Last year, WhistlePig impressed the whiskey world with the release of The Béhôlden, a 21-year-old single malt that cost upwards of $800. It was among the oldest single malts ever made in North America, just as the Scotch style of whisky has been trending upwards. Now, the Vermont-based distillery has bested even itself with the oldest single malt ever made in North America. Aged for a whopping 25 years in new American oak barrels, The Badönkådonk juxtaposes a silly name with a serious expression. You won’t see the folks over at The Macallan or Bowmore acting so irreverent. However, the liquid inside the bottle is remarkable nonetheless.
After aging for a quarter century, The Badönkådonk was then brought back to Vermont to finish aging in cabernet sauvignon barrels from Silver Oak Cellars in California’s Alexander Valley before being bottled at an accessible 45.5% ABV. It’s being sold in limited quantities as a single barrel expression, meaning that each bottle could reasonably differ slightly in flavor from the next (depending on which barrel they each come from).
WhistlePig’s Aged History
Launched in 2007, WhistlePig is partially responsible for repopularizing rye whiskey in the American market. In recent years, the Vermont-based distillery is a go-to for traditionally styled drams but also for more outside-the-box expressions. Consider its highly-touted Boss Hog series, with each of the (now ten) releases focusing on a different concept, whether it’s whiskey that’s been finished in Philippine rum barrels or Greek fig nectar and tentura barrels. The brand has also not been afraid to breach the expectations of taste, such as with its PiggyBank Rye, which is housed in a glass pig, whose rear end you pour out the whiskey.
What Is Single Malt?
For those who aren’t aware of the difference between The Badönkådonk and, say, bourbon or traditional American whiskey, the single malt expression is made in a much similar way as Scotch whisky. Single malt whisky uses malted barley as its grain of choice, as opposed to corn or rye. While “American” single malt is a category that’s been getting some traction as of late, Badönkådonk is actually sourced somewhere in Canada (probably Nova Scotia’s Glenora Distillery), just like The Béhôlden. You could simply call these North American single malts or place them in a category of their own.
Taste The Badönkådonk
If you’re unable to shell out the $2,000 (or more) required to get your hands on The Badönkådonk, WhistlePig has still given you an idea of its flavor profile, with a palate of “stone fruits, cedar wood, and a hint of discord.”
Age: 25 Years
Finish: California cabernet sauvignon barrels
ABV: 45.5%
Region: Canada, Vermont
Palate: Stone fruits, cedar wood, and a hint of discord
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $2,000, The Badönkådonk is currently sold out on WhistlePig’s website but look out for bottles on the secondary market. The company has also delivered a second run of The Béhôlden 21-year single malt for $900.
Recap
WhistlePig The Badönkådonk Single Malt
WhistlePig’s oldest-ever whisky is a single malt aged for 25 years before getting cask-finished in cabernet sauvignon barrels from California.
