WhistlePig Boss Hog Rye Whiskey: Prices, Taste, & More

WhistlePig Boss Hog is a series of creatively branded, high-end rye whiskeys from the Vermont-based WhistlePig distillery. Each edition is made from the best rye in WhistlePig's stock using unique finishing and aging processes. 

Let’s check out why WhistlePig Boss Hog whiskeys are special, some interesting facts about each edition, and whether you should invest in these rye whiskey bottles.

We’ll also introduce you to Whiskeyvest — an online platform that allows you to invest in top-notch whiskey casks. 

What Makes WhistlePig Boss Hog Whiskeys Special?

The Boss Hog series is often called the “high end” of WhistlePig’s range of rye whiskeys. Most drinks in the series age for over 10 years. 

Each collectible whiskey in the Boss Hog edition is:

• Single barrel whiskey (Although the whiskey makers produce multiple barrels of each edition, the whiskies are all bottled from a single barrel.)
• Bottled at barrel proof
• Complex and distinct from the other Whistlepig whiskeys
• Unique in the way it’s bottled and finished, and the resulting flavors

The liquid used in the production of the Boss Hog whiskeys comes from Canada and is shipped to the distillery in Vermont for further maturation, finishing, and bottling.

Over the years, the WhistlePig distillery has been improving the Boss Hog series by:

• Aging the whiskeys for longer 
• Using more experimental finishing processes (seasoning the casks, changing the wood of the casks, and more)
• Using more intricate packaging (for example, the bottles feature large boxes with sculpted, themed stoppers)

Also, the Boss Hog series garners attention due to its unique branding. Each edition takes on a new “theme” as inspiration for the experimental finishing. (Master distiller Dave Pickerell is usually the one responsible for many of the “themes.”) 

These themes are centered around the distillery's history, a WhistlePig farm animal, notable scientists, and more. 

Let’s now journey through the Boss Hog series to discover the specifics of each edition. 

9 Extraordinary WhistlePig Boss Hog Whiskeys: Price, Flavors, & More

Below are the nine editions of the Boss Hog:

1. WhistlePig The Boss Hog: 1st Edition
2. WhistlePig The Boss Hog II: The Spirit of Mortimer
3. WhistlePig The Boss Hog III: The Independent
4. WhistlePig The Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince 
5. WhistlePig The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve 
6. WhistlePig The Boss Hog VI: The Samurai Scientist 
7. WhistlePig The Boss Hog VII: Magellan's Atlantic 
8. WhistlePig The Boss Hog VIII: Lapulapu's Pacific 
9. WhistlePig The Boss Hog IX: Siren’s Song

1. WhistlePig The Boss Hog: 1st Edition ($901)

As it’s the first and the oldest in the series, this Boss Hog straight rye whiskey is highly sought after worldwide. It was hand-bottled in Vermont at a barrel strength of 134.2 proof and finished in exotic bourbon barrel casks. 

Whiskey reviewers gave this exceptional drink an average of 90 points. Whiskey aficionados love that they can easily drink it without mixing water.   

Tasting Notes: On the nose, it offers orange, oak, caramel, and gingerbread aromas. On the palate, it has powerfully complex flavors of vanilla, rye bread, cinnamon, caramel, clove, brown sugar, currants, exotic spice, and a distinctly spicy finish. 

Aged for: 12 years

ABV: 67.8%

2. WhistlePig The Boss Hog II: The Spirit of Mortimer ($4,980)

WhistlePig only bottled 50 barrels of “The Spirit of Mortimer.” Most of the barrels used were sourced from the MGP (Midwest Grain Products) distillery in Indiana and Alberta Distillers in Canada.    

It comes with a Danforth Pewter stopper — a feature included in the newer whiskey releases. Each stopper has a unique design inspired by the edition’s theme. 

