WhistlePig Whiskey has announced The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh, a limited-edition straight Rye whiskey finished in barrels seasoned with Egyptian black honey and tiger nuts. The expression is available for presale from today (9 September), ahead of a nationwide launch on 29 September.
The release marks the 13th chapter in the collectible The Boss Hog series. It is also the first in the series to draw inspiration from the continent of Africa.
The whiskey originates from a recipe for tiger nut cake found carved into an ancient Egyptian tomb. WhistlePig recreated the recipe on its Vermont farm before applying the flavors to Rye whiskey.
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“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,” said Meghan Ireland, head blender at WhistlePig. “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.”
She added: “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!”
The straight Rye is aged in new American oak before its finish in the seasoned barrels. Egyptian black honey, known as Asal Eswed in Arabic, is sugarcane molasses rather than bee honey. Tiger nuts are edible tubers with a flavor similar to almonds or coconut.
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READ THE STORYAccording to the official notes from the brand, the nose offers brown sugar, cinnamon, and toasted almond. The palate leads with molasses before moving to honey and baking spice. The finish leaves notes of toasted almond and fresh oatmeal.
Each bottle is crowned with a pewter topper inspired by King Tutankhamun. A select number of bottles feature a rare gold topper aimed at collectors.
The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh is bottled at 51.3%–52.8% ABV in a 750ml format. It carries a suggested retail price of $599.99 (£445 / ₹56,854).
The expression will be available at WhistlePig’s website and select retailers from 29 September.
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