In 2007, a band of dedicated Rye enthusiasts bought a farm in Vermont lovingly named Whistle Pig Farm. They teamed up with master distiller Dave Pickerell, formerly of Maker’s Mark, to bring genuine Rye Whiskey back to the forefront of American Whiskeys. What they do is outsource elements of their production to Canadian distillers, using grain produced by others. Their ultimate vision is to make Whistle Pig an “estate producer,” which means that all aspects of Whiskey production will be onsite, from growing the grain to bottling the spirit. But until then, this is the best choice of a Rye Whiskey hailing from Canada, and we can’t dispute that!
The first thing that you need to know is that Whistle Pig 10 Year Old is more than a regular straight Rye Whiskey. And by “more” we mean more Rye, more flavor, more spice, and more quality. You see, WhistlePig 10 Year Old is made 100% from Rye grain. Rye is the most temperamental of grains to distill, and the vast majority of Rye Whiskey on the market is actually a blend of at least 51% Rye, the rest being corn, barley, wheat, or whatever else might be laying around. This makes a BIG difference.
Another big difference is that all of this Rye is aged for at least 10 years. Again, most of the Rye out there is aged two or three years. And all of that aging is in a combination of first-fill ex Bourbon casks and new charred American oak casks, then bottled at a whopping 50% ABV. In fact, don’t say that you have tasted Rye Whiskey until you have tasted WhistlePig 10 Year Old neat OR in your favorite cocktail.
SmartAss Corner: What the heck is a “whistle pig” anyway? Even though the label for Whistle Pig Rye is adorned with the sketch of a tuxedo clad hog, “whistle pig”, groundhog and woodchuck all refer to the same animal.
What does WhistlePig 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey (375ml) taste like?
The Flavour Spiral™ shows the most common flavours that you'll taste in WhistlePig 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey (375ml) and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.
We invented Flavour Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
Dog Dogson's
Smartass Corner
Rye Whiskey is made from mash that is at least 51 per cent rye. The grain gives rye Whiskey its spicy, sometimes peppery, and bitter flavour. Rye was a big seller before Prohibition. After decades in obscurity, it’s fashionable again. George Washington distilled rye Whiskey at Mount Vernon.
AMAZING! This is one of my absolute favorites now. Right up there with Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch.
Rob,
Amazing rye whiskey. Great finish, especially for rye. The guys at WhistlePig are onto something special.
Winston,
Very good, enjoyed very much
Adam,
Excellent
Adam,
A great rye whiskey, spicy and smooth.
Lester,
Very good rye whiskey
Chris,
Spicy and smooth! Best rye I’ve had so far.
Dianne,
Turns out I'm not such a fan of Rye Whiskey, so my low rating is more a reflection of that than the actual quality of the brand. More of a Scotch gal, it seems. :)
Paulette,
did not like - wasn't smooth at all - very bitter
Dana,
Very smooth; good dearth of flavor; one of our favorites !
Alecia,
I share my spirits. This Whiskey was enjoyed by several different tasters, and only disliked by one, who felt it was too strong of a finish. I, like the majority who sampled, disagreed.
Richard,
Rye not being one of my favorites I thought I would try this one.
Tasty but Still not one I will purchase again.
Jelani,
Very vanilla forward, with caramel and plenty of spice. Love this rye and how transparent the WhistlePig brand is.
Dallas,
My favorite Rye so far, it had a stronger taste of spicy butterscotch to me which was good.
Lawrence,
Nice flavor. It didn't last long on my shelf. So, I thought if that was good, the 12 year old would be fantastic...not really. Read my review.
Max,
Not a big fan of rye, but this was a really nice expression with a very spicy finish
Leslie,
Strong start more flavorful finish. This is the first taste of a Rye Whiskey for me.
Johanna,
Tasted like it was made in a mildewed cask. Not smooth, not pleasant. no thanks.
al,
tasted of lamb spleen and timber ash.
