WhistlePig Piggyback Rye
WhistlePig Piggyback Rye is distilled in pot stills from Vermont and Alberta, Canada from a mash bill of 100 % rye, aged 6 years in charred American oak barrels, and bottled in small batches at 96.56 proof (48.28 % ABV). This product was the brain-child of deceased former master distiller Dave Pickerell and it pays homage to him in several clever ways. First, the pig logo, who is normally dressed like Winston Churchhill, is wearing a cowboy hat, since Dave could always be seen wearing his Stetson. Next, the proof 96.56, because Dave was born in 1956.
This product was created for bartenders as the ultimate cocktail rye , since the bartending community played such an important role in growing the WhistlePig brand. The Piggyback Rye gives bartenders a more price competitive option, compared to the brand's other expressions without sacrificing quality. The 100 % rye mash bill provides more spice than other lower rye whiskeys, the 6 year age statement stands out with more complexity, since most other rye brands are non-age statement (NAS), and finally the high-proof means that this whiskey will stand out or hold up in cocktails. WhistlePig Piggyback Rye won a double gold (GG) at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).
WhistlePig Piggyback Bourbon
WhistlePig Piggyback Bourbon is distilled in Vermont, Kentucky, and Indiana from a mash bill of 97 % corn, 2 % rye, 1 % malted barley, aged 6 years in # 3 charred new American oak barrels, and bottled in small batches at 100 proof (50 % ABV). This product is the sweeter counterpart to the Piggyback Rye and the next line extension in the brand's entry-level Piggyback series. In true WhistlePig fashion, the super high corn unconventional bourbon mash bill show cases the full flavor of the corn grain. Similar to the Piggyback Rye, the bourbon was designed for premium cocktails, because of the 6 year age statement and high-proof.
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