Whistlepig 10-year San Diego Barrel Boys Single Barrel Rye Whiskey 16-year #95631

WhistlePig San Diego Barrel Boys Single Barrel Rye Whiskey 16-Year Barrel #95631. WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont — a 16-year single barrel of WhistlePig straight rye hand-selected by the San Diego Barrel Boys, filled May 1, 2004 and bottled at 104.2 proof (52.1% ABV) from Warehouse 1, Rick E, Level 3 — a specific barrel with documented provenance that places its origin in spring 2004 and its precise aging location in WhistlePig's Vermont facility.

Barrel #95631 was filled on May 1, 2004 — a spring fill that entered the warehouse at the beginning of Vermont's warming season, immediately encountering the first summer heat expansion of its aging cycle. Warehouse 1, Rick E, Level 3 is a specific position in the WhistlePig rickhouse: a higher floor level than the Barrel #19139 (Warehouse 2, Level 2) in the Wooden Cork collection, meaning this barrel experienced somewhat more dramatic temperature cycling from its elevated position. The spring 2004 fill date also distinguishes it from the February 2003 fill of the 17-year barrel — a different seasonal starting point that contributed to a different 16-year development trajectory.

At 104.2 proof over 16 years, this barrel shows slightly lower concentration than the 17-year at 109.4 proof, a reflection of the specific evaporative conditions in Warehouse 1, Rick E, Level 3 rather than any less intensity in the flavor development. The allspice, orange peel, anise, and caramel profile documents what 16 years of Vermont aging in this specific warehouse position produces.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Allspice, orange peel, anise, oak, char, and caramel from 16 years of Vermont single barrel maturation.
• Palate: Sweet with caramel and vanilla, followed by rye spice and mint. The 16-year aging creates a rounded, integrated sweetness over the rye's structural character.
• Finish: Long with warm butterscotch and caramel. The extended Vermont aging sustains the finish well past what the standard 10 Year expression achieves.

Specs

• Distillery: WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont
• Selector: San Diego Barrel Boys private barrel pick
• Barrel: #95631
• Fill Date: May 1, 2004
• Warehouse / Rick / Level: 1 / E / 3
• Age: 16 years
• ABV: 52.1% (104.2 Proof)
• Style: Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey
• Size: 750ml

Browse our full selection of rye whiskey at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does Barrel #95631 compare to Barrel #19139 in the Wooden Cork collection? Barrel #19139 was filled 2/28/03 (17 years), Warehouse 2/A/2, bottled at 109.4 proof. Barrel #95631 was filled 5/1/04 (16 years), Warehouse 1/E/3, bottled at 104.2 proof. Different fill dates, different warehouse positions, different proof levels — two distinct barrel trajectories through Vermont aging that produce distinct expressions from the same WhistlePig rye program.
• What does a higher rick level mean for aging? Higher rack/level positions in a rickhouse typically experience more extreme temperature cycling — hotter summers and colder winters than lower floors. More temperature variation generally means faster and more intense barrel extraction. Warehouse 1, Rick E, Level 3 is a higher position than Barrel #19139's Level 2, contributing to different flavor development over the 16-year aging period.