2004 WhistlePig 12yo Rye - F+R Exclusive Amarone Cask Finish (43%)

WhistlePig has released some exceptional whiskeys during its short but impressive history. From farm-to-bottle expressions to keenly anticipated single-cask bottlings, the Vermont-based distiller has tirelessly innovated and honoured the late Dave Pickerell’s legacy. The distilling icon played a hand in producing this exceptional marriage of Valpolicella and Vermont. Pickerell arranged for 10 casks that had previously held Amarone from one of Valpolicella's leading lights, Dal Forno Romano, to be sent to Vermont for filling. The resulting liquid is a wonderful vatting of rye, distilled in June 2004 and bottled in 2021. The nose opens with a familiar uplift of rye spice, lush menthol and nutmeg, followed by dried orange peel, boiled rhubarb and custard confectionery. There’s a dusting of rich cocoa nibs, reminiscent of Dal Forno’s rich and complex Amarone. On the palate the whiskey announces its arrival with an enormous splash of rich berry fruit, lashings of orange peel, and a crack of cinnamon, all wrapped up in a bold, creamy mouthfeel. Traditional vanilla ice cream, characterised by the ebullience of the pods, adds vibrancy to the texture, while the cocoa evolves into molten dark chocolate. There’s a traditional cigar box depth, too. The exuberance is refined into pure elegance on the finish, with the expression mellowing into more gentle crème brûlée, topped with citrus zest.