Vermont’s WhistlePig distillery has just released a new smoked rye whiskey, made in collaboration with Traeger Grills, that is meant for sipping while you flip burgers and hot dogs at your next backyard barbecue.
WhistlePig, located in rural Vermont, sources rye whiskey from Canada and Indiana for its premium core expressions. It has also been distilling its own bourbon and rye onsite, which is now making it into bottles. SmokeStock Wood Fired Whiskey is the newest release from the distillery and farm, and marks the first smoked whiskey from WhistlePig and inaugural collaboration between the distillery and Traeger Grills. The rye has no age statement, but is matured in American oak char No. 3 barrels and then smoked “slow and low” barbecue style using Traeger’s apple barbecue wood. The point was to infuse it with soft campfire and savory notes to complement the fruit and spice character of the rye. It’s bottled at 86 proof, the same as the 12-year-old expression.
“WhistlePig is known for pushing boundaries in the name of quality and great taste,” said blender Meghan Ireland in a statement. “SmokeStock is a nod to the American cookout season, and we can’t wait to see how customers make it their own. Personally, I recommend enjoying it lakeside, alongside a rack of wood-fired ribs.”
A QR code on the bottle unlocks some recipes that you can make using the whiskey like bacon-wrapped or barbecue brisket hot dogs, and gives some insight into the process of how this whiskey was actually made. This brand collaboration will continue over the coming months, with additional items like whiskey-infused spice rub and barbecue sauce, and wood pellets for adding smoke to your grilled food made from recycled WhistlePig barrels. The whiskey is currently available from the WhistlePig website for $73, as well as other online retailers.
