WhistlePig The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve Review

Shawn Jackson -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Produced by WhistlePig Whiskey but the whiskey was distilled by MGP
  • MASH BILL: MGP 95% Rye Mash, Finished in Calvados Apple Brandy Casks
  • AGE: 13 Years
  • YEAR: 2018
  • PROOF: Barrel Strength (varies, but my sample was 119 proof)
  • MSRP: $500.00
  • BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com

SHAWN'S NOTES

NOSE: Apples | Tobacco | Baking Spices | Italian Herbs

TASTE: Maple Syrup | Tobacco | Cinnamon

FINISH: Long | Spreads Over and Coats the Whole Tongue | Cinnamon | Fennel | Maple Syrup

SHARE WITH: Craft whiskey nerds and finished rye fans.  If someone likes fruit and spice, this will be right up their alley.

WORTH THE PRICE: I would put this one on par with some other good ryes in the $100-200 range, like Kentucky Owl Batch 1 and Midwinter Night’s Dram.  At $100, or maybe even creeping up to $200, I would be in for at least one bottle.  I applaud WhistlePig for preempting the secondary market on these by raising retail prices, but I think they might have overshot this one.  Numerous people will happily snatch these up at retail, but we will likely see many sitting on shelves for some time.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: The outlay for a $500 bottle is a big investment for something you might not love.  My favorite way to try these kinds of bottles is to split it with 4-5 friends.  That way, we each get 3-4 drinks for the price of a shot at the bar.  If that is not an option, I recommend trying it at a bar.  That would probably run you about $50-60 per ounce, based on retail pricing.

OVERALL: I was recently fortunate to be invited by Kristopher Hart on to his Whiskey Neat podcast along with Dave Pickerell, Master Distiller at WhistlePig.  Pickerell’s whiskey knowledge is seemingly endless, as was his generosity when he gave us free samples from Barrel #1 of this new special release.  While I was not quite willing to pay retail for a full bottle of the previous edition, The Black Prince, I found it to be an exceptional rye.  Pickerell says the Spirit of Maude is his favorite release, but I thought it fell short of the beautiful, complex balance of The Black Prince.

BRAND NOTES

This 5th. edition of The Boss Hog, The Spirit of Mauve, is a 13 Year Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Calvados Casks in honor of our celebrity pet pig, Mauve’s undying love of apples.

The result is extraordinary. A unique blend of sweet and spiced flavors with a fine balance between American power and French sophistication. There’s nothing else like it.

NOSE: Mulled cider, cardamom, candied ginger and a touch of piper tobacco. Caramel, vanilla and gentle Rye spice develops with time in the glass.

PALATE: Maple syrup and pears are balanced by dark chocolate and French oak spice. With water, the spice moves front and center and a vibrant, fruit-forward character develops.

FINISH: Lasting spice and a touch of charred oak and caramel, maple syrup lingers as the finish fades.

WHISTLEPIG THE BOSS HOG V: THE SPIRIT OF MAUVE BACKGROUND INFO

WHISTLEPIG RELEASES THE BOSS HOG V: THE SPIRIT OF MAUVE

SHOREHAM, Vt., Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey announces the release of The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve, the fifth edition of their most profound whiskey. As the biggest and best expression of WhistlePig, The Boss Hog is only produced when the brand feels they can create something superior to anything they have previously made. This marque fulfills the five promises WhistlePig makes to each edition of The Boss Hog: single barrel, bottled at barrel proof, powerfully complex, distinctly unique from anything they have done before, and stupendous. The Boss Hog V targets the senses with a unique balance between sweet and spiced flavors and a fine balance between American power and French sophistication.

The Spirit of Mauve is a celebration of one of the brand's founding celebrity pigs. Mauve's lover, Mortimer, was tragically killed defending her honor in 2014, and was memorialized in The Boss Hog, second edition, The Spirit of Mortimer. Mauve persevered for the sake of their son, Mortimer Jr., but she sadly passed away this Valentine's Day, presumably of a broken heart. The Spirit of Mauve is a 13 Year Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Calvados Casks in honor of Mauve's undying love of apples. Each bottle features a handcrafted Danforth pewter stopper in the shape of Mauve ascending to heaven and a casket-inspired gift box.

"The Spirit of Mauve is my favorite Boss Hog release so far. It is full flavored yet subtle, with lots of warm spice and apple notes. It's like drinking Grandma's apple pie." explains Dave Pickerell, Master Distiller for WhistlePig.

The former editions of the line include The Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince (2017), which was named Best in Show at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The Boss Hog III: The Independent (2015), Boss Hog II: The Spirit of Mortimer (2014) and The Boss Hog (2013). This newest edition is bottled at barrel proof and the suggested retail price is $499.99.

Flavor Profile of The Boss Hog V

Nose: Mulled cider, cardamom, candied ginger and a touch of piper tobacco. Caramel, vanilla and gentle Rye spice develops with time in the glass.

Palate: Maple syrup and pears are balanced by dark chocolate and French oak spice. With water, the spice moves front and center and a vibrant, fruit-forward character develops.

Finish: Lasting spice and a touch of charred oak and caramel, maple syrup lingers as the finish fades.

Disclaimer: WhistlePig provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.