WhistlePig The Boss Hog "The One That Made It Around The World" Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml

Five hundred and one years after a single surviving ship from the Magellan-Elcano expedition limped back into Andalusian Spain, completing the world's first circumnavigation of the globe, WhistlePig's Boss Hog decided to make its own epic landfall. "The One That Made It Around The World" is a genuinely rare "B-side" companion to the brand's Boss Hog VIII release — eleven barrels of that whiskey were sent to encounter all four distinct casks from the VII and VIII series: Spanish oak, South American teakwood, and single-island Philippine rum barrels among them. The whiskey aged in Andalucía, España, and, per WhistlePig's own genuinely whimsical account, was "lost at sea in the spring of 2022" before its happy recovery — a story the brand celebrates with a limited-edition set of toppers "inspired by the battle of resistance."

That battle is a real piece of history: Ferdinand Magellan's expedition met its match in the Philippines, where the Filipino warrior LapuLapu defeated and killed Magellan at the Battle of Mactan — a victory that nonetheless allowed one surviving ship from the expedition to continue on and finish the first circumnavigation of the earth. WhistlePig honors both sides of that history directly, with two hand-cut Danforth pewter toppers depicting Magellan and LapuLapu "in their final battle," crowning a genuinely stunning collectible decanter. This isn't the first time WhistlePig has built a Boss Hog release around global travel and cross-cultural storytelling — the brand's annual, highly collectible Boss Hog series changes theme every year, later drawing on ingredients as far-flung as Indian Thandai spices for its Boss Hog XI release. As one recent piece of coverage put it, WhistlePig fans have consistently called each new Boss Hog release "the best one yet."

Distilled from 100% rye and bottled uncut, straight from the barrel, this release carries genuine barrel-proof intensity. The official tasting notes describe complex aromas of rye spice, dark caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and toasted oak, developing on the palate into cracked pepper, baking spice, toffee, honey, and rich oak, alongside caramel, dark chocolate, and subtle floral undertones drawn from its extensive cask journey. The finish runs long and elegant, closing with lingering spice, vanilla, and molasses, balanced by a silky texture despite the whiskey's considerable strength. This is a genuine collector's centerpiece, encased in an elaborate decanter with an equally elaborate history — the kind of bottle built as much for the story as for the pour.

Origins & Craftsmanship

WhistlePig was founded in 2007 by Raj Peter Bhakta, who purchased a 500-acre farm in Shoreham, Vermont — land whose cultivation history dates to the early 19th century, when the area was known as the hamlet of Shaksboro. WhistlePig committed itself to reviving American rye whiskey, initially sourcing high-quality aged rye before transitioning to fully on-site distillation. The Boss Hog is WhistlePig's flagship annual limited-edition release, changing theme and global inspiration every year and becoming one of the most collectible names in American whiskey.

"The One That Made It Around The World" is a rare companion release to Boss Hog VIII, built from eleven barrels of that whiskey which were subsequently finished across all four distinct cask types used in the VII and VIII series — Spanish oak, South American teakwood, and single-island Philippine rum barrels among them. The whiskey aged in Andalucía, España, and the release commemorates the 501st anniversary of the Magellan-Elcano expedition's completion of the world's first circumnavigation, as well as the Filipino warrior LapuLapu's victory over Magellan at the Battle of Mactan. Distilled from 100% rye, matured initially in American oak, and finished across the four specialty casks, the whiskey is bottled straight from the barrel at cask strength. Each bottle is presented in a collectible decanter accompanied by two hand-cut Danforth pewter toppers depicting Magellan and LapuLapu.

Tasting Profile

Nose
Complex rye spice leads, joined by dark caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and toasted oak.

Palate
Bold and layered, with cracked pepper, baking spice, toffee, honey, and rich oak, alongside caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruit, and subtle floral undertones. Barrel-proof intensity brings genuine warmth, tempered by a silky texture and hints of tropical sweetness from the rum-barrel component.

Finish
Long and elegant, closing with lingering spice, vanilla, and molasses — a genuinely rich, layered close reflecting the whiskey's four-cask, multi-continent journey.

Quick Overview

Serving Note

Best enjoyed neat in a Glencairn glass to appreciate the whiskey's full barrel-strength complexity and its layered, multi-continent cask journey.