Steve,
Not a bad change of pace from what i normally drink but not one i will go out of my way to purchase. If you like the spice it’s a perfect fit, I prefer more flavor.
Amber,
Gross
HJ,
Great flavors. Smooth. I like the notes of caramel and honey.
Melanie,
I did not like this at all. It tastes like swamp water. It has an aftertaste akin to something stagnating. I actually looked in my glass to see if I had grabbed a dirty one that might have had algae growing in it. Not for me at all.
David,
I can see myself drinking a lot of this
Jonathan,
A lot of character in this - more so than my usual bar staple 100 proof (Rittenhouse) and not as cleanly drinkable (neat) but deliciously eclectic with varying flavors to chase. What is clearly conveyed as mint comes through to me as more grassy (not all bad - but distracting). Butterscotch on the nose is glorious and the other elements round out a great experience. Just way to pricey to consider (oft a real good reason).
Niels,
Really surprised with the Rye whiskeys. This was really easy to drink. Once it runs out I will replace it! If you want to try Rye I would only recommend it to someone that does enjoy the burn at the end.
Brinkley,
Great rye! The mint really comes through! Smooth and spicy! Favorite rye so far.
Annie,
Very strong, but enjoyable flavor. Personally enjoyed it on the rocks over neat. Not a huge rye fan but this was good.
Anthony,
Enjoyable
Eric,
Recommended to me when I couldn't find Thomas Handy rye or E.H Taylor rye. This is a good substitute if you can't find those. Not quite as full bodied, but for the price it's a great rye.
Garrett,
Too harsh for my taste
Trish,
I like it. Love it is too strong of a word for this one.
Laken,
I thought it was pretty good over ice but a bit harsh without it.
steve,
Smooth with an initial char but then sweetens with a honey finish
Jared,
Good flavor, easy sippin,
Jeff,
Great introductory RYE with a smooth and flavorful taste. It’s only gets better from here when you wet your Whistle!
Michael,
One of the smoother ryes I've tasted, not too spicey. 100 proof
Aaron,
Good rye, but not much rye flavor. Starts spicy and ends smooth with a hint of earthiness in the middle.
Justin,
I have to admit that I am a bourbon drinker and Rye is not my thing, but wit that said this was a better Rye. My wife who loves Rye said that was one of her favorites. Not too sweet, not too spicy, but it still had the herbal notes of a rye to me. Overall I don;t know if I would spend the $80 on a full bottle when there are other just as good Ryes available for half that.
Steven,
This is a very good Rye. Great taste, smell and is smooth. I however do not think it is worth the almost $80 it costs.
Travis,
Unexpectedly very clean, easy Rye. Not too much spice drowning out the flavor. The finish is better than most Rye Whiskeys I have tried.
brad,
Glad i got this one for free. Doesn't compare to Angel's Envy Rye or Masterson's.
Brandon,
Wasn’t nearly as good as I thought it was going to be. Strong taste but not flavorful.
Aaron,
Very earthy and grainy without any complexity. Not at all worth the price tag. Whistlepig does make some great juice, but this is night/day compared to the tasty old world cask or boss hog
Eitan,
Delcious. So smooth. Would definitely buy it again.
Dylan,
Very smooth and great flavor
Chase,
I was never a fan of rye until trying this. Surprisingly easy sipping with a good rye spice. I really picked up leathery notes in this which was new for me. I will likely pick up another bottle if I can find it on store shelves or it comes back into stock.
John,
This is a very unique rye whiskey. It has a somewhat stony/metallic aftertaste, like mineral rock or granite--hard to describe, but still enjoyable as something different.
Devin,
First sip goes down like water. It’s unbelievable on how smooth this is. It’s gotta be one of my favorite rye whiskeys and will be definitely getting a lot more of it.
Mike,
What a great drink. So popular I brought it to an outing and only got a smidgen. But it was fantastic and smooth
Burton,
I prefer the nose to the taste. The aroma is vanilla and cherry. The taste is grainy … rye and grass. And burn. This is not a favorite, but I would drink it if offered.
