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Whiskey Review: Wigle Roasty Straight Malt Whiskey

We review Wigle Roasty Straight Malt Whiskey, an American malt whiskey inspired by Full Pint’s Rye Rebellion Imperial Stout beer.

OVERALL RATING

6
$34.00
  • Carin Moonin is a Portland-based whiskey enthusiast and writer.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Mash bill of 65 percent pilsner malt; 13 percent malted rye; 7 percent roasted barley; 7 percent crystal rye; 5 percent chocolate rye; 3 percent black malt; aged for two years in new charred American oak; $34 for 350 ml; 92 proof.
Appearance:
Golden brown, like someone took a bowl of Golden Grahams cereal and polished it to a high shine. Biscotti before drying. A sandcastle during golden hour.
Nose:
and flavor. That’s a lot. Or is it? We have seen the influence of beer on whiskey can be marvelous: Black Butte Whiskey, I’m thinking of you. Might this follow suit? Wigle Roasty Straight Malt Whiskey (image via Carin Moonin/The Whiskey Wash) Tasting Notes: Wigle Roasty Straight Malt Whiskey Vital stats: Mash bill of 65 percent pilsner malt; 13 percent malted rye; 7 percent roasted barley; 7 percent crystal rye; 5 percent chocolate rye; 3 percent black malt; aged for two years in new charred American oak; $34 for 350 ml; 92 proof. Appearance: Golden brown, like someone took a bowl of Golden Grahams cereal and polished it to a high shine. Biscotti before drying. A sandcastle during golden hour. Nose: Knowing that this is called roasty, I went into this trying to sniff out those cooked scents. I don’t get anything that stands out. There is that cereal flavor again, and with all those different ryes, that is hardly surprising, although I can’t, like, pick out the black malt or the chocolate or crystal rye. I actually get a moderate to strong blueberry nose. Maybe a little milk chocolate, but it’s faint. I kind of joke sometimes about pencil shavings being a pretentious “on the nose” kind of flavor but darn it if it’s not there.
Palate:
Sweet and unusual on the palate. Banana. Pungent ginger. Grain. Honey. Rye, but not enough to give it that satisfying chew. While the nose blends together in a melting pot, this is more like a salad. There are lots of components, but it’s a little jangly to me, like I taste lots of different things versus a single whiskey experience. There’s a lot of barley! And cereal! Don’t get me wrong, I love me a darn good salad and barley and cereal but this whiskey isn’t cohesive. It is not a smooth meld. It’s cool. And it’s weird. It’s a collector’s item, maybe, if you like offbeat partnerships or love wacky beer. But it is not my favorite or even close. It tastes like I did a shot and chased it with a beer.
Finish:
Comments:
I’d give this to someone who likes malted flavors and cereal and, also, beer. Actually: If you are a person who’s out of milk and puts beer in their cereal in a pinch (or even not in a pinch), have I got a bottle for you!

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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