Whistle Pig PiggyBack Nicholas Single Barrel Bourbon #1

My relationship with Whistle Pig goes back pretty much to their beginning. Their master distiller David Pickerell (who is now widely considered to be the father of the craft whiskey movement) & I became pretty close friends back in the Restaurant Nicholas days. Check out the picture of us – man I look young! He even came to the restaurant a bunch of times before his passing to host dinners. I’m pretty sure I even had the first-ever private barrel release from them back in the day.

It’s always an amazing score when you can manage to pick out your own single barrel from a distillery like Whistle Pig. They really always deliver such amazing value, it’s no wonder they’ve become as successful as they have. I first started picking out my own barrels with the Boss Hog himself, the late, great Dave Pickerell over a decade ago!

It’s been pretty incredible to see his vision come to light and the ridiculously high standards he set still followed to the degree it is. This is my fourth 6-year barrel, but our very first Bourbon (it’s also Whistle Pig’s first). There are so many bold, rich flavors all so perfectly in sync with one another. The perfect treat this holiday season.