David,
My Whistle Pig is lovely. It is however, very hot to the taste and its bouquet. The legs were long and thin. I added a dram or two of water and the enjoyment was born. It had a silky mouth feel and was warming to my throat and nose. It was slightly peaty, but my palate is not yet educated and experienced enough to pick out much of the flavor spiral. I will continue to enjoy this spirit with a dram of water and at room temperature or slightly warmed in my palm as I take it in my Glencairn Glass.
Dwayne,
I’m new to this but I loved my first bottle. I enjoyed every sip. Thank you for introducing me to my new drink.
Christopher,
I really enjoyed this whiskey. Smooth with a nice finish, not overpowering. Serve neat and pair with a Perdomo Lot 23.
Edgar,
Out of the freezer and it is very smooth and the flavor smooth and rich a different finish than bourbon 10 out of ten
Chris,
Better as a mixing whiskey than a sipping one.
Duane,
I loved this Rye... spicy and a bit smokey. Made a terrific Manhattan!
Kihm,
A medicinal opening note and lingering tannin made this too much rye for me.
Mike,
This would be a good drink to have over ice. I feel that way for all Rye since it is a spicy whiskey. Straight it was too sharp but still a good rye. Definitely smelled and tasted caramel. Will try it in a sazarec soon
Lawrence,
Too spicy for my palate
Mark,
I thought it was horrible.
Gayla,
This is extremely smooth with a pleasant finish.
Kyle,
Really like the caramel and butterscotch then finished with spice. Haven’t had a lot of Ryes but now I can say I’m a fan!
Daniel,
Excellent. Highly recommended.
Brian,
I was not a fan of Rye until I was offered a shot of Whistle Pig. Yes, just a few rocks soften the pepper and make this a fine sipping whiskey with notes of caramel and vanilla with the typical rye spice. It has opened my palletes to the world of rye and I have found a few others I like, Templeton and Wild Turkey, but most are too medicinal in flavor. But Whistle Pig is still my favorite rye.
charlie,
Not my favorite rye I’ve ever had , but still grs the job done
Aaron,
Was not really worth 45
Rebecca,
This is pretty hot; I needed a touch of water to cool it down enough to taste. More experienced whiskey connoiseurs might not, I suppose.
After that, I get a nice pepper & honey, followed by barrel a hint of cinnamon on the nose. For the taste, mostly sweet/honey shows up, with a short finish.
Gary,
I like it, was a very nice Rye in comparison to some others like Crown Royal Rye.
Michael,
If you like rye whiskey you’ll like this! Smooth with a nice rye bite
Ralph,
I was surprised how smooth this Rye was despite packing an ABV OF 50%. It has a nice spice to it. Delicious neat!
Francesco,
Smooth clean taste, not harsh. Very enjoyable
Scott,
the tastiest 50% alcohol I have ever had... Put some starch in your panties.
laura,
Smooth. Nice rye spice. Not harsh
Steven,
Too spicy.
Michael,
Did not like it. Very bitter and harsh, not many flavors to taste due to the harshness of the alcohol taste.
Reuben,
Smells like rubbing alcohol. Tastes like spicy honey. Goes down smooth. I’d call that a win.
Joseph,
Really enjoyed this. It was my first taste of rye whiskey and I liked it.
Thomas,
Very Good Rye - I'm a scotch, Gin, Brandy drinker but have had some rye as a change of pace.
Mark,
One of the best whiskey!!
Geoff,
Interesting initial flavor, however, on the back end...it tasted like grass. Not one I would buy
Devin,
Love this Rye Whiskey, DO NOT use with mixers! Great poured by itself or as an Old Fashioned. Heavier Oak with Cinnamon, puts hair on your chest and finishes smooth.
Ramy,
Smooth and great on the rocks my favorite was an old fashioned using this rye
J,
I can’t get past the oak taste. Not sure if I’m a big Rye fan. So take my rating with a grain of salt. It tastes like a typical whiskey, smooth, but just so much oak flavor.
