WhistlePig The Boss Hog IV The Black Prince

WhistlePig The Boss Hog IV The Black Prince. WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont — Winner: Best In Show Whiskey, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 — the fourth edition of WhistlePig's annual Boss Hog series and the first rye whiskey ever finished in Armagnac casks, creating a balance between American rye power and French brandy sophistication that earned the highest recognition in international spirits competition.

Armagnac is France's oldest brandy appellation, produced in Gascony in southwest France — older than Cognac and arguably the more complex of the two French grape brandies, with a more rustic, earthy character from direct fire distillation and local French oak aging. When WhistlePig identified Armagnac casks as the finishing vessel for Boss Hog IV, it was the first time Armagnac barrels had ever been used to finish an American rye whiskey. The casks' residual Armagnac character — dried fruit, prune, Gascon oak, and a distinctive brandy richness — layer onto the bold Vermont rye base in a way that no American or Scottish finishing cask can replicate.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition Best In Show Whiskey award is the most broadly respected competition accolade in the American spirits industry — judged blind across all whiskey categories and all nations. Winning Best In Show whiskey among all entries from all over the world is as comprehensive a critical endorsement as the category offers. The Black Prince earned it on the liquid's merits: the interplay of American rye grain spice and French brandy sophistication in a single barrel, bottled at proof, that WhistlePig has never been able to replicate exactly.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: The Armagnac cask's dried fruit, prune, and Gascon oak complement the Vermont rye's characteristic bold spice. Rich and complex with the French brandy influence immediately apparent.
• Palate: The most celebrated Boss Hog — American rye power and French sophistication in equilibrium. Caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and warm rye grain spice with the Armagnac's particular brandy richness creating a depth and complexity that won Best In Show.
• Finish: Long, profound, and evolving. The Armagnac cask's character persists through a deeply satisfying close alongside the rye's natural spice.

Specs

• Distillery: WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont
• Style: Straight Rye Whiskey
• Finish: Armagnac casks (first American rye ever finished in Armagnac)
• Bottling: Single barrel, bottled at proof
• Award: Best In Show Whiskey, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017
• Note: No box included
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full WhistlePig collection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Armagnac and what does it contribute to rye whiskey? Armagnac is France's oldest brandy appellation, produced in Gascony by direct fire distillation and aged in local French oak. Its casks carry residual dried fruit, prune, earthy Gascon oak, and brandy richness that no American or Scottish cask can replicate. Boss Hog IV was the first American rye whiskey ever finished in Armagnac — creating a French-American flavor dialogue that the competition judges found extraordinary.
• What does Best In Show Whiskey at SFWSC mean? The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is judged blind across all whiskey categories from all nations — Scotch, bourbon, Irish, Japanese, and rye all compete together. Best In Show Whiskey is selected from among all category winners as the single best whiskey in the competition. Winning it in 2017 positioned The Black Prince as one of the most critically acclaimed American rye whiskeys ever produced.
• Is WhistlePig Boss Hog IV still available? In limited quantities at Wooden Cork — once sold out this bottle cannot be replaced. Each Boss Hog edition is single barrel and produced in strictly limited quantities with no restocking.