WhistlePig is no stranger to unique whiskeys. The brand’s annual Boss Hog expressions are always coveted releases, and other bottles feature rare finishes or extra time in barrels.
The BigShǝBàng is the latest extra-aged release from WhistlePig, and it’s “aged longer than any other N. American single malt,” according to the brand.
It was aged for 30 years and finished in Vin Santo barrels, a rare Italian dessert wine that’s crafted via the low-yield, labor-intensive appassimento method, in which dried grapes are fermented.
“We didn’t wait for our single malt’s 30th birthday just to play it safe. The BigShǝBàng is a flavor supernova — radiant, otherworldly, and unlike anything we’ve ever put in a bottle,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig’s head blender. “We’ve been hunting down Vin Santo barrels for a few years now, and the stars finally aligned with a precious few to finish this inaugural release. As with many of our most elusive casks, they’ve proved to be a catalyst for complexity that’s well worth the quest.”
The BigShǝBàng is full-flavored, with notes of honeyed bread, wheat crust, and florals on the nose. The palate brings subtle clove, freshly kneaded dough, and honeysuckle on the palate, with a finish of toasted cedar and lingering sweetness.
The BigShǝBàng is 90.4 proof and completes a trinity of single malts, following predecessors The Béhôlden (aged 21 years, finished in WhistlePig rye barrels) and The Badönkådonk (aged 25 years, finished in Silver Oak cabernet barrels).
It’s extremely rare, with just four barrels in existence, and is priced accordingly at $4,999. It’ll be available to taste at The WhistlePig Vault in Louisville, Kentucky, later this fall, and bottles will make their way to select establishments nationwide.
