WhistlePig is known for their rye whiskeys, with their most well-known flagship Small Batch Rye - Aged 10 Years being the most notable. Snout-to-Tail Bourbon - Aged 10 Years is the first bourbon release under the company’s well-aged brand lineup, following expansions into the bourbon category under their Farmstock and Piggyback lineups.

‍‍Snout-to-Tail Bourbon is “the equal and opposite of [the company’s] flagship 10 Year Rye,” according to Meghan Ireland, the company’s Head Blender. The bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, and then finished in secondary barrels that feature two different toasted heads - a Vermont oak medium toast at “the snout” end and a Vermont oak smoked maple wood toast at “the tail,” hence the derivation of the name. During this secondary barrel maturation process, barrels begin standing on one end in order to extract the flavors from the first toasted head, then are flipped on the other end to extract the flavors from the second toasted head.

‍‍Snout-to-Tail Bourbon - Aged 10 Years is a permanent extension to WhistlePig’s brand lineup.

There is a hint of summer fruit upfront. Honey and brown sugar deliver a layer of sweetness, while an ever-so-faint hint of baking spices adds a slight pop to the mixture. The aroma is light but pleasant, and while there isn’t anything particularly remarkable, it’s inviting nonetheless.

The bourbon comes alive on the palate, which is predominantly sweet with honey, brown sugar, and caramel forming a base layer of flavors. Pie crust and toasted almonds temper the sweet notes slightly, though it remains a sweet-forward midpoint. At 88 proof, it’s still light like the nose, but has ample flavor intensity with a medium body that doesn’t taste watered down in any way.

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A light splash of baking spices gives way to more sweet flavors in the finish. Brown sugar is most prevalent, with a touch of graham cracker and pie crust as it lingers. It’s medium length and quite mellow as it tapers.

Despite having two existing bourbons under the company’s Farmstock and Piggyback lineups, Snout-to-Tail is arguably the beginning of the company’s true expansion into bourbon territory. Notably, the introduction of the Snout-to-Tail Bourbon comes alongside the opening of WhistlePig’s PiggyBank brand outpost, which will be located in Louisville, Kentucky, at the former site of the city’s historic bank building at 403 East Market St. The outpost location is slated to open in the summer of 2025 and is planned to be similar to other Louisville bourbon satellite brand locations, with tastings, a bar, and other exclusive experiences.

The bourbon is a sweet, mellow, easy-drinking affair, which is expected given its 88 proof. The flavors don’t come across as watered-down though, as it has enough oomph to sip neat and enjoy what it has to offer. With the company’s more aggressive expansion into bourbon which doesn’t involve their own distillation, incorporating the snout and tail concept - different barrel head treatments in order to drive new flavors and market a unique attribute - is one that has been rarely applied in the bourbon space and is worth taking note of. In the past, Buffalo Trace put out a bourbon that was aged in barrels with new toasted French oak barrel heads as part of its Experimental Collection, which was believed to have a notable influence on the whiskey. In cases such as Maker’s 46, the bourbon is finished with 10 heavily seared French oak staves which has a noticeable effect considering Maker’s standard product provides a good comparison. In Snout-to-Tail’s case, it’s not entirely clear what role the secondary barrels that were outfitted with the toasted oak barrel heads were intended to play in terms of their impact on the flavor profile, or even if they used the same barrels and just replaced their heads. But, taking it a step further gets you into all-out double-barrel finishing territory, with products such as Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Kentucky Peerless Double Oak that dive deeper into the level of flavor the finishing barrels deliver. In Snout-to-Tail Bourbon’s case, while the barrel heads may have added richness and complexity to the bourbon, the overall impact is hard to pinpoint aside from likely adding some richness to the bourbon.  

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Snout-to-Tail Bourbon falls under WhistlePig’s premium brand, and a $90 price point is not a surprise as a result because it correlates directly to their flagship 10 Year Rye’s asking price. What’s surprising is the lower 88 proof point, which is lower than the rye’s 100 proof point and tempers Snout-to-Tail Bourbon’s flavor intensity as a result.

The bourbon’s 10 year age statement and additional processing due to the barrel head finishing add implied value, however, the market offers numerous similarly aged Kentucky bourbons that come in much lower. Russell’s Reserve 10 Year ($38), Eagle Rare 10 Year ($43), Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Bottled in Bond ($55), and Knob Creek 12 Year ($60) are a few of the high value decade old releases from Kentucky majors that offer value that is difficult for smaller companies to compete with. Bourbons with secondary oak finishing, whether it’s staves or a variation on a barrel also bring heavy competition. Maker’s 46 ($40) and Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon ($55) are a few great options at good price points, and while Kentucky Peerless Double Oak comes in at $95 and doesn’t have an age statement, it’s also barrel proof and has a remarkably distinct flavor profile.

Ultimately, WhistlePig’s Snout-to-Tail Bourbon isn’t meant to be a value-driven pour, but instead a premium one with a unique attribute. Its proof point also suggests it’s intended to reach a wide audience of consumers. Looking at bourbons of a similar price point, most are higher proof and limited offerings, so WhistlePig is pushing hard at brand premiumization with an 88 proof bourbon mainstay bourbon at $90.

WhistlePig has historically been a rye-focused brand. While the company has existing bourbons under their Farmstock and PiggyBack lines, Snout-to-Tail Bourbon falls under the brand’s core premium “WhistlePig” lineup, and its release comes alongside the company’s opening of a downtown Louisville location, which will be in addition to the company’s Vermont distillery. Taking the unique concept of finishing with multiple types of toasted barrel heads adds something different to the bourbon that most other higher-aged Kentucky bourbons don’t offer, and likely contributes to the bourbon’s ability to deliver higher than expected richness at its 88 proof point. Still, the resulting pour falls short in showcasing the barrel head finished attribute in a meaningful way. At $90, it’s pushing the envelope on what consumers are willing to pay, and as a result, will be most appealing to existing fans who feel a sense of connection to the brand.