WhistlePig Releases Rye Whiskey Selected by the Late Musician Robbie Robertson to Celebrate 45th Anniversary of ‘The Last Waltz’
WhistlePig 12 Year – Robbie’s Blend celebrates the life of Robbie Robertson and the 45th anniversary of “The Last Waltz.” (Photo: WhistlePig Whiskey)
On Friday, WhistlePig Whiskey announced the release of a new 12-year-old rye whiskey selected by Robbie Robertson, guitarist, songwriter and singer of Canadian-American rock ‘n’ roll outfit The Band.
Bottled at 86 proof, WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey – Robbie’s Blend features finishing in three wine barrels: 76% Madeira, 19% Port and 5% Sauternes.
Robertson died Aug. 9, not long after selecting this whiskey with WhistlePig.
Robbie’s Blend is a tribute to both Robertson and, with Thanksgiving approaching, “The Last Waltz,” a concert The Band played on Thanksgiving Day of 1976 in San Francisco. Over the course of the show, The Band was joined by more than a dozen guests, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr and Neil Young.
“The Last Waltz” also became an album, and WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey – Robbie’s Blend bottles were dipped in wax that includes melted vinyl from that album.
Martin Scorsese filmed a documentary on the show, titled “The Last Waltz,” and it is considered one of the, if not the best concert films ever made.
“Watching ‘The Last Waltz’ on Thanksgiving is a tradition for many. We’re humbled to give fans another way to celebrate ‘The Last Waltz’s’ legacy this season with a new whiskey created in collaboration with Robbie himself,” WhistlePig Distiller Mitch Mahar said in a news release. “With his personal touches, Robbie’s Blend offers a bespoke whiskey that gives you a symphony of flavor in every sip.”
WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey – Robbie’s Blend is available for purchase online at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com for a suggested retail price of $175 per 750-milliliter bottle and will hit shelves in select Tennessee stores this fall.
WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey – Robbie’s Blend debuted Friday alongside the re-release of “The Last Waltz” Vinyl, launched to celebrate the film and album’s 45th anniversary. Rights and branding company Iconoclast, which partnered with WhistlePig to release the blend, hosted a release party Thursday night at Analog in Nashville after “The Last Waltz” GRAMMY Museum Screening. The party featured tastings, guest speakers and exclusive merchandise.
On November 5, “The Last Waltz” will be screened by Fathom Events at over 600 theaters nationwide.
“Thanksgiving is a perfect encapsulation of everything The Last Waltz stood for: a collaborative, familial and inclusive spirit that you could feel through the speakers,” Iconoclast founder Olivier Chastan said in the news release. “We are continuing this spirit of collaboration by bringing together Robbie – a consummate tastemaker – and WhistlePig – a whiskey reserved for those with the finest taste – to create WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey – Robbie’s Blend.”
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