The Vermont based WhistlePig Distillery, has announced the
UK launch of its 8th Boss Hog rye bottling.
WhistlePig - The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu’s Pacific (52.4%
ABV) is a straight rye whiskey, which was matured for nearly 18 years in new
American Oak barrels, before being finished in barrels that previously held
small batch, single island aged Philippine rum.
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| WhistlePig - The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu's Pacific |
This latest release from the multi-award-winning rye distillery, is said to explore unchartered territory in the world of rye to create a whiskey that is powerfully complex and distinctive from anything created before and, in keeping with The Boss Hog’s personality –stupendous.
With a sub-title name of LapuLapu’s Pacific, the release
takes its inspiration and name historically and symbolically from the
Philippines and the Filipino hero of the same name from 16th Century.
The Philippines is one of the world’s lesser-known Rum
producers. The Rum barrels for The Boss Hog VIII have made their own long
journey from a small island just southwest of Cebu. They previously held small
batch Rum for between seven and ten years. Just like Rye Whiskey, extended
barrel aging enriches Rum’s vanilla, caramel, and oak notes, mellows the
profile, and adds layers of complexity to the final spirit. A high toast
profile imparts another dimension of toffee and spice flavours.
Commenting on the launch, Meghan Ireland, Blender at WhistlePig,
said: “On the heels and success of Magellan’s Atlantic, it was a great
challenge to find the perfect finish for the most special Rye barrels in our
warehouse. We were already tracing Magellan in depth, and when we discovered
LapuLapu’s story we knew we had to track down the best Philippines Rum barrels
we could for the sequel. Before maturing Rum for 7-10 years, the barrels were
coopered from American oak and originally held bourbon. In this way, they’ve
made their own circumnavigation from American whiskey to the Philippines, and
back again to us in Vermont.”
She went onto say: “The whiskey rests first in 7-year-old
small batch Philippine Rum casks, followed by a shorter finish in 10-year-old
small batch Philippine Rum casks. The older rum is darker and bolder, requiring
less time for its barrels to impart notes in the whiskey. The end result is an
amazingly unique and delicious whiskey. Like all of our boldest experiments,
this one was not without its trials. We actually attempted to send the whiskey
itself around the world to Spain, to finish in the place where just one ship
from the original fleet finally returned. Those barrels have yet to come back
to us, so for the most daring collectors out there, the hunt is on.”
WhistlePig - The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu’s Pacific, will be
available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £675.00.
Posted by Steve Rush