Sergiy,
The distinct smelll of cheap alcohol. The taste is very much the same. Very bitter. Has a strong bite.
Christopher,
Smooth and strong taste
Shaun,
I didn't get smooth from this at all, lacked notes cause the heat was overwhelming. Very disappointed in what I thought would be a higher standard with this label. Ice helped but made it watered down and couldn't find the sweet spot with it.
Paul,
smooth nice little bite not a lot of heat going down
Daniel,
Very tasty
Allen,
I like it. Smooth like an old pair of shoes. great on the rocks after dinner. Oh hell, good anytime straight up or with ice.
Ian,
Got this with my 1 year Flaviar Membership. Fantastic Rye! Did not last long on my shelf.
Thomas,
Did not like.
Harsh, low quality.
Will not have again.
Kat,
Easy on the sphere bourbon. Smooth mellow palate
Kevin,
The flavor of this was excellent. Smooth from start to finish. The biggest disappointment was it’s so thick I might as well drink syrup. I took 5 or 6 sips and gave the bottle to a friend. If you enjoy a thick spirit then you may enjoy the flavor and consistency.
Jacob,
100 proof. 'Nuff said.
Jennifer,
Warm and smooth. Did not disappoint.
Joshua,
well Done, not at all what I was expecting. My wife and I were expecting a punch instead it was a smooth well balanced taste from beginning to end
BILLY,
Great mixing whiskey little to harsh for me.
Jason,
Not so much of a rye guy, but after a couple of sips, it became much smoother than its harsh beginning.
Jason,
Not so much of a rye guy, but after a couple of sips, it became much smoother than its harsh beginning.
Eric,
Spicey caramel flavor. Has a bite, I don't find it very smooth. Not a Rye I would add to my collection.
Arnold,
A slight bite at first then notes of caramel, vanilla and honey then a pleasant finish.
Ronald,
This is just not what I look for in a whiskey.
Caroline,
The raisin was too prominent and ruined this whiskey for me and my boyfriend
Aaron,
Huge fan of WP. The 10 is excellent. I haven’t found a WP I didn’t like actually. The smaller bottle of 10 that came with the welcome box was a nice treat!
Justin,
Drank neat: I like the caramel and vanilla notes I pick up at first. The finish is okay for me. A bit too much spice for my pallet.
Brian,
It finishes nicely. A little vinegary taste at first but the finish makes up for it.
Tim,
Don’t like rye whiskey.
Billy,
A decent drink a slightly vinegary taste initially but a smooth finish
Daryl,
My first rye. Guess I’m more into something smooth. From the rest of the comments, it sounds like I need to save the rest for an old fashioned.
I did get hints of butterscotch and honey, neither of which I’m crazy about. It’s got a nice finish though, and the harshness of the proof waned.
Christopher,
Agree with a lot of folks here. Tried it neat first and it was pretty harsh. Went to rocks and as the ice melted in the better it got. I had a second glass. A good rye for sure.
Janet,
Initially harsh, but overall a clean and smooth finish
Brandon,
First experience with rye whiskey. A bit more bite at first. Drank on the rocks so longer ice was melting the better it got. By the end I wanted another glass.
Andrew,
More bite than flavor. Expected it with 100 proof.
Christopher,
A little harsh straight, but the best rye I’ve ever had in an old fashioned. Really great flavor stands out in the cocktail.
Thomas,
Pretty solid rye. Not a ton of the spicy notes in my opinion you can get with rye, but still good for what it’s worth!
Charlie,
Really good Rye
Elisabeth,
I tend to find rye whiskeys on the harsher side, but this is incredibly smooth with a balanced flavor.
Bryan,
Wonderful rye!! The flavors lineup and take their turns. Very spicy yet tame enough to pick up on the complexity
Laurence,
I am "not" a Rye man.
