WhistlePig Does It Again: The World’s First Rye Whiskey Finished in Mexican Casks

Thursday, 30 October 2025 at 08:06WhistlePig

Are you a fan of Mexican food and drink? Then WhistlePig Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame is a whiskey made for you. This new American rye whiskey draws its inspiration from Mexican delicacies.

FAQ

Who owns WhistlePig?
Raj Peter Bhakta.
What is WhistlePig known for?
Its diverse range of premium rye whiskeys.
Where is the WhistlePig distillery located?
Shoreham, Vermont.

WhistlePig is onto the twelfth edition of its limited Boss Hog whiskey series. This time, the release is a rye whiskey with a distinctive finish that marks a world first.

What is the WhistlePig Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame whiskey?

After aging in American oak barrels, this rye whiskey is finished in pulque curado de cacao casks. Pulque curado is a traditional, lightly salted Mexican drink made from fermented agave sap with cacao.

That’s not all—the barrels also previously held Mexican chiles. The whiskey has taken on an unmistakably Mexican character that pairs beautifully with spicy food.

According to Meghan Ireland, head blender at WhistlePig, the idea was born after a visit to Central Mexico. There, the team encountered the character of this traditional drink and immediately began exploring how it could shape the flavor of WhistlePig whiskey.

“Pulque and xocolatl are powerful flavors from Central Mexico. We embraced their intensity and created the world’s first whisky finished in pulque curado de cacao barrels: a whisky with rich, earthy, and aromatic depth.”

- Meghan Ireland

How does WhistlePig Boss Hog XII rye whiskey taste?

WhistlePig’s special release comes with detailed tasting notes from the distillery. Here’s the breakdown:

Nose: Caramel, dark chocolate, and orange peel.

Palate: Bright citrus, gentle oak, cacao, and a subtle earthy spice.

Finish: Cacao and chili pepper.

The whiskey is bottled between 104.8 and 108.4 proof (52.4% to 54.2% ABV).

Where can you buy the special WhistlePig Boss Hog XII?

The whiskey is available exclusively in the United States. A bottle retails for 599.99 dollar and can be found at The Vault in Louisville and a select number of other retailers.