Cass Anderson / BroBible
The annual Boss Hog release has had the whiskey world buzzing this year. Hype and chatter began to build after it was announced the MSRP for this year’s Boss Hog release would be $599. That’s a STEEP price to pay at retail but after getting hands-on with the Boss Hog XI: Juggernaut from WhistlePig I can say that this is the best Boss Hog release yet, the hype is real, and if you’ve got the money for this then it’s worth every penny.
Like every Boss Hog release, ‘The Juggernaut’ is something that has never been done before in the world of whiskey. Two years ago, the Siren’s Song, was double-finished in two unique barrels. The first barrels previously held Greek fig nectar and the second barrels held scratch-made Tentura which is ‘a Greek style liqueur inspired by Ancient Patras.’
The year before that, The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu’s Pacific, was double-finished in high toast, small-batch, single island Philippine Rum casks. Last year, for ‘The Commandments,’ Boss Hog X was finished in barrels seasons with WhistlePig‘s own distillate creation using frankincense and myrrh.
Cass Anderson / BroBible
For this year, WhistlePig looked to the Land of Kings 7,000 miles away from Shoreham, Vermont and created the world’s first Thandai-seasoned whiskey barrels. Members from WhistlePig’s ‘experimental team’ encountered Thandai at the Holi festival in Jaipur and knew the flavors of ‘saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, poppy and black peppercorn’ would pair perfectly with their best Rye whiskey.
WhistlePig head blender Meghan Ireland, who I interviewed here last year after the Boss Hog X Commandments release, said “after expanding our original five promises for The Boss Hog to ten tenants last year, we set out on our biggest challenge yet. When we discovered Thandai in India, we knew we had to find a way to translate its spice profile to a showstopping whiskey barrel for this precious Rye.”
The Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut — REVIEW and What’s in the Bottle
Cass Anderson / BroBible
Boss Hog XI: Juggernaut clocks in at 51.9% ABV. It is an American rye whiskey made in Vermont. And true to other Boss Hog releases, there is no age statement on this annual release.
Explosion Of Spices
I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve gone to a liquor store and an overeager salesman has tried to sell me on a ‘Flavor Bomb’ of some sort that, when I sampled it, turned out to be just another cask strength flavorful whiskey. From the first sip with the Boss Hog Juggernaut though, I knew the term ‘flavor bomb’ had taken on a new life for me.
Thinking that maybe I was getting ahead of myself while sampling it, I poured a dram for a relative of mine who isn’t particularly keen on rye whiskeys. I didn’t tell him what it was, the rarity or the price, just that it was a rye whiskey… He was begging for more after the first pour.
WhistlePig appears to have struck gold with the Thandai spiced barrels because having tried nearly every Boss Hog release over the past 11 years this is my favorite so far.
Will the Boss Hog Juggernaut Be Hard To Find?
Most years, WhistlePig’s Boss Hog release can be found on shelves because the price point is steep. And despite this year’s suggested retail price being $599, it might be harder to find than ever once word gets out about how delicious this rye whiskey is.
In Portugal, gauging years like this is easy within the Port Wine industry. The growers declare a ‘vintage’ year and every rushes to buy up the stock with the knowledge that what is coming down the pipeline is exceptional.
That’s much harder to gauge with whiskey. Those seeking the best of the best must either reside in the heart of the whiskey world or rely on the words of experts who review these releases and base their decisions off of that. I’m FAR from an expert but I can tell you I’ve been drinking, reviewing, and learning about whiskey for enough years that I know something special when I come across it and this year’s Boss Hog XI: Juggernaut is truly exceptional.
For more on the new WhistlePig Boss Hog XI: Juggernaut, visit the WhistlePig’s website, and it is available nationwide now.