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WhistlePig Debuts A 21 Year Old “North American” Single Malt

When WhistlePig wants to make an entry into a new whiskey market segment, it knows how to do it in a big way. Enter WhistlePig Béhôlden, a 21 year old “North American” Single Malt whiskey.

Dubbed by WhistlePig as the first-ever super-aged North American Single Malt (this according to a fact sheet provided to press prior to this whiskey’s release), the WhistlePig 21 Single Malt Whiskey: The Béhôlden, according to those behind it, is “born from 100% malted barley at the first Single Malt distillery in North America.”

We asked WhistlePig for more specifics on this, and they said “it was distilled at the first Single Malt distillery in Canada, just over 21 years ago.” While not specifically telling us which one, it is likely Glenora out of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Billing themselves as the first single malt whisky distillery in North America, Glenora first began distilling in 1990, and has whisky in that age range already bottled itself.

WhistlePig Béhôlden
When WhistlePig wants to make an entry into a new whiskey market segment, it knows how to do it in a big way. Enter WhistlePig Béhôlden, a 21 year old “North American” Single Malt whiskey. (image via WhistlePig)

Also, given these Canadian roots, this would likely explain why WhistlePig is calling this a “North American” single malt versus an “American” single malt, in order to reflect its non-American distilled roots and have it not conflict with the emerging American single malts category.

The Béhôlden is aged for 21 years in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, lending what the brand describes as a “rich maple and dried fruit notes to a bready, nutty base.” This has been followed by a 4 week long finish in-ex WhistlePig Rye barrels to bring “a savory spice with subtle smokey notes.”

Just 18 barrels of The Béhôlden embody WhistlePig’s limited Spring release, with each single barrel being bottled individually “to capture its unique character.” All have been bottled at 92 proof, with official tasting notes indicating “flavor of golden raisin, that leads to graham cracker and black cherry; solid oak with maple and praline. It’s finished with a hint of smoke.”

Starting today, this whiskey is available nationwide at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com, and in retail stores where you can find WhistlePig, for around $800 per 750ml bottle. Future plans call for “a further release of WhistlePig Single Malt Aged 21 Years coming by 2024, and an even older super-aged Single Malt Whiskey in the future.”

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