant, and the various wood and possibly wine finishes started. 
Seemingly, most of the enthusiast interest died around the same time.

 

I wouldn’t discourage you from trying a boss hog, but I would try to find it at a bar or friend’s house first.

[Mattk]

47 minutes ago, 0895 said:

 

I lost interest in boss hog when they started doing gimmicky finishes and packaging.

 

It always was expensive at $200-300 but you were getting really good well aged “normal” rye back then (releases 1-3).  I think #4 onwards is when the price stated jumping up, the packaging became more extravagant, and the various wood and possibly wine finishes started. 
Seemingly, most of the enthusiast interest died around the same time.

This one here was the last boss hog that wasn't a gimmicky finish. The 3rd was already a weird one. And the 4th, black prince was a finished mgp rye.

[MM818]

This MGP single barrel was bottled about a decade ago. I was fortunate to get a couple pours out of it last summer. I try not to talk in hyperbole about whiskey but this, in my opinion, was an all timer. 

[0895]

7 hours ago, Mattk said:

This one here was the last boss hog that wasn't a gimmicky finish. The 3rd was already a weird one. And the 4th, black prince was a finished mgp rye.

I believe I still have that one in the bunker. Looking forward to it someday, as I remember it being quite good.

[Kepler]

I have a couple 17 year old WP store pick single barrels that were bottled in that cream colored label.  That label is for the 10 year+ rye but several years ago some hyper-aged barrels surfaced.  Can't remember the source (seems unlikely they would be mgp but maybe).  I just remember that I sampled in the store and I really liked it.  Yet another bottle in the bunker waiting to be opened.