WhistlePig PiggyBack 6 Year Bourbon 750ML

WhistlePig PiggyBack 6 Year Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV) straight bourbon aged six years, distilled at WhistlePig's farm distillery in Shoreham, Vermont. It earned a Grand Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition—one of the industry's most rigorous blind-tasting panels—and a Judges Selection honor at the Alberta Beverage Awards, confirming its standing as a serious bourbon from a distillery better known for rye whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Vermont, USA  |  Age: 6 Years  |  Distillery: WhistlePig Distillery

Production & Heritage

WhistlePig operates on a 500-acre farm in Shoreham, Vermont, where the distillery grows its own rye, corn, and barley—making PiggyBack a genuine farm-to-glass bourbon. The mashbill leans heavily on corn with a notable proportion of rye grain, giving the spirit more backbone than many bourbons at similar age statements. After distillation, the whiskey matures for a full six years in Char #3 American oak barrels, a medium-heavy char level that draws out deep caramel and vanilla while preserving grain character without overwhelming smokiness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Warm vanilla and caramel greet the nose first, followed by toasted oak and a gentle wave of baking spice. There is a subtle honeyed sweetness underneath that rounds out the aromatics.

Taste: The palate opens with a spicy cinnamon bite that quickly broadens into rich maple syrup and roasted nuts at mid-palate. Honeycrisp apple and burnt orange emerge as supporting notes, while a current of oak smokiness carries into deeper flavors of supple leather and a surprising whisper of green tea.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with sweet oak undertones lingering alongside fading cinnamon spice. A trace of maple and vanilla persists well after each sip, rewarding patience.

How to Drink PiggyBack Bourbon

At 100 proof, PiggyBack is robust enough to drink neat or with a single large ice cube; a few drops of water open up the maple and fruit notes without dulling the spice. It also shines in cocktails that benefit from a bourbon with real rye-inflected kick:

• Old Fashioned — The cinnamon-and-maple profile meshes naturally with bitters and a citrus peel, adding depth without extra sweetness.
• Bourbon Smash — Fresh lemon and mint play off PiggyBack's apple and burnt-orange notes for a bright, layered warm-weather drink.
• Paper Plane — The 100-proof backbone stands up to Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice without disappearing into the mix.

Best For

• Rye-whiskey fans exploring bourbon without sacrificing spice
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values farm-to-glass provenance
• Building a home bar with a versatile, cocktail-strength bourbon
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Vermont bourbon against Kentucky standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What does PiggyBack Bourbon taste like? PiggyBack leads with spicy cinnamon and rich maple, transitions into roasted nuts and honeycrisp apple, and finishes with lingering sweet oak and vanilla. The high rye content in the mashbill gives it more spice than typical corn-forward bourbons.

How does PiggyBack Bourbon compare to Four Roses Single Barrel? Both are bottled at 100 proof and sit at a comparable price tier, but PiggyBack skews toward maple and cinnamon warmth while Four Roses Single Barrel tends to emphasize ripe fruit and floral spice from its high-rye OBSV recipe. PiggyBack's Char #3 barrel aging also delivers a slightly smokier oak presence than Four Roses' warehouse-matured profile.

Is PiggyBack Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes—its 100-proof strength carries enough body and complexity for neat sipping, and the six-year age statement provides sufficient oak integration to keep the spirit smooth without feeling thin.

Where is PiggyBack Bourbon made? PiggyBack is distilled and aged at WhistlePig Distillery on a working 500-acre farm in Shoreham, Vermont. The farm grows its own corn, rye, and barley, supporting a true grain-to-glass production model.

What foods pair well with PiggyBack Bourbon? Smoked pulled pork complements the oak and cinnamon backbone. Pecan pie mirrors the roasted-nut and maple sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the caramel notes. Apple-based desserts such as tarte Tatin echo the honeycrisp apple character. Dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the bourbon's vanilla and spice layers.

What sizes does PiggyBack Bourbon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is PiggyBack Bourbon worth the price? PiggyBack positions as a mid-range bourbon that punches above its price tier, backed by a Grand Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a genuine farm-to-glass story that most competing brands at this level cannot match.

Why PiggyBack Bourbon?

WhistlePig built its reputation on premium aged rye, so releasing a bourbon was a deliberate statement—not a line extension. PiggyBack's high-corn, rye-accented mashbill, grown on the distillery's own Vermont farmland and aged six full years in Char #3 barrels, results in a bourbon with more grain-forward complexity than most entries in its price range. The Grand Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition validates that complexity in competitive blind tasting. For drinkers who want a 100-proof bourbon with traceable provenance and enough spice to bridge the gap between bourbon and rye, PiggyBack occupies a category lane few competitors can claim.