WhistlePig Distillery
Barrel #103363
Distilled: June, 2004
Bottled: January, 2021
16 Years Old, One of 132 Bottles
Cask Strength, 101.7 Proof
94% Rye, 6% Barley

Who's got barrel after barrel of 16-year-old cask strength rye whiskey? DEEZ BEASTS that's who!

This year's Bee's Knees series is three barrels of sixteen year rye from WhistlePig. It's bottled under their 10 year single barrel label, but we have confirmed these barrels were distilled in 2004. That's weird right? But it's great for you, because you're getting stuff that should be WAY more expensive at an amazing deal. Another cask strength sixteen year single barrel rye of this qualiry for $115? Doesn't exist.

This is from WhistlePig's stash of Aberta, CA rye that's been aging at the farm in VT. This combination doesn't have the rapid aging that happens in KY, so it takes a little longer to get the color and flavor that we're looking for. But at sixteen years, it's there and it's amazing.

You can immediately tell the difference between drinking 101 proof whiskey that's cask strength vs something watered down to that proof. It's smooth, but the flavor is huge. This second barrel, #103363 is a spicy, salty, nutty treat. Kind of like PayDay bars. What is that stuff in a PayDay bar that all the peanuts are stuck to? Some combination of nougat and caramel with cream and salt? Anyway, that's what we get on the nose.

The palate is sweet and resiny, coating the tongue in some nice molasses. Like barrel-aged maple syrup. Once it opens up in the glass, the big spices come raging out. First fresh garden stuff like chives and mint. Then into the deeper baking spice stuff, cinnamon, nutmeg. The finish takes the sweet and spices, and rolls them together into a beautiful punchy little kick.

What can we say, this shit really is THE BEE's KNEES!

Dynamite barrel for a great deal. Put one on your shelf and one in your belly immediately.

Cheers / Da Beasts