WhistlePig Rye & Big Papi Open Baseball Season with World’s First Baseball Bat-Finished Whiskey

In partnership with Barstool Sports, First PiggyBack Legends Barrel Toasts to America’s Pastime

SHOREHAM, VT (March 31, 2022) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the #1 distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury Rye Whiskey category in North America, and Barstool Sports, leading sports media company and a proud partner of WhistlePig Whiskey, today debuts the first of three iterations in the new single barrel Legends Series, beginning with David Ortiz (“Big Papi”) to launch the world’s first toasted baseball bat-finished whiskey. 

The WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Big Papi Barrel, created for and selected by David Ortiz, raises a glass to Ortiz’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and marks the debut of the limited-edition single barrel series, which celebrates living legends who give 100% in the name of greatness. The 100% Rye Whiskey is aged six years in American Oak and finished in barrels containing toasted DO34 maple wood bats, Ortiz’s signature. The first-of-its-kind Rye Whiskey is bottled at 96.56 proof, the perfect proof to enjoy in an Opening Day Old Fashioned, or on the rocks, this season.

“I’m thrilled to go to bat for WhistlePig Whiskey by kicking off the first limited-edition collection in the new Legends Series,” said David Ortiz, 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee. “This first-of-its-kind whiskey gives fans the opportunity to celebrate America’s pastime over a drink that connects them further to the sport.”

David “Big Papi” Ortiz

The Big Papi Barrel will be available for pre-order online at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com on March 31, 2022 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle. A limited quantity of bottles, signed by David Ortiz himself, will be available for purchase for $340 in honor of #34, with proceeds from sales of each bottle benefiting the David Ortiz Boston Heart Classic, raising funds for children in need of heart surgery.

“If you ask anyone at the distillery, they’ll tell you my signature quote is ‘I’ll put anything in a barrel once.’ This experiment was particularly fun in that it brings together two of my favorite things – breaking new ground for Rye Whiskey, and sports,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Blender. “It was incredible to collaborate with David Ortiz, whose toasted maple bats add layers of spice and caramelized notes to the bold, 100% Rye character of WhistlePig PiggyBack. I think fans of the game – regardless of team – will find a home run in the Big Papi Barrel.”

Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig

Fans and collectors are encouraged to follow upcoming releases of the limited edition PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating living legends who give 100% in the name of greatness, slated for launch later this year in partnership with Barstool Sports.

To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT THE BIG PAPI BARREL

What is the Big Papi Barrel? 

The Big Papi Barrel is the first release of the WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, created for and selected by David Ortiz (“Big Papi”). This single barrel 100% Rye Whiskey is aged six years in American Oak and finished in barrels containing toasted DO34 maple wood bats, Ortiz’s signature – making it the world’s first toasted baseball bat-finished whiskey. 

What’s the bat finishing process?

After WhistlePig’s PiggyBack 100% Rye is aged for six years in American Oak barrels, the WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Big Papi Barrel is finished in barrels that contain toasted baseball bats within them.

First the bats are convection toasted in order to get the perfect toasted consistency, and then go through an extra fire toast to increase the caramelized vanilla flavors that imparts deep flavors into the whiskey. The whiskey is finished in barrels with the toasted bats for 6 weeks before bottling.

How many limited-edition barrels are available? 

There are less than 100 single barrels made for the WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Big Papi Barrel whiskey.

Opening Day Maple Old Fashioned

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Big Papi Barrel
• ½ oz WhistlePig Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
• 5 dashes Maple Bitters
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions: 

1. Add all ingredients to an Old Fashioned glass.
2. Add ice.
3. Stir until Maple Syrup is properly diluted.
4. Garnish with a fresh orange peel.
5. Enjoy!

Stay tuned for a full review of the Big Papi barrel where I’ll let you know exactly how baseball bat finished whiskey tastes.

For more WhistlePig content, you can check out our interview with Meghan Ireland (Blender, WhistlePig) on Weekly Whiskey.

TheBourbonFinder thanks Whistlepig for graciously providing us a sample of their product. Being able to try new things in the whiskey space, without strings attached, is an opportunity we greatly appreciate. Per our review ethos, we provide objective reviews and commentary on media samples of spirits and products; remember, friends, these are the good old days of whiskey!