WhistlePig’s The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh Breathes New Life Into Rye Whiskey With An Ancient Recipe Found In A Tomb Thousands Of Years Old

WhistlePig‘s master blender Meghan Ireland has once again captured lightning in a bottle with this year’s Boss Hog. As master blender for WhistlePig, she oversees what is arguably the most interesting annual project in the ultra-premium spirits world and this year’s release is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The WhistlePig Boss Hog is an anomaly within the Rye Spirits world. It is consistently one of the most sought-after and prized annual releases but each year it is an entirely different release with a unique flavor profile. Last year’s Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame drew flavors from the ancient Aztec drink pulque, a fermented drink from the agave plant, and xocolatl, an ancient (and spicy) drink made from cocoa beans that is related to chocolate.

This week, WhistlePig debuted The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh, the 13th Boss Hog release, and 13 just so happens to be my lucky number!

WhistlePig The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh, What’s In The Bottle?

For starters, the way these unique flavors are imbued into WhistlePIg’s finest rye whiskey is by seasoning the barrels with a unique blend of spices. This year’s flavor profile comes from the ancient continent of Africa.

Specifically, Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh marks the first time ever a spirit has been finished in barrels seasoned with an Tiger Nut Cake recipe that dates back thousands of years. The recipe was found on an ancient tomb!

I was one of the very fortunate few who were able to procure an advanced sample of The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh and I can personally attest to it being whatever the liquid equivalent is to ambrosia / Food of the Gods. The barrels being seasoned with Egyptian black honey and tiger nuts is a flavor profile I had never experienced until now but will certainly be chasing in the future.

A True Flavor Bomb

One thing that can always be expected with WhistlePig Boss Hog releases is enough flavor to keep you reaching for more until the bottle is empty. And this one is no exception, packed with beautifully rich notes from the first sip.

On the nose, The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh is bursting with brown sugar, cinnamon, and toasted almond. Imagine you just walked into a Parisian bakery and that wave of pastries hits you like a warm hug.

Down the palate, The Golden Pharaoh packs Egyptian honey and baking spices, two of my favorite notes, and two notes that are perfect for the Fall and Winter seasons. There’s rye spice there to be sure but it is not overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination, just enough however to remind you that you’re sipping one of the finest rye whiskeys ever bottled. The finish brings back those warm bakery notes with toasted almond and fresh oatmeal.

How This Came To Exist

I had the chance to interview WhistlePig Head Blender Meghan Ireland (INTERVIEW HERE) prior to the release of The Boss Hog X: Commandments in 2024. She is a true wealth of knowledge and master of her craft.

Speaking about the release of The Golden Pharaoh, Ireland said “through our research, we came across a tiger nut cake recipe carved into the side of a tomb dating back more than 3,000 years. We learned that tiger nuts and black honey were a true taste of the Egyptian land and its people, and that really resonated with us.”

Meghan went on to say “we recreated the recipe on our farm and fell in love with the flavor combination. That led us to experiment with the finishing for this year’s The Boss Hog to see what those flavors could do to Rye whiskey. We were not disappointed!”

Is The Golden Pharaoh Worth It?

Short answer, yes. It is worth it. But that’s subjective. I would never expect you to love everything I do and vice versa.

The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh has a suggested retail price of $599. That is no small price to pay for spirits. But is it worth it? Again, I’d say so. But I find a lot of joy in sharing exquisite spirits with friends and family.

The Golden Pharaoh is bottled between 102.6 – 105.6 Proof (51.3-52.8% ABV)​, is a Single Barrel release, and truly distinct from any of the other Boss Hog flavor profiles in the past. For those unfamiliar, tiger nuts are actually small root tubers and not nuts. They are also known as earth almonds or chufa. They produce a luxurious flavor comparable to almonds and coconut, which is a perfect flavor to season barrels for rye whiskey.

The Golden Pharoah release marks the first time that WhistlePig’s Boss Hog is available for pre-order before the full release. On WhistlePig’s website there is a beautifully designed page to commemorate The Golden Pharaoh which will be released nationwide later this month on September 29th.