As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with a detailed answer to the question of whether WhistlePig is sourced. WhistlePig is indeed a sourced whiskey, meaning that it is not distilled in-house by the WhistlePig brand itself. Instead, they acquire whiskey from other distilleries and then age it and bottle it under their own label.
WhistlePig was founded in 2008 by Dave Pickerell, a renowned whiskey expert and former master distiller at Maker's Mark. When he started the brand, he wanted to create a high-quality, premium whiskey that would rival some of the best in the world. However, instead of starting from scratch and building his own distillery, Dave chose to source whiskey from established distilleries.
The whiskey used in WhistlePig comes from a warehouse in Alberta, Canada, where Dave initially found his first batch of 10-year-old whisky back in 2008. This whiskey is then brought to the WhistlePig farm in Vermont, where it undergoes further aging and finishing processes before being bottled and sold.
While some whiskey enthusiasts may view sourcing as a negative aspect, it is important to note that many well-respected whiskey brands practice sourcing. Sourcing allows brands to bring in whiskey from different distilleries, taking advantage of the distinct flavors and characteristics each one offers. It also allows them to release expressions that would otherwise be difficult or time-consuming to produce in-house.
By sourcing their whiskey, WhistlePig can focus on the aging and finishing processes, which play a crucial role in developing the unique flavor profiles for which they are known. They carefully select barrels and use various aging techniques, such as finishing in different types of casks, to enhance and refine the whiskey's flavor.
It's worth mentioning that the practice of sourcing is not unique to WhistlePig. Many well-established and highly regarded whiskey brands, both in the United States and around the world, source their whiskey to some extent. This allows them to offer a range of expressions while maintaining consistency and quality.
WhistlePig is indeed a sourced whiskey. While the whiskey itself is not distilled in-house, WhistlePig focuses on the aging and finishing processes to create their unique flavor profiles. Sourcing allows them to access high-quality whiskey from different distilleries, resulting in a diverse range of expressions for whiskey enthusiasts to enjoy.