
WhistlePig FarmStock, A Trio of Peaty Islay Scotches & More New Whisky
July 5, 2019 –––––– Susannah Skiver Barton
WhistlePig Farm Stock Crop 003
Style: RyeOrigin: Multiple (VT, IN, and Canada)Age: Not statedProof: 43% ABVPrice: $73Release: July 2019Availability: Limited edition
Need to know:
The third release of FarmStock, this is a blend of 52% WhistlePig's 3 year old rye, 31% 6 year old rye from MGP, and 17% 10 year old rye from Alberta Distillers.
Whisky Advocate says:
The proportion of WhistlePig's own rye in this blend keeps going up, from 20% for the first batch to 32% for the second, and now 52%. The age has gone up as well; the house-made whiskey is now 3 years old, where in past releases it was 2.This is the first batch of FarmStock made without the oversight of master distiller Dave Pickerell, who passed away last year. In 2017, I sat down with Dave to hear how he put together the first FarmStock blend, which we captured on video.
Kilchoman Loch Gorm (2019 Release)
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: Not statedProof: 46% ABVPrice: $110Release: Fall 2019Availability: 15,000 bottles total; 1,920 for the U.S.
Need to know:
Fully matured in oloroso sherry butts, this is a vatting of 20 casks filled in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. Like all Kilchoman whiskies, it's heavily peated at 50 ppm.
Whisky Advocate says:
Kilchoman Loch Gorm has proven its quality: The 2018 release scored 91 points and netted the No.-15 spot in our 2018 Top 20.
Kilchoman STR Cask
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: Not statedProof: 50% ABVPrice: $120Release: Fall 2019Availability: 14,500 bottles total; 1,920 for the U.S.
Need to know:
Distilled in 2012, this heavily peated (50 ppm) single malt was aged in shaved, toasted, and re-charred red wine casks—hence the STR.
Whisky Advocate says:
STR casks were the idea of Dr. Jim Swan, a whisky scientist and consultant who passed away in 2017. The technique helps dispel some of the less desirable character in the wine casks while retaining and rejuvenating certain compounds and flavors through the re-charring process. Many distilleries have begun employing STR casks, notably Kavalan in Taiwan. While Kilchoman previously released single malt matured in red wine casks (88 points), this new whisky will have different flavors because of the STR process.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 11 year old (Cask #302/2007)
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: 11 years oldProof: 56.4% ABVPrice: $175Release: Fall 2019Availability: 230 bottles for the U.S.
Need to know:
Distilled on September 19, 2007 and bottled on March 1, 2019, this is the oldest Kilchoman released to date. It's a single cask bottling, fully matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel, and exclusive to the U.S. through importer ImpEx Beverages.
Whisky Advocate says:
ImpEx developed the Cask Evolution series to showcase the importance of casks in developing top-quality scotch, bottling whiskies that showcase the diversity of character achieved through cask selection.
Chicken Cock Beer Barrel Select
Style: BourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedProof: 45% ABVPrice: $80Release: June 2019Availability: 1,800 bottles in AL, CO, FL, GA, IL, KY, MS, NC, SC, and TN
Need to know:
A mix of bourbons aged 1.5 to 11.5 years, this whiskey was finished in walnut brown ale barrels from Louisville's Goodwood Brewing Co.The barrels had previously held Chicken Cock's Double Barrel bourbon, making this a full-circle collaboration.
Whisky Advocate says:
Another week, another beer barrel-finished whiskey. Not saying that we're tired of them by any means! Just that it seems as if beer barrels are the new sherry casks, employed across all whisky styles—single malt scotch, Irish whiskey, bourbon, and more. We look forward to trying this new iteration and publishing a review in an upcoming issue of Whisky Advocate.
Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon
Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: IndianaAge: Not statedProof: 58.3% ABVPrice: $50Release: Spring 2019Availability: 500 bottles in NJ only
Need to know:
A follow-up to Penelope bourbon, which was released earlier this year, this is a barrel-proof version, aged 2-3 years. The whiskey is a 4-grain blend of three MGP mashbills, comprising corn, wheat, rye, and barley.
Whisky Advocate says:
We are big fans of barrel-proof bourbon around here, enjoying the flexibility that they enable—you can add as much water and/or ice as you like, after all. Kudos to this new brand for offering multiple options to its drinkers.
Idle Hands 13 year old Straight Bourbon
Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: IndianaAge: 13 years oldProof: 48.33% ABVPrice: $150Release: July 2019Availability: 219 bottles in New York City only
Need to know:
Made at what is now MGP Distillery, this bourbon was sourced by Proof & Wood Ventures, a company owned by Dave Schmier, the founder of Redemption Whiskey. Schmier collaborated with Rob Morton—who currently operates a hospitality company, but used to own the now-closed Idle Hands whiskey bar in New York City's East Village—to create the bourbon from two barrels.
Whisky Advocate says:
Proof & Wood sources and bottles a variety of American whiskeys, from everyday bottles like Deadwood bourbon (86 points) and rye (86 points) to high-end, age-statement offerings like The Senator 6 year old straight rye (89 points) and The Ambassador 12 year old straight bourbon (92 points). There's obviously a very specific and small market for a whiskey like this one, but with Schmier's reputation, its quality isn't in doubt.