WhistlePig

Last updated
WhistlePig
Foundedc. 2007;18 years ago (2007)
Founder Raj Bhakta
Headquarters2139 Quiet Valley Rd., Shoreham, Vermont
Key people
  • Charles Gibb (CEO)
Products Whiskey, esp. rye whiskey
Website whistlepigwhiskey.com

WhistlePig is a whiskey distillery based in Vermont. The distillery primarily makes rye whiskey, and is known for "ultra-premium" rye. [1] WhistlePig dates to 2007, when entrepreneur Raj Bhakta purchased land for the WhistlePig distillery. The whiskey brand was launched in 2010, and its first product, its 10-year rye, was released in 2015.

Contents

In 2024, Charles Gibb was appointed CEO of WhistlePig Whiskey following the departure of Jeff Kozak. Gibb brings decades of experience in the spirits industry and joins the company as it looks to expand its presence within the broader American whiskey market. [2]

Property and operations

Interior of WhistlePig's tasting room in Quechee, Vermont WhistlePig tasting room.jpg
Interior of WhistlePig's tasting room in Quechee, Vermont

WhistlePig's distillery is in Shoreham, Vermont. It is not open to the public. It has two pot stills, each 750 US gallons (2,800 L; 620 imp gal) in volume. [3]

The property includes a 500-acre (200 ha) farm. [4] The land was formerly a dairy farm, about 150 years old. [3] About 300 of those acres are dedicated to growing rye grain, about 200 hold maple trees for making syrup, while the remainder is used for corn, barley, oak trees, and space for livestock: pigs, sheep, goats, horses, and bees. [4] [5]

Two Kunekune pigs are kept on property, Mortimer Junior and Orwell, both of the second generation of pigs kept on-site. [6] The first generation, Mortimer and Mauve, died in 2014 and 2018. Their cremated remains are held in a granite obelisk memorial on the farm property, and the distillery's two stills are named for them. The brand's logo reflects these pigs with a design of a plump grinning pig, donning a top hat and bow tie. [3]

WhistlePig's lead distiller is Emily Harrison and its chief blender is Meghan Ireland. The two notably hold positions in an industry often dominated by men. [3] Dave Pickerell was the master distiller, who introduced the company to its initial stock of Canadian whiskey, helped design the company's first blend, and designed its first pot still. [5]

The company operates tasting rooms in Quechee, Vermont, and "the WhistlePig Pavilion" at Stowe Mountain Resort. It formerly operated tasting rooms at the distillery and in Waterbury Center, Vermont. [5] The Quechee tasting room, a "whiskey parlor", opened in 2021. It involved WhistlePig and Simon Pearce purchasing the former Parker House tavern, with the tasting room opening soon after the purchase, and plans for a restaurant are still in development. [7]

History

In 2007, entrepreneur Raj Bhakta purchased land in Shoreham, Vermont, on which he built a new distillery and aging facility for his WhistlePig brand of rye whiskey. The brand was officially launched in 2010. [4] [3]

It was initially launched as a non-distiller producer that bottled a stock of 10-year-old Canadian whiskey from the Alberta Premium distillery owned by Fortune Brands in Alberta, Canada. [8] [5] Starting in 2007, Bhakta purchased land in Shoreham, Vermont, on which he built a new distillery and aging facility for the brand. [9] The brand was officially launched in 2010. [8] WhistlePig hired master distiller Dave Pickerell to source its first whiskey. Bottling began in Shoreham in 2009, with production beginning in 2015. The company installed a second still in 2019. [6] The first whiskey was released to the public in 2015, the 10-year small batch rye. [5]

WhistlePig board members attempted to remove Bhakta from the company in 2016, accusing him of fraud and mismanagement. [10] The leadership structure then changed, with Bhakta remaining as founder and chief steward. Bhakta sold his shares and fully exited the company in 2019. [11]

In 2021, WhistlePig began to sell a bourbon, Beyond Bonded, as well as an Irish whiskey, Limavady Irish Whiskey. [1] In 2022, the company released a non-alcoholic whiskey, which uses its 6-year-aged PiggyBack Rye. [12]

In 2023, WhistlePig launched their oldest aged whiskey, the 21-year Béhôlden. [13] [14] [15]

The company partnered with Liquid Death in 2025 to collaborate on a new wheat whiskey, Gravestock, that is proofed with Liquid Death Mountain Water and finished in casket-shaped barrels. [16]

Products

PiggyBack Rye bottle WhistlePig bottle.jpg
PiggyBack Rye bottle

Notable products include: [17]

Given the years necessary to age whiskey, a portion of WhistlePig's whiskey is outsourced. Suppliers include MGP of Indiana and the Alberta Premium distillery owned by Fortune Brands in Alberta, Canada. The company instead focuses on barrel-aging and finishing for these products. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Japhe, Brad. "WhistlePig Whiskey Expands Into The Irish Category". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  2. Jackson, Anna-Louise (2025-06-11). "WhistlePig Whiskey taps beverage industry veteran Charles Gibb as its new CEO". Fast Company. Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "WhistlePig Distillery: "Preaching the Pig"". Edible Vermont. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "WhistlePig's Quest for Single-Origin Whiskey". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wolinski, words: Cat (2019-11-15). "10 Things You Should Know About WhistlePig Whiskey". VinePair. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  6. 1 2 3 "Touring WhistlePig's Vermont Distillery". COOL HUNTING®. 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  7. 1 2 "Valley News - Bottom Line: Whiskey meets glass as WhistlePig and Simon Pearce team up for restaurant, tasting room". 8 May 2021.
  8. 1 2 "WhistlePig Farms is now a distillery". CanadianWhisky.org. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  9. "WhistlePig whiskey official website" . Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  10. "WhistlePig founder thrown out of his own company".
  11. "WhistlePig sells stake to investment firm - The Spirits Business". January 18, 2019.
  12. "WhistlePig's New Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Is Aged for 6 Years Before Being 'Undistilled'". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  13. "WhistlePig Announces The Béhôlden 21 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey | One More Dram". onemoredram.com. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  14. 1 2 "WhistlePig Whiskey declares a new dawn with super-aged single malt | Vermont Business Magazine". vermontbiz.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  15. 1 2 McGinley, Brendan (2023-03-01). "WhistlePig's $800 Single Malt Whiskey Is Hog Heavenly". Tasting Table. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  16. "WhistlePig & Liquid Death Unearth 'GraveStock' Wheat Whiskey That's Aged In Casket-Shaped Barrels - Maxim". www.maxim.com. 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  17. "Whiskeys". WhistlePig Rye Whiskey. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  18. "WhistlePig Unveils PiggyBack Bourbon". Whiskey Raiders. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  19. "WhistlePig's New Boss Hog Edition is Inspired by Greek Mythology". 18 October 2022.
  20. Moonin, Carin (2019-01-24). "Whiskey Review: WhistlePig Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  21. Mizumori, Kenji (2020-03-02). "Whiskey Review: WhistlePig The Boss Hog: The Samurai Scientist". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  22. Jones, Melissa (2020-12-22). "Whiskey Review: WhistlePig The Boss Hog VII Magellan's Atlantic". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  23. Flicker, Jonah; O'Bryan, Jason (2022-06-17). "The 11 Best New Spirits of the Year, From Don Julio Ultima Reserva to Bob Dylan's Whiskey". Robb Report. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  24. Capparelli, Cindy (2022-03-28). "Whiskey Review: Whistle Pig The Boss Hog VIII: Lapulapu's Pacific". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  25. Brayson, Johnny (2022-10-23). "WhistlePig's New Whiskey Has a Unique Pedigree". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 2023-01-03.