Tasting Notes: The Spirit of Mortimer has apple, spice, and Italian herb aromas. It displays an accentuated rye flavor with the supple sweetness of maple syrup and cinnamon notes. It finishes with hints of cinnamon, fennel, melon, and chocolate.

Aged for: 13 years

ABV: 61.1%

3. WhistlePig The Boss Hog III: The Independent ($4,541)

The Independent is WhistlePig’s first whiskey finished in Hogshead 250-liter Scotch casks — the largest barrels enhanced with new American oak heads.

The WhistlePig Distillery matured this whiskey in peated scotch whisky hogsheads to develop its harmonious flavors. 

Tasting Notes: This whiskey features complex, spicy flavors with notes of wood, black cherry, caramel, gingerbread, and vanilla. It has a lingering ginger and woody finish. On the nose, it offers rye and spice scents. 

Aged for: 14 years 

ABV: 60.3%

4. WhistlePig The Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince ($2,428)

The fourth edition of The Boss Hog is WhistlePig’s ode to the spirits of Europe. In line with this theme, it’s the first-ever straight rye whiskey finished in Armagnac casks from France. 

According to master distiller Dave Pickerell, the Armagnac casks were used as part of WhistlePig’s ongoing search for nontraditional finishing barrels.

Tasting Notes: This drink boasts fruit scents of fig and plum and the flavors of apricot, black cherry, cinnamon, sugar, and marshmallow. The finish has lingering marshmallows, orchard fruit, and sugar notes.   

Aged for: 14 years

ABV: 56%

5. WhistlePig The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve ($1,109)

The fifth edition is an ode to one of WhistlePig’s sows, Mauve, who passed away in 2018. WhistlePig finished this drink in Calvados casks in memory of Mauve’s love for apples. (The calvados casks contribute an apple scent.) 

The whiskey is packaged in a coffin-shaped black box as part of the theme. 

The Spirit of Mauve was bottled at a barrel strength of 118.4 proof. 

Tasting Notes: The whiskey features an apple scent accompanied by notes of ginger and lime. On the palate, it has maple syrup, pear, dark chocolate, and oak spice flavors. The finish has spice notes with hints of maple syrup, oak, and ginger. 

Aged for: 13 years

ABV: 58.8%

6. WhistlePig The Boss Hog VI: The Samurai Scientist ($2,008)

The Boss Hog VI is inspired by Jōkichi Takamine, a Japanese chemist who applied koji fermentation to American whiskeys in the 1890s. (Koji fermentation is a fermentation process that uses grains and microscopic fungus).

The Samurai Scientist whiskey was finished in barrels seasoned with Japanese umeshu (a plum liqueur) inspired by Jōkichi Takamine. 

WhistlePig released two editions of this rye whiskey — one with a pewter samurai stopper and the other with an obsidian black cast stopper and Japanese labels. 

Tasting Notes: This whiskey has scents of cinnamon, maple syrup, and marshmallow and flavors of tobacco, ginger, spice, and plum (thanks to the Japanese umeshu). It also features a long finish with an oaky spice note. 

Aged for: 16 years

ABV: 60.4%

7. WhistlePig The Boss Hog VII: Magellan's Atlantic ($874)

This whiskey celebrates Ferdinand Magellan's (a Portuguese explorer) journey to find a Western route to the Spice Islands. Interestingly, this drink is one of the oldest rye whiskies in the series.

Whiskey makers finished Magellan’s Atlantic whiskey in virgin Spanish oak and South American teakwood casks.     

Tasting Notes: This drink features powerfully complex aromas of cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla, toasted oak, and allspice. On the palate, you’ll experience clove, spices, and fruit flavors with a long smokey, oak-spice finish.  

Aged for: 17 years  

ABV: 52.6%

8. WhistlePig The Boss Hog VIII: Lapulapu's Pacific ($847)

The Lapulapu’s Pacific whiskey continues the story of the previous edition — the Magellan's Atlantic whiskey. It’s inspired by the Filipino chief Lapulapu, who defended his land against Ferdinand Magellan and the Spanish colonizers. 

