WhistlePig has been steadily building its North American single malt legacy over the past few years, and with The BigShǝBàng, they’ve officially reached the stratosphere.
Hoisting a $5,000 price tag, the 30-year-old expression isn’t just the oldest single malt they’ve ever released but the oldest known North American single malt on the market, period. Coming off the heels of The Béhôlden (21 years) and The Badönkådonk (25 years), this Vermont-based distillery has completed what feels like a deliberate ascent through the age statement hierarchy, each release pushing further into uncharted territory.
Three Decades in the Making
The BigShǝBàng spent its formative three decades aging in American oak barrels before being finished in Vin Santo casks — rare Italian dessert wine barrels that head blender Meghan Ireland had been hunting for years. Vin Santo’s labor-intensive production methods and naturally low yields create exactly the kind of complex, velvety character that can complement rather than compete with 30 years of oak maturation. At 90.4 proof, each of the fewer than four single barrel expressions maintains enough intensity to carry those decades of development without drowning in wood tannins.
While WhistlePig’s penchant for playful naming conventions might cause traditionalists to balk, the liquid inside speaks to serious whiskey-making. According to the brand, the liquid starts with an aroma of honeyed bread and wheat crust aromatics, transitioning to subtle clove and freshly kneaded dough on the palate, before settling into toasted cedar with lingering sweetness.
The Single Malt Moment
The timing couldn’t be better for American single malt. The TTB finally gave the category official recognition last December — the first new federal whiskey designation in over 50 years — which puts releases like The BigShǝBàng on solid regulatory ground. Unlike corn-based bourbon, which will eventually become undrinkable at high age statements, barley-based single malts can age for much longer, like we’ve seen in Scotland over the years.
Spec Sheet
Whiskey: WhistlePig 30 Single Malt The BigShǝBàng
Type: North American Single Malt
Age Statement: 30 Years
Maturation: American oak barrels, finished in Vin Santo barrels
ABV: 45.2%
Aroma: Honeyed bread, wheat crust, nuanced florality
Palate: Subtle clove, freshly kneaded dough, honeysuckle
Finish: Toasted cedar, delicate sweetness
Pricing & Availability
Not available online, the BigShǝBàng is priced at $4,999 and will be available this fall exclusively through select national accounts and The WhistlePig Vault in Louisville.
Recap
WhistlePig The BigShǝBàng 30-Year North American Single Malt
Priced at $4,999 with fewer than four barrels available, WhistlePig’s The BigShǝBàng is a 30-year-old North American single malt — the oldest ever released in the category.
