Following the launch of its first estate grown whiskeys, FarmStock Rye and Bourbon, WhistlePig has launched RoadStock Rye Whiskey. The new offering was created on the road and finished in All-American barrels.
In collaboration with Jordan Winery and Firestone Walker Brewery, the epic journey of RoadStock Rye began earlier this year at WhistlePig’s farm in Shoreham, Vermont, where WhistlePig commissioned an 18-wheeler ‘Rolling Rickhouse,’ which would make its way on a 6,000-mile barrel finishing journey unlike anything the industry has ever seen.
“WhistlePig’s commitment to elevating great whiskey with unique finishes has been a passion since the very beginning, so when the opportunity arose to try something brand new in the category, we were all in. The barrels, still saturated with the distinctive aromas and flavors of their previous fills, were a game-changing match for what would become RoadStock Rye,” says Megan Ireland, Blender, WhistlePig Whiskey. “In the spirit of innovation, we decided to literally drag them from Vermont to California and back, knowing that the shake, rattle and roll of a cross-country road trip would ensure an incredible finish that could not be achieved any other way. The individual wine and beer finishes are fantastic on their own, but the final finish is pure gold,” adds Ireland.
Upon completion of the RoadStock Rolling Rickhouse, half of the future RoadStock whiskey was transferred into Bordeaux blend casks from Jordan Winery in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley. The whiskey in Bordeaux blend; 78% Cabernet, 12% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec casks would make the full 6000-mile round trip journey providing ample time for the whiskey to steal the nuanced complexity from these incredible casks.
To celebrate the adventure, WhistlePig also created a custom RoadStock Dodge Hellcat, powered by aged WhistlePig Whiskey. WhistlePig’s partners at VP Racing Fuels created a custom fuel blend with aged WhistlePig Whiskey that was track tested at Radford Racing School in Chandler, Arizona. To pilot the RoadStock Dodge Hellcat, WhistlePig engaged auto industry personalities Chris Jacobs and Cristy Lee, to accompany the Rolling Rickhouse for the last leg of the journey.
“I’ve had some unique experiences in the automotive space over the years, but when WhistlePig called and asked me if I would like to track test and then drive their whiskey powered Hellcat alongside the Rolling Rick House to Paso Robles, I mean, who could say no to that,” says Chris Jacobs. “What an amazing adventure.”
After weaving along the historic Route 66, the RoadStock Rolling Rick House, tailed by the RoadStock Dodge Hellcat, headed north to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles, California. At Firestone Walker, the balance of the whiskey was transferred into Firestone’s Imperial Stout, Imperial Blonde Ale and Experimental Ale barrels to finish on the long journey back to Vermont.
“Firestone Walker and WhistlePig are kindred spirits when it comes to pushing the envelope of innovation, so having the opportunity to share ideas and work on a project like this is right up our alley,” says Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster, Firestone Walker.
After clocking in over 6,000 miles and a couple of weeks on the road, the RoadStock Rolling Rick House arrived back at the distillery and the whiskey was put into bottles adorned with a custom rubber tire topper to commemorate the journey.
Giving consumers across the country a chance to experience the unique offering firsthand, WhistlePig’s RoadStock Dodge Hellcat will continue its journey making stops in key markets throughout the rest of the summer and into the Fall.
Bottled at 43% ABV, WhistlePig RoadStock Rye Whiskey is priced $72.99 per 750ml bottle and can be found at select liquor stores across the country.
For more information, head over to WhistlePig’s official website.