Tonya,
The scent was overpowering, causing our nose hairs to burn, reminding us of turpintine. Our eyes watered before we even took a shot. The liquid was smooth going down, leaving a wake of a smouldering caramel and smokey pine. I felt it coat my stomach, and I was imediatly flushed like the lightweight I am. My husband took another dose, knowing he could handle it. Overall it was an enlightening experience, we're still learning and adapting to all the new scents and tastes. We're certainly not dead yet, and this whiskey helped remind us of that.
Brian,
Awful. Tastes like synthetic Astro turf...as I imagine they would taste like.
Chris,
Pleasantly surprised! Can drink it neat or in an Old Fashioned. SMOOTH
Daniel,
Smooth with spice up front, Clay Risen describes the flavor as ‘red hots candy’ and that’s pretty on the spot. Drunk neat with a few drops of water opens up the vanilla up front and mint on the finish.
Cameron,
Very strong wintergreen presence. Overall pretty good.
william,
really enjoyed whistlepig. Did not think I liked rye whiskey
until I tried this. Thankyou
Jacob,
Great Rye! I agree it's a bit harsh at first, but that's to be expected with 100 proof.
Alex,
Great rye, very smoky finish.
Thomas,
Decent flavor, but initial harshness crowds it out. Try it if you like your whiskey aggressive.
Kevin,
Not bad, very harsh at first. However it gets smoother still on the fence with this one.
Bob,
Little harsh going down gets smoother on aftertaste
Barb,
Very smooth and loved the flavor.
Robert,
It's alright. Not my favorite but its decent. I haven't mixed it into anything yet just straight for right now.
Russell,
Very strong at the onset but then all flavor disappears after a few seconds.
Kurt,
Fantastic RYE, I love the spice and vanilla flavor! It has a great finish. One of the best Rye’s I have had. A definite favorite!
otis,
Have not tried many ryes over the years.So far the wistle pig is the best.
Shane,
Not a very smooth taste. Harsh and bitter. Not my choice.
Jeff,
Good taste, bit still more of a vodka drinker.
William,
Best rye I’ve ever had. I love a good rye manhattan, but this stuff doesn’t get mixed with anything except a bit of cool still water.
Thomas,
I am not a fan of rye but having that said, this one is a smooth tasting rye. I would agree with others who have commented that adding a couple of cubes of ice make a difference in the smoothness and finish.
Kelsey,
Smooth for the rye whiskeys that we have tried. Will definitely get again.
Brandon,
It's decently smooth when consumed neat. Nice finish.
Doug,
This is a great rye. If you like that flavor, this one has it in a big way. I use this to make an Old Fashioned or to introduce someone to the difference between rye and other whiskey... you really can’t miss it. This is an unadulterated rye: no finishing casks or flavor additives. Just rye. WP does a great job in this space. Enjoy!
Jaysen,
Kind of disappointed at first had a grassy taste that had a decent finish, but, I added a touch of ice and the taste was amazing.
Edward,
Very rye. Smooth drinking with ice. Enjoyed it a lot. Very hinted at the light flavor ends of the spectrum; made it a great summer drink. Refreshing qualities in it were welcomed with open arms.
Lisa,
Rich, flavorful. Notes of licorice and cinnamon. Great spice.
Stephen,
I loved every thing about this. So glad it came with my subscription. Loved the subtle sweet after taste to the whiskey. It will be in my collection for sure going forward
Charla,
Very smooth, nice for sipping with just an ice cube. Since I had a nasty summer cold I added a bit of honey and a lemon slice and used it in a Hot Toddy. I will be adding this to my home bar.
Brian,
What a gift! I will be keeping this on hand.
Kurt,
Nice and smooth, a little spicy but still a good addition to any home bar.
David,
Awesome item to receive in Welcome box. Never thought Rye would be in my interest but the Welcome box changed my mind.
Fred,
I was very pleasantly surprised with the flavor. This is the first rye I have tasted. I found it smooth. I prefer to mix it with a little water but also enjoy it neat
Vince,
This could be a sipper with a little more age. Decently complex and better wet than neat. A really good mixer for some spiced up cocktails.
