NV WhistlePig 15yo - F+R Single Barrel (46%)

Admittedly I chose the cask, but this is one of the best and certainly most unique Rye whiskies I have ever tasted. It couldn’t be more distinct from the excellent 13 Year Old Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve which sold out on release last week. At £540, the Boss Hog V certainly delivers, with unashamedly bold, complex flavours and a cask finish not seen before. The Boss Hog series promises profound and deeply intense flavours, however this 15 Year Old is all about balance. At half the price, this single cask bottling seems almost too good to be true. It’s a glorious combination of aromas and flavours that will appeal to drinkers (like me) who love both US and Scotch whiskies. On the US side there is the influence from the new and heavily charred American and Vermont Oak barrels. It’s a signature of many American whiskeys, with the heavy toasting drawing sugars from the staves which impart sweeter aromas and flavours. In this case a gloriously warming combination of butterscotch, crème brulee and Manuka honey. It’s the distillate which reminds me of some Scotch. Had this been matured for 15 years in the heat of Kentucky, there’d be big bold flavours which can be hard to balance. A slower maturation in cool (and at times, freezing) conditions appears to have gently married the oak flavours with the spicy Rye distillate which gives a deliciously drying and then salivating kick. And then there is the incredibly long finish rarely seen at this price point. It’s the balance and length of flavour which made this stand out against the other 15 Year Old casks I sampled. Others were heavier or sweeter whereas this medley of fruit, sweetness and spice is a harmonious combination which perplexes the palate and delivers the best of both worlds. WhistlePig's Senior Steward of the Brand, Daniel Khan, claims it is one of the most exceptional casks he has tasted and unlike any other he has sampled before.