One of WhistlePig’s oldest whiskeys, Estate Oak Rye is for the true connoisseur of Rye. It takes its name from our Vermont Estate Oak, where it finishes its long, 15 year life.

From WHISTLE PIG AGED 15 YEARS -WHISTLE PIG WHISKEY-

I’ve bought several bottles of rye whiskey for drinking at home, like “Knob Creek Rye,” “Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye,” and “Jim Beam Rye.” However, my impression has always been, “This isn’t the taste I’m looking for!” I was starting to conclude that rye whiskey just wasn’t my thing. Then one day, I discovered “WhistlePig 10 Year” on Rakuten. The 10-year aging, the higher alcohol content (alcohol percentage is key!), the serious price tag, and the mention of “craftsmanship” in the description piqued my interest and led me to buy it. My impression was, “This is delicious! I love it!”

As the years go up, so does the price, with the 12-year and 15-year versions being even more expensive. The 15-year one costs over 20,000 yen! For that price, you could buy a 21-year-old Scotch whisky of some brands. I didn’t think I’d ever drink it at home, but then I had the chance to try it at a hotel bar for members and their guests only. I’m really grateful to the person who brought me there. I’ve always wanted to try the 15-year one in such a stylish bar. It was a dream come true.

In this premium bar, they also had the likes of Macallan and Yamazaki 18-years old, Hibiki 21 years old as expected, but it seemed they also had these kinds of whiskies to keep whiskey-loving members from getting bored (I saw some rare bottles of Ardbeg and other intriguing bottles…). It’s interesting to see the variety of bars out there. The 15-year one exceeded my expectations with its rich, sweet flavor that was simply irresistible. It’s worth every penny. Maybe I’ll buy the 12-year one for drinking at home?