After the highly celebrated The Béhôlden and The Badönkådonk, WhistlePig released The BigShǝBàng. The WhistlePig 30 Single Malt has a steep price, but the carefully crafted flavor celebrates sophistication. According to Meghan Ireland, Chief Blender at WhistlePig, this limited release will be highly coveted.
Announced today (September 3), The BigShǝBàng is the oldest and rarest release from WhistlePig. While the 30-year aging is significant, it is more than just the years in the barrel that create this special spirit. The distiller chose to use Vin Santo barrels. The influence of the Italian dessert wine adds to the uniqueness of this limited release.
According to WhistlePig, The BigShǝBàng comes in at 90.4 proof. The specialty release is priced at $4,999 a bottle. While both The Béhôlden and The Badönkådonk are expensive, the new WhistlePig release seems to be for a small, wealthy audience.
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Meghan Ireland, Chief Blender at WhistlePig, reveals why The BigShǝBàng is so special
While exclusive, limited edition, and costly bottles fill some whiskey drinkers’ collections, the extreme price tag does not always convey their worthiness. At the heart of a unique release, the distiller needs to infuse its craft, point of view, and creativity into that spirit. WhistlePig does that, with a little nod to its cheeky side.
As people have come to expect, WhistlePig has never been afraid to break the rules. It is more than just sniffing around the boundaries of whiskey making. The distiller understands that it needs to tantalize both its fans and its own creative side.
Ahead of The BigShǝBàng’s release, Meghan Ireland, Chief Blender at WhistlePig, graciously answered some questions regarding the spirit. From the choice of barrels to the name choice, each decision was made with care.
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READ THE STORYMeghan Ireland, Chief Blender at WhistlePig discusses The BigShǝBàng
Cristine Struble: Why were Vin Santo barrels chosen for this release, and how does this choice take WhistlePig in a new flavor direction?
Meghan Ireland: The BigShǝBàng spent 30 years resting in ex-bourbon barrels, which deliver a smooth, subtle oak backbone. For the finish, Vin Santo offers a unique parallel to our super-aged Single Malt in terms of rarity and slow craft, while introducing a completely new flavor profile – rich dried fruit, a touch of honeyed sweetness, and a nutty, toasted almond note. It’s a barrel we’ve never seen used in North American whiskey, and it takes the whiskey in a direction that feels both bold and incredibly delicious.
Struble: The name, BigShǝBàng, makes a statement. Why was this name chosen, and how does it relate to the unique, special release?
Ireland: Like The Béhôlden and The Badönkådonk before it, the name and spelling flourishes are an irreverent riff on the notoriously non-phonetic naming conventions of Single Malt Scotch. We think of The BigShǝBàng as the instantaneous, echoing tremor of a sip that shatters expectations and redefines the whiskey universe. These names are generally chosen in conversation over a couple of great whiskeys – always with a wink.
Struble: Since BigShǝBàng is such a limited release, are you finding that the whiskey collectors are seeking these highly coveted offerings? Do you feel that WhistlePig will continue to balance the uber unique, limited offerings with other broader releases?
Ireland: As leaders in well-aged Rye, super-aged Single Malt was a natural extension of our collection. WhistlePig 21 and 25 have confirmed over the past few years that there is strong demand for offerings that are equally rare and daring in terms of barrel aging. In the same timeframe, we introduced WhistlePig 10-Year Bourbon, which brings age and experimental finishing to a broader, more accessible audience. Our plan is to continue driving progress in every whiskey category we play in, while offering access at different price points.
Struble: Why is it important for WhistlePig to continually push boundaries? How do these unique offerings set the brand apart in the crowded field?
Ireland: We push boundaries in the name of great taste – part of an ongoing endeavor to unlock new potential for Rye, Bourbon, and Single Malt Whiskey. Our fans and collectors are driven by discovery, and this experimental spirit allows us to meet them with something big, bold, and best-in-class to continue their whiskey journey. For Single Malt in particular, there is so much to explore in North America, unbound by the traditions of our predecessors across the pond.
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