WhistlePig 10 Year Rye: The Bottle That Changed Our Minds

This episode is all about rethinking rye whiskey. We’re drinking WhistlePig 10 Year Small Batch Rye, a Vermont whiskey that helped change our minds about rye. WhistlePig started as a non-distilling producer, sourcing whiskey before eventually building its own distillery. Under the guidance of legendary Master Distiller Dave Pickerell, the brand became one of the most recognised names in American rye. The whiskey itself is surprisingly fruity and approachable. We’re picking up apricot, nectarine, spearmint freshness, white chocolate sweetness and a gentle pepper spice on the palate. Along the way we talk about why rye grows better in northern climates, how bourbon drinkers often evolve into rye drinkers, and the growing whiskey tourism scene including WhistlePig’s impressive tasting experience in Louisville called The Vault. Most importantly, we talk about how one bottle can completely change your opinion about a style of whiskey. If you’ve ever said “I’m not a rye drinker”, this episode might convince you otherwise. Chapters 00:30 WhistlePig 10 Year Small Batch Rye 01:10 The WhistlePig backstory 02:00 What an NDP is 03:00 Stone fruit notes on the nose 04:00 White chocolate and mint notes 05:00 Fruity palate with pepper spice 06:30 The Liquid Death collaboration 07:00 Where rye grows best 07:30 WhistlePig’s Louisville tasting experience 08:40 Becoming a rye drinker 09:20 Gateway rye whiskeys