Bhakta 50 Year Old Armagnac Barrel 26: Pickerell
(Gascony, France) - [USC 94] [IWSC 92]

About this spirit:

Raj Bhakta founded WhistlePig Rye Whiskey in 2010, nearly in tandem with Dave Pickerell’s rise in the craft distilling world. The Founder of Whistle Pig cast his lot in with the Founding Father of Craft Distilling to create unique blends that propelled the WhistlePig brand to the upper echelon of whiskey. We crafted this barrel in honor of Dave Pickerell, a pioneer, a mentor, and a visionary, but above all, a friend.

Vintages: 1868, 1888, 1929, 1934, 1956, 1962, 1967, 1970

Proof: 94.8

Awards & Reviews:

Gold - Ascot Awards 2023

"Bright and juicy aromas and restrained oak on the palate is just what you want in an extra aged spirit, and that’s what we have here!"

94 Points, Finalist - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023

"An exceptional Armagnac, exhibiting a flawless cocoa brown hue. Intense nutty aromatics mingle with hints of dried apricot, charred oak, and caramelized pecan. Roasted hazelnut, molasses, and golden syrup dominate the palate. The enduring finish showcases nut and dried apricot notes. A remarkable exemplar of excellence in its category."

94 Points, Gold, Exceptional - Tastings.com

"Dark golden amber color. Aromas and flavors of ginger and plum, smoked sea salt caramel, leather, clove, and honey smoked ham, and caramelized chocolate covered banana and chocolate coffee beans with a round, tangy, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex, very long finish that shows nuances of camp fire smoke on polished wood, canvas, and fine leather, smoked plum and black cherry, roasted nuts, and smoked maple syrup and maduro tobacco. Some interesting luxury libations alchemy happening in the glass here; quite complex and delicious but also not normal, so let’s stay weird with this dram."

92 Points - Intl Wine & Spirits Competition 2023

"A gloriously luxuriant brandy with explosively rich flavours of warming Christmas cake, orange chocolates, toasted tobacco, sweet cinammon, fiery ginger root, frankincense and moreish peppery oak."