WHISTLEPIG THE BOSS HOG XIII 'THE GOLDEN PHAROAH'
STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY
VERMONT, USA
WHY BUY:
Whisky Advocate has called WhistlePig's yearly Boss Hog bottling "one of the most collectible annual rye whiskey releases" on the market, and for this, the 13th edition in the series, the beloved distiller has returned with an intriguing and ingenious twist on its own tradition. It was aged not only in new American oak but also in Egyptian black honey barrels, which gives it a quality we've never tasted in a rye: an indefinable sweetness and depth, a dusky mystery that will have you trying, in vain, to tease out all its many rich and complex notes.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
The accolades trail this series like a pop star’s retinue. In 2024, VinePair crowned WhistlePig the Most Collectible Luxury American Whiskey, which will surprise exactly no one who has ever tried to secure a bottle of Boss Hog after it drops.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
A rich and evocative experience, from first nosing to last sip. Brown sugar and cinnamon come first, with a toasted-almond warmth drifting up from behind. The palate is where those Egyptian black honey barrels introduce themselves, first with a wave of molasses and light honey, then with hints of baking spice and black pepper. We loved the way the sweetness and heat circled each other, as if locked in a strange and fascinating dance. The finish is unexpectedly soft, especially given the way it opens, and improbably long, with toasted almond melting into what can only be described as brown-sugar oatmeal. Comforting, uncanny, and deeply delicious.
THE STORY:
The thing about WhistlePig that we love, beyond the fact that they make some of the most drinkable, most rewarding bourbons and ryes in the world, is that they are motivated, above all, to do the thing that nobody asked for, the thing that shouldn't work. And then to confound their audience again by not just making it all work, somehow … but making a kind of magic with it. The story began, improbably, in Vermont, in a 150-year-old dairy barn in Vermont (not exactly bourbon and rye country) and it's carried on through a parade of finishing casks (Madeira, Sauternes, Port) that challenge conventional notions. The Boss Hog is WhistlePig at its most grand and theaterical: one release a year, each with its own conceit and its own pewter pig, each pushing rye down a path it’s never gone. The Golden Pharaoh is, to our minds, the wildest swing to date. But what contact they’ve made A daring gamble in the distillery … a gorgeous whisky in the glass.
ABV:
51.3-52.5% (102.6-105 proof).
FUN FACT:
Each detailed pewter pig stopper for the Boss Hog series is individually crafted by an historic Vermont workshop, just 11 miles down the road from the distillery.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only source directly from the distiller to ensure that your bottle arrives as it should: with pristine provenance guaranteed. Our WhistlePig allocations tend to evaporate in days, sometimes hours, so hop on this one STAT and get ready for a bunch of transportive nights to come.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NY, TN, VA, & WA. This offer will expire on Sunday, August 23, 2026.