WhistlePig Wows Winos by Partnering With Prestigious Napa Vineyard for ‘Hyper-Limited’ Rye Whiskey Release

WhistlePig announced on Wednesday the release of a 12-year-old single barrel rye that was finished in 60-gallon French oak barrels that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon from the prestigious Napa Valley winery, Shafer Vineyards. The brand described the release as “hyper-limited,” and just eight barrels were bottled for release.

“We like to say it takes 12 years, a spectacular cabernet barrel, and one sip to convert a wine drinker to a whiskey buff,” WhistlePig Head Blender Meghan Ireland said in a news release. “The WhistlePig 12 Single Barrel Rye Whiskey— Shafer Edition delivers on that and more. We’re thrilled to release just 8 barrels from our experimental warehouse in time for pairing with a great Fall dinner.”

WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey — Shafer Edition takes WhistlePig’s standard 12-year rye and finishes it in oak barrels from the respected Napa winery. The expression has a suggested retail price of $174.99.

The Vermont whiskey brand described the Shafer Cabernet finish as imbuing the whiskey with sweet cherry, raspberry jelly and cinnamon aromas with a gentle citrus undercurrent. The brand shared the whiskey’s lengthy finish hosts plenty of structure with aromas of dried cedar.

“This is our first partnership of its kind in the history of Shafer and we could not be more pleased,” Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez said. “I select our barrels with exceptional care, personally inspecting each one inside and out for integrity, strength and craftsmanship. And the Cabernet Sauvignon that spends two years or more in the barrels is produced at the highest level. It’s exciting to see these top barrels as part of a world-class project such as this.”

This latest release follows WhistlePig’s September 10 drop of a collaboration with F1 racer, Valtteri Bottas. The release was called the KICK Sauber Single Barrel, and the rye whiskey was finished in Bottas’ Oath Gin barrels. The brand additionally bet $1.77 million on KICK Stauber during the 2024 racing season.

WhistlePig’s latest vinous release clocks in at 86 proof and is available in limited locations.

The brand claimed it chose to work with the Napa winery because WhistlePig Rye is one of the top recommended whiskeys by sommeliers in restaurants.

We’ll raise a glass to that.

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