WhistlePig Taps Iconic British Comedian John Cleese to Unveil a 25 Year Old Whiskey With a Ridiculous Name

(Photo: WhistlePig Whiskey)

On Wednesday, WhistlePig Whiskey announced that it’s bringing the “Big Pig Energy” this spring with the release of The Badönkådonk, a single malt whiskey with an age statement nearly as wild as its name: 25 years.

“Named not for a ghost of 19th century distilling nor for an unphonetic hill, glen or loch… nor for somebody walking said hill or glen (how boring!), The Badönkådonk is an audacious advance on the next front in WhistlePig’s whiskey revolution,” WhistlePig wrote in a news release. 

The Badönkådonk is finished in both WhistlePig rye whiskey barrels and an ex-red wine barrel that previously contained silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

“Our Single Malts stand apart not only for age, but also maturation in the world’s best barrels. After finishing The Béhôlden in our own well aged Rye Barrels (with a wink), we set our sights on the best of California wine country,” WhistlePig Head Blender Meghan Ireland said. “Known for their superstar Cabernets aged exclusively in American Oak barrels, Silver Oak is the perfect partner to push boundaries with, showing what’s possible on our side of the pond.”

WhistlePig tapped famed comedian and actor John Cleese, known best for his work in “Monty Python” and his role as the star character, Basil Fawlty, in the celebrated British sitcom, “Fawlty Towers.”

“I thought it was rather cheeky when I learned that some colonials were trying to ape the Scotches that have from the beginning of time been crafted in Scotchland… AND with a name of such sublime ridiculousness – WhistlePig 25: The Badönkådonk! That doesn’t sound very Scotchish, does it?” Cleese said in the news release.

“BUT… when I tasted it… MY WHOLE WORLD CHANGED!! My very DNA was instantly revised, my taste buds DANCED THE BAGPIPE, and I instantly became SPIRITUALLY ADVANCED. You MUST try it. (Or I will send a small posse of highly trained Raccoons to tie you up and pour it into your cake-hole until you announce your arrival in HEAVEN).”

Last year, WhistlePig released a 21-year-old single malt named The Béhôlden — which the brand says was a means of “taunting the Scots.”

WhistlePig 25 Single Malt – The Badönkådonk will release each year in very limited quantities annually alongside a limited annual release of The Béhôlden. They are available for sale now online here and at select liquor stores, bars and restaurants across the U.S.

The Badönkådonk has a suggested retail price of $1,999.99 per 750-milliliter bottle, while The Béhôlden is priced at $899.99.

Both The Béhôlden and The Badönkådonk were distilled at the oldest malt distillery in North America: Canada’s Glenora Distillery.

“The Badönkådonk is sure to convert even the most loyal of Scotch sippers, and likely to make the forebears of the Keepers of the Quaich (which let’s admit is really just a cup) roll over in their graves,” WhistlePig wrote in the news release.

WhistlePig additionally debuted a hilarious video promoting its new whiskey — starring Cleese, of course. The video depicts Cleese scoffing at the idea that an American whiskey could rival scotch (the actor even takes a dig at the U.S. for spelling “whiskey” with an “e”) and struggling to pronounce “Badönkådonk.” Check out the video below:

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