Of all of the annual whiskey releases — and there are a lot of — few draw as a lot collective pleasure amongst whiskey followers as WhistlePig’s Boss Hog. Now in its eleventh yr, the newest iteration is dubbed Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut and options one of many rarest growing old methods we’ve ever seen.
The Juggernaut discovered inspiration in Thandai, an fragrant Indian drink made with nuts and spices. After encountering Thandai throughout the Holi pageant in Jaipur, members of the WhistlePig staff sourced the requisite components wanted to create the world’s first Thandai whiskey barrels. These barrels had been seasoned with aged rye that was merged with saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, poppy and black peppercorn. First, Boss Hog XI underwent intensive growing old in new American oak barrels earlier than transferring to the Thandai barrels for added growing old.
Rarity is nothing new for WhistlePig. Boss Hog X invoked frankincense, myrrh, and mead in its cask ending protocols, whereas Boss Hog IX was completed in Greek fig nectar casks and tentura casks. The entire idea is constructed on the premise of being daring and completely different. There are even guidelines governing annually’s launch: It have to be single barrel, bottled at proof, powerfully advanced, distinctive from something they’ve performed earlier than, and “stupendous.”
Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut hits these marks. The Thandai spice profile interprets to the liquid, which sports activities notes of cardamom, clove, allspice, and black pepper. All that spice is balanced by orchard fruits, tropical fruits, fennel, and a contact of candy oak. The end is lengthy and spicy, with undercurrents of juicy fruits.
“Yearly we problem ourselves to craft a rye that’s extra stupendous, impressed, and complex than every version of The Boss Hog earlier than it,” stated Meghan Eire, Head Blender at WhistlePig. She known as this yr’s model the model’s largest problem but, however when the staff found Thandai in India, they knew they needed to discover a strategy to showcase that spice profile in rye whiskey.
WhistlePig The Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut is on the market now in choose liquor shops and bars, and it’s additionally on-line. It’s packaged in a 750 mL bottle and incorporates a handmade pewter pig topper within the model of an Indian elephant, in order that’s a enjoyable contact. The rye whiskey is bottled between 103.8 – 105.2 proof (our bottle comes from barrel one and is 103.8 proof) and has a recommended retail worth of $599.99. If you’d like a bottle, act quick — The Boss Hog sequence is widespread amongst whiskey nerds and collectors.