Kyle,
Very smooth good spice at the end, very sweet middle.
Larry,
Very smooth with a light spicy finish. Quite enjoyable.
Ken,
For a rye that's 100 percent rye, it was smoother and less intense than the FEW rye in my welcome box. I like this better.
Steve,
Not my favorite by itself, but add your favorite mixer and it is just fine. Tasted better rye whiskeys overall.
Brittany,
A bit spicy for my taste. Mellows some but not completely.
Stephen,
Definitely a spicy nose. And first taste. A little heavy on the butterscotch/caramel finish. Good, but not a personal favorite.
Marc,
Nice honey, yet complex finish.
Ryan,
Sharp and strong bite with a mellow finish. If you like Rye with some teeth I would give it a try. Going to use it in Manhattan's for sure.
Rebecca,
Really smooth start, after taste is a little odd
Kyle,
Very good, the rye is not over powering and it is a very smooth comfort drink on the rocks.
Michael,
Good rye, pretty smooth and lightly sweet. I like it with an ice cube or it makes a great rye old fashioned.
Ashley,
Delicious
Josh,
Smells like a bourbon with a little spice. The tastes is smooth like an aged whiskey 10 year old whiskey would be. In the middle you get all spice, vanilla, oak char and the alcohol burn, the rye comes in at the end and over powers the other flavors. Excellent rye whiskey. I 100% recommend picking up a bottle. Watch Whistle Pig 10 year Rye take on Bob Dylan’s Heavens Door Rye on YouTube at Talking Whiskey
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCidw4ND0rTX1n1zGDAfJH3Q
Kevin,
Normally I would shy away from rye. Glad I didn't. Drinks like a bourbon.
Eric,
Smooth. Enjoyed the spice on the nose and the cool flavors that followed. This could be very dangerous, on rocks and without boundaries, I could get into this and have a fun night.
Carmen,
Loved it was nice and smooth and paired great with coke
Stephen,
Compliments to the still master. Delish and easy to drink rye. Definitely would get again.
James,
Amazing flavor, strong but not overwhelming. Just don’t want to drink too much of it because then the small bottle would be empty and I’d be sad.
A,
very smooth in a tumbler with slow melting ice. Can't wait to try Whistlepigs other products
Brandon,
A very solid Rye, a blend of clean notes. Mostly on the earthy side. Its wonderfully smooth on the rocks and mellow. Definitely a all night sipper.
Bonnie,
Amazing Rye!
Jon,
Less sweet than your typical rye. But, smooth as silk. Can't argue with Whistlepig.
Jodi,
A rye with sweetness and smoothness that I could get used to. A 10 year old that tastes as good as some 12 year olds.
Harold,
Definitely notes of butterscotch and vanilla. Tasting it once brings out the smell so much more. Great aftertaste.
Eddie,
Very flavorful. Great spice in the front followed by some smoother sweeter notes in the finish. A couple drops of ice water mellowed the spice if it is too much.
Andrew,
Enjoyable, sweet flavors but the spice at the beginning and in the finish is almost harsh. The secondary notes are caramely and woody. Overall, it is tasty.
Sam,
Smooth, spicy and sweet rye with vanilla taste.
Tyler,
A bit harsh on the front end, but good overall taste. A little bit of water or ice open up the flavor profile
Jason,
Strong kick of spice is quite noticeable but makes for a unique and enjoyable flavor. I think I’ll learn to appreciate this one more as time goes by.
Michael,
not a fan of the harsh/spicy kick
Luke,
It’s a great whiskey
Jeff,
all around very smooth rye with a slight pepper kick
David,
Good flavors mixes well has harsh after taste when drinking straight
Bonnie,
Alright
Lauren,
I quite enjoyed this whiskey, its very smooth.
Duane,
A bit spicy, but a splash of water mellows the heat and enhances the buttery flavors.
Brian,
Best with a splash of water. The flavors really flatten with ice
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