The Whiskey Artisans: Mastery Refined

How do you know when whiskey hits its peak? When it blends meticulous balance with flavors that make your taste buds do a double-take.

Calumet Farm 10-Year-Old Bourbon takes center stage with a bold, harmonious expression that showcases how the ‘high rye’ mash bill evolves over time.

WhistlePig PiggyBack 100 Proof Bourbon follows up with a fiery yet refined rye that packs a complex punch for those who like their sips bold and unapologetic. 

Rounding out the trio is Castle & Key Restoration Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, a refined blend from their annual Restoration project, crafted to highlight the season’s finest barrels.

This box celebrates what happens when patience and expertise work together to bottle up perfection.

EXPLORE MORE: This box is part 3 of the Whiskey Artisans trilogy—an immersive journey into the world of craft, heritage, and mastery. To complete your deep dive into the world of whiskey craftsmanship, make sure to check out the other two boxes in the series: Pioneers of the Craft and Timeless Heritage.

SMARTASS CORNER

1. Calumet Farm is named after the legendary horse farm that has produced eight Kentucky Derby winners.

2. Bourbon was declared ‘The Official Spirit of America’ by an Act of Congress signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

3. WhistlePig’s master distiller, Dave Pickerell, was a luminary in the whiskey world. Before joining WhistlePig, he made his mark at Maker’s Mark. His expertise brought WhistlePig to life with its first 10-year-aged rye.

4. WhistlePig is not just a name; it represents a unique farm and distillery in Vermont, surrounded by 500 acres of rye and experimental crops.

5. A ‘proof spirit‘ in the United States must be at least 100 proof, indicating it contains 50% or more ABV.

6. Castle & Key was originally built in 1887 by Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., who designed it to resemble a European castle, complete with limestone architecture and lush gardens.

7. After decades of abandonment following Prohibition, Castle & Key revived the historic Old Taylor Distillery in 2014, restoring its historic charm and bourbon-making legacy.

8. Rye whiskey is made from mash that is at least 51 percent rye. The grain gives rye whiskey its spicy, sometimes peppery, and bitter flavor. It was a big seller before Prohibition, and after decades in obscurity, it’s fashionable again. Fun fact: George Washington distilled rye whiskey at Mount Vernon.

9. Rye whiskey sparked the first revolution after the American Independence. It was called the Whiskey Rebellion, and it arose when the government tried to tax whiskey and enforce the taxation on distillers. The lesson here? Don’t mess with a whiskey drinker’s dram.