WhistlePig is a rye whiskey that we discovered a few years ago and fell in love with. Last week, we ventured to The Beekman’s Turret Penthouse to celebrate its newest launch, The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve. This new launch is the fifth edition of the brand’s best whiskies, in good company with past iterations The Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince, The Boss Hog III: The Independent, The Boss Hog II: The Spirit of Mortimer, and of course, the original, The Boss Hog.
This latest edition celebrates WhistlePig’s founding celebrity pig Mauve, the original boss. It’s a 13-year straight rye whiskey finished in Calvados Casks to honor Mauve’s love of apples (who knew?), and comes in a stunning bottle. Each bottle features a handcrafted Danforth pewter stopped of Mauve ascending to heaven and comes in a casket-inspired gift box. It’s a strong sip, with notes of maple syrup and pears and a spicy finish. With 57.9% ABV and retailing for $499.99, it’s definitely a mouthful, but makes for such a fun gift or bar showstopper during the October holiday season.
The launch party kept to theme, with a pig-sized cask serving as the centerpiece and candles all around. Attendees dressed in black, an Ouiji board was on display, and tarot cards were strewn around the room. All the while, WhistlePig cocktails were being served, cheese and charcuterie was being eaten, and respects were being paid to dear old Mauve. What a night to remember!
