WhistlePig Founder Leaps Back Into Familiar Territory With 1st Rye Whiskey Release Under New Brand
BHAKTA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey debuted from the WhistlePig founder, Raj Peter Bhakta’s brand. (Photo: BHAKTA Spirits)
On Tuesday, BHATKA Spirits announced the launch of its first rye whiskey, BHATKA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey. The whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $149.
The brand describes the rye as “brash” and “spicy.” It spent a decade aging before being finished for 75 days in Calvados casks. Just 800 cases are available. This launch marks a return to rye whiskey for Raj Peter Bhakta, the founder of WhistlePig Whiskey, which is renowned for its rye.
Like some of the other BHATKA expressions, these Calvados casks were selected from some of the oldest in the world from Château BHAKTA. The rye whiskey was bottled at 107.6 proof and released after 10 years and eight months of aging.
Distilled from a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, the whiskey is likely sourced from MGP in Indiana.
According to BHAKTA Spirits, the Calvados casks imbue the rye whiskey with a cerebral depth and luxurious richness. BHAKTA Spirits claims the Calvados finishing casks were chosen by a panel of master blenders such as French blender Bernard Domecq, BHATKA Spirits Minister of Time Jonathan Page and BHAKTA Spirits Chief Minister of Spirits Sean O’Rourke.
“True to its status as a single vintage spirit, BHAKTA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey represents the next level of rarity, transparency, variability and specificity that spirits lovers are seeking like never before,” O’Rourke said in a news release. “The beauty of vintages is that no two releases are ever the same. I see this new ‘Drink Vintage’ revolution as bound to dethrone age statements in the status spirit segment.”
In October, BHAKTA Spirits unveiled its flagship expression, BHAKTA 1928, a blend composed of 60% American rye whiskey, 30% Calvados and 10% vintage Armagnac.
The oldest Armagnac in the blend dates back to 1928.
“Rye was truly the spirit that started it all for me,” Bhakta explained. “Even after we exited WhistlePig, we knew we weren’t done with rye. And rye wasn’t done with us. Now we’re doing it again — but bigger, bolder and better than we ever did it before. Single vintage, not an age statement. An entire college campus, not a decrepit farm. Same unstoppable belief in the barrels. And the same spirit of revolution.”
BHAKTA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey Tasting Notes, via the brand
Nose: Apple pie, citrus fruit, vanilla caramel.
Taste: Silken, with a spicy attack of pepper and nutmeg.
Finish: Dry, mellow with oak and rancio.
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