PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
WhistlePig is the Vermont rye brand built by the late Dave Pickerell, the former Maker’s Mark master distiller, to make the world’s finest and most interesting rye whiskeys. After years of patient aging and blending, the team turned its attention to a bygone practice: malting rye. Before industrial catalysts were introduced, farmer-distillers would malt a small portion of their rye harvest to start fermentation, and the floral, earthy flavors imparted by malted rye added nuance to the bold, peppery spice of classic rye whiskey. The Double Malt Rye, also sold as the Double Double 18 Year, is the brand’s tribute to that tradition, and its oldest regular expression.
The whiskey is made from a mash bill of 79% rye, 15% malted rye, and 6% malted barley, “a harmony that spans the flavor spectrum, at once soft and floral, rich and savory, and full of spice.” Per the Capital City Bourbon Blog’s review of the original edition, it was distilled at the Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario, aged 18 years, and bottled at WhistlePig Farm in Vermont. The Double Double 18 Year is released in a series of limited editions, and the 5th Edition has a distinctive twist: “this year’s edition features a distinctive double barrel aging process in American Oak and Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry Casks, introducing new layers of complexity from each barrel,” resulting in “warm, sweet notes and an enduring finish.” It’s bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV).
The official tasting notes describe a nose that is “sweet and aromatic, with toasted oak, berries, and nutmeg,” a palate that is “elegant and spicy, mildly fruity, and pleasantly floral” with “vanilla and oak notes appearing with time,” and a finish that is “wonderfully long, clean, and spicy.” A retailer notes that the PX sherry cask “adds a rich sweetness and a touch of dark chocolate, enhancing the whiskey’s depth and character,” and others add “dark chocolate and plum, balanced by notes of toffee, cinnamon, and a touch of sweet sherry.” Capital City Bourbon Blog, reviewing the original edition, found “a warm, velvety mouthfeel” with “plenty of sweet caramel notes, some red fruit, baking spice, toasted oak, and a very subtle rye spice,” a rye-spice that is “pronounced but balanced by sweet, earthy notes, reminiscent of a sweet rye bread,” and “a potpourri-like profile that lingered for a very long time,” concluding: “This rye is wonderful.” That review was of an earlier edition without the sherry casks, so it shows the base whiskey’s character more than the 5th Edition’s.
It’s a rare, aged, malted rye with a sherry finish: softer and more floral than a typical rye, and a collectible gift for rye fans. Enjoy it neat, in a Glencairn glass, with a few drops of water.
WhistlePig Double Double 18 Year Old 5th Edition is produced by WhistlePig, founded by Dave Pickerell, in Vermont. It is a straight rye whiskey from a mash bill of 79% rye, 15% malted rye, and 6% malted barley, distilled in Ontario, aged 18 years in new American oak with a double maturation in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for this edition, and bottled at WhistlePig Farm. Bottled at 46% ABV / 92 proof, 750ml. Limited edition.
No professional critic scores were found for the 5th Edition.
Capital City Bourbon Blog (original edition, 2019):
“Palate: This whiskey presents with a warm, velvety mouthfeel. There really isn’t much burn despite the higher proof and the rye spice develops quickly mid-tongue. The rye spice is pronounced but it is balanced by sweet, earthy notes, reminiscent of a sweet rye bread. Oak and vanilla are also present, along with some very pleasant floral notes... This rye is wonderful.”
WhistlePig (official tasting notes):
“Nose: Sweet and aromatic, with toasted oak, berries, and nutmeg. Palate: Elegant and spicy, mildly fruity, and pleasantly floral. Vanilla and oak notes appear with time. Finish: Wonderfully long, clean, and spicy finish.”
Nose
Sweet and aromatic, with toasted oak, ripe berries, and nutmeg.
Palate
Elegant and spicy, with floral malted rye, dark chocolate, plum, toffee, cinnamon, vanilla, and a touch of sweet sherry.
Finish
Wonderfully long, clean, and spicy.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Straight Rye Whiskey — Malted Rye, PX Sherry Cask Finished |
| ABV / Proof | 46% ABV / 92 Proof |
| Age | 18 Years |
| Mash Bill | 79% rye / 15% malted rye / 6% malted barley |
| Maturation | New American oak, then Pedro Ximénez sherry casks (5th Edition) |
| Origin | Distilled in Ontario; bottled at WhistlePig Farm, Vermont |
| Producer | WhistlePig — founded by Dave Pickerell |
| Edition | Double Double 18 Year — 5th Edition |
| Style / Identity | A soft, floral, spicy, sherry-kissed aged malted rye |
| Aromas & Flavors | Toasted oak, berries, nutmeg, dark chocolate, plum, vanilla, floral spice |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Neat in a Glencairn glass — with a few drops of water to open the floral and fruit notes.
Manhattan — for a special occasion, a rich, sherried version.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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