Groundhog Day-Themed Rye, Phil’s Shadow, Comes Available For Pre-Order

by Hannah Kanik
January 12, 2022

Wigle Whiskey has unveiled its 2022 Phil’s Shadow — a rye meant to celebrate Groundhog Day and commemorate Pennsylvania staple Punxsutawney Phil.

The distillery combined what’s described by the brand as its award-winning Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey with rich maple sweetness from the secondary aging in used maple syrup casks to create this year’s Phil’s Shadow.

The rye was aged for a total of four years and five months, creating a “velvety spirit with prominent notes of maple, toffee [and] white pepper,” the distillery noted in a Facebook post. It first spent more than three and a half years in new charred oak barrels before it was finished in the used maple syrup barrels for seven months.

The 2022 Phil’s Shadow is 46% alcohol by volume and comes in a 375mL container.

Punxsutawney Phil is a Pennsylvania institution, and Wigle Whiskey’s Key Stone State roots are on full display with this product. The 2022 Phil’s Shadow label artwork is an original design by Pittsburg artists Jacob Dunn.

This is the fifth year that Wigle Whiskey has created a Phil’s Shadow spirit. To celebrate this year’s batch, the distillery is bringing in Punxsutawney Phil himself on Friday, January 14 for meet and greets. Visitors will be among the first to taste the 2022 edition of Phil’s Shadow whiskey.

“This Whiskey is sure to help get you through the winter, even if Punxsutawney Phil does see his shadow,” the distillery said.

The Phil-a-Palooza tickets are $15 and include a Phil’s Shadow Whiskey sample and cocktail. Pre-order Phil’s Shadow Bottles for pickup + shipping and buy Phil-a-palooza tickets at wiglewhiskey.com.