WhistlePig 25 Year Single Malt Badonkadonk 750ML

WhistlePig 25 Year Single Malt Badonkadonk 750ML is a 25-year-old North American single malt whiskey bottled at 45.5% ABV (91 proof) in a 750ml format. This ultra-aged expression earned a Gold medal at the 2025 Whiskey Wash Awards, where the publication's founder described it as "like drinking Christmas in a glass" — a fitting tribute to what WhistlePig calls the crowning glory of its super-aged single malt collection.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45.5% (91 proof)  |  Origin: Sourced from Canada, bottled in Vermont, USA  |  25 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont

Production & Heritage

WhistlePig Farm sits near Lake Champlain in Shoreham, Vermont, and has built its reputation on sourcing and finishing exceptional aged whiskey. The Badonkadonk begins as a 100% malted barley spirit distilled in Canada — likely at the Glenora distillery — and spends a full quarter century maturing. Initial aging takes place in new American oak barrels before the whiskey receives a secondary finish in Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks, a collaboration that layers tannic complexity and red fruit depth onto an already deeply mature single malt. At 25 years, WhistlePig states this has been matured more than twice as long as any other single malt on the North American continent.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe stone fruit — fig and plum dominate — before giving way to crème brûlée and light butterscotch. There is a caramelized richness here that signals the depth of the oak influence without any harsh woodiness.

Taste: On the palate, cedar wood arrives first, followed by doughy, baked notes and wild honey at the mid-palate. Layers of dark chocolate, toasted oak, and herbal spice build progressively. Reviewers have noted the palate reads more like a well-aged Scotch single malt than the nose might suggest, reflecting the depth that 25 years in wood can achieve.

Finish: The finish is long and luxurious, unwinding slowly through espresso, maple, pipe tobacco, and sweet malt. Toasted almonds and tanned leather linger at the very end, adding a savory, textural close that invites another sip.

How to Drink Badonkadonk

A whiskey aged this long deserves to be savored neat at room temperature; a few drops of water can open up the wine-cask influence and reveal additional fruit complexity. If mixing appeals, its bold structure supports a few select cocktails. A Vieux Carré benefits from the Badonkadonk's espresso and spice notes blending seamlessly with sweet vermouth and Bénédictine. A Tipperary cocktail pairs the malt character with green Chartreuse for an herbaceous, layered drink. A Rob Roy lets the Cabernet barrel finish shine against sweet vermouth without overwhelming the whiskey's nuance.

Best For

• Gifting a serious whiskey collector who values ultra-aged rarities
• Anchoring a milestone celebration such as a 25th anniversary or retirement
• Adding a trophy bottle to a curated home bar
• Side-by-side tasting against aged Scotch single malts to explore cross-continental comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Badonkadonk taste like? It delivers a layered profile of cedar, dark chocolate, wild honey, and herbal spice on the palate, with a long finish marked by espresso, maple, pipe tobacco, and toasted almonds. The Cabernet Sauvignon barrel finish adds a subtle tannic depth and red-fruit undertone throughout.

How does Badonkadonk compare to WhistlePig 21 Year Beholden? Both are super-aged WhistlePig single malts, but reviewers note the Badonkadonk's palate achieves a more Scotch-like depth and complexity than the Beholden was able to reach. The additional four years of aging and the Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon cask finish give the 25-year expression richer fruit and more pronounced tannin structure.

Is Badonkadonk good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a whiskey designed for contemplative neat drinking, with enough complexity across 25 years of maturation and a wine-cask finish to reward slow, attentive sipping over the course of an evening.

Where is Badonkadonk made? The single malt is distilled in Canada from 100% malted barley, likely at the Glenora distillery, and is finished and bottled by WhistlePig Farm in Shoreham, Vermont, near the shores of Lake Champlain.

What foods pair well with Badonkadonk? Dark chocolate truffles complement the espresso and cacao notes; aged Gruyère or Comté cheese mirrors the toasted nut and butterscotch elements; duck confit matches the leather and oak; fig tarts echo the stone fruit on the nose; and a charcuterie board with honeycomb ties into the wild honey on the palate.

What sizes does Badonkadonk come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 91 proof (45.5% ABV).

Is Badonkadonk worth the price? This positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier, justified by its 25-year age statement, Cabernet Sauvignon barrel finish, and extremely limited availability — it sits at the apex of WhistlePig's portfolio and competes with the most prestigious aged single malts globally.

Why Badonkadonk?

Twenty-five years of maturation in American oak followed by a finishing period in Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon casks creates a whiskey that bridges the worlds of aged single malt and fine winemaking. The 2025 Whiskey Wash Gold medal confirms what the liquid delivers: a singular expression that stands apart from anything else in North American single malt whiskey. Few releases on this continent carry an age statement this long, and the wine-barrel finish adds a dimension rarely found in whiskeys of this maturity. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking the upper boundary of what North American single malt can achieve, the Badonkadonk makes an unambiguous case.