It’s been several years of transformative change for Vermont-based rye whiskey kingpins WhistlePig. As the company came into a new identity following the ouster of founder Raj Bhakta and the opening of its Vermont farm distilling operation—not to mention the pains of growing rye on site—it was struck by another blow in 2018 with the passing of Master Distiller Dave Pickerell last fall. Pickerell, a true legend of the whiskey industry, had worked with many different brands over the course of his lifetime, but was intimately associated with the WhistlePig product in particular, and received much credit for its trophy case of awards. His passing was a blow to many in the industry, but few more than WhistlePig.
Now, though, the distillery is honoring Pickerell’s memory with the release of the final product he designed for the company—Piggyback Rye. Designed to be a more accessible, more affordable version of the company’s flagship 10-year, 100 proof, 100% rye, Piggyback is a bit younger (6 years), a bit weaker (96.56 proof) and a bit cheaper ($50 MSRP), functioning as more of a gateway entry to the brand’s ultra-premium rye portfolio. For sake of comparison, the flagship 10-year rye has an MSRP around $75, while the 12 and 15-year special editions typically range from $120-200. The cask-strength WhistlePig Boss Hog, on the other hand, can reach well beyond $200. So with that said, yes, Piggyback Rye seems like a much greater value.
Like the brand’s classic flagship rye, this is a 100% rye whiskey sourced from Canada, and does not contain any of the juice distilled in Vermont—most of which is still being aged, except for the portions that make their way into the brand’s Farmstock Rye. It sports a 6 year age statement, which still makes it a good deal older than a lot of rye on the American market, although the $50 price tag still marks it as a fairly premium product as well. Let’s get to tasting.