WhistlePig finished the Lapulapu’s Pacific whiskey twice in rum casks from the Philippines. 

It was aged for 18 years and is also one of the oldest rye whiskies in the series. 

Tasting Notes: The Lapulapu’s Pacific whiskey offers scents of vanilla, banana, and lemon. On the palate, it opens with the flavors of molasses, cinnamon, and toffee with brown sugar, nutmeg, allspice, and floral notes.

Aged for: 18 years 

ABV: 53.1%

9. WhistlePig The Boss Hog IX: Siren’s Song ($835)

The Siren’s Song whiskey represents the journey from Canada (where it was distilled) to Vermont (the WhistlePig farm and distillery) to Greece (the inspiration for the cask finish). 

This edition of the Boss Hog Odyssey was finished in barrels seasoned with alcoholic Greek fig nectar and Tentura (a Greek style liqueur that WhistlePig made from scratch).

According to Meghan Ireland (head blender) and Liz Rhoades (head of whiskey development), the Greek fig nectar is like a concentrate or syrup made from Greek figs. They based the recipe on Greek traditions.  

Tasting Notes: This special edition of the Boss Hog Odyssey opens with cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg aromas. It boasts the supple sweetness of Greek fig nectar, honey, and vanilla. It also offers an exotic spice finish with oak, plum, and floral notes.   

Aged for: 13 years

ABV: 52.2%

The Boss Hog series is a very interesting collection of whiskies; each bottle has a unique story. 

But the important question is: 

Should You Invest in WhistlePig Boss Hog Whiskeys?

The Boss Hog whiskeys are emerging as “cult classics” in the whiskey world.  Currently, all of them cost more than $800.    

The value of each edition appreciates as the whiskeys become rarer:

• The price of the WhistlePig The Boss Hog VI: The Samurai Scientist whiskey increased from $587 in April 2021 to $2,223 in October 2022 — a 279% jump.
• Between April 2021 and March 2023, the WhistlePig The Boss Hog VII: Magellan's Atlantic’s price increased from $578 to $843 — a 45% increase.
• The price of the WhistlePig The Boss Hog V: The Spirit Of Mauve rose from $731 in May 2021 to $1,153 in March 2023 — a 57% increase. 

The Boss Hog whiskeys have also performed well at auctions:

• The WhistlePig The Boss Hog: 1st Edition whiskey sold for $9,000 at a Whisky Auctioneer online auction. Meanwhile, the drink’s retail price is only around $900.
• A 3L bottle of the WhistlePig The Boss Hog VII: Magellan's Atlantic whiskey sold at an online auction for $9,800. 
• The highest bid for the WhistlePig The Boss Hog VI: The Samurai Scientist whiskey reached $4,408 at Whisky Auctioneer’s online auction. 

In general, the whiskey market has been growing and isn’t showing signs of slowing down. The market's CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is expected to register at 5.6% over the next five years.

Now, what’s the easiest way to invest in WhistlePig Boss Hog whiskeys and other drinks? 

Invest in whiskey casks instead of bottles! 

Why?

Because you can order whiskey casks at a much younger age and a much lower price. Also, according to a Forbes study, the liquid will only increase in value and provide consistent annual returns of around 8-12%

Wondering how you can diversify your portfolio and invest in the world’s finest whiskey casks?

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• Spend less for more: You’ll avoid intermediaries and extra commissions while investing through Whiskeyvest.
• Hassle-free ownership: Whiskeyvest authenticates, stores, and ensures your whiskey casks. You can even sample your whiskey once per year. Whiskeyvest will send you a whiskey sample, and the delivery will be made anywhere in the world — in the US, the UK, New Zealand, or South Africa.
• Expert assistance: Whiskeyvest’s expert advisers will guide you toward creating a successful portfolio.

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