Editor’s Note: This review of WhistlePig 30 Single Malt – The BigShǝBàng reflects the personal opinions of Editor Kyle Swartz. This bottle was sent to him as a media sample.
The BigShǝBàng spent 30 years in American Oak followed by secondary aging in Vin Santo barrels, an Italian dessert wine.
This comes bottled at 90.4 proof, with a suggested retail price is $4,999 per 750-ml. bottle. This was sent to me as a media sample.
Nose
Honey, malt, gingerbread, florals, touch of clove. Very sweet and inviting. Almost smells like a luxurious liqueur with all that honey.
Palate
Loads more honey and malt, with a surprising amount of white spice in the mid-palate for a 90-proof whiskey. The sweet bready notes are not as pronounced as on the nose, but remain as lovely tertiary tones. There’s some old oak in there too, a fine backbone for this balanced palate. Drinks very easily.
Finish
On the shorter side, where the whiskey shows its lower proof. More white spice, more sweet bready honey, plus some tea notes. A noticeable dark char lingers, likely from all that older oak. A touch dry, which adds to the easy drinkability.
Upshot
WhistlePig is known for its older age statement ryes, which went a long way towards changing public opinion about top-shelf rye. Here’s another novel release: a 30-year-old American single malt. (WhistlePig has previously bottled 21- and 25-year American single malts.) The pronounced honey flavors come from the Vin Santo dessert wine finish. This is certainly unlike any whiskey I have previously tasted, a truly unique pour. It’s rich with honeyed malt and white spice, and drinks smooth and balanced. With an unusual, tasty palate and high drinkability, this is a fine fit for the right connoisseur’s collection.
Kyle Swartz is editor of Beverage Dynamics. Reach him at kswartz@epgacceleration.com. Read his recent pieces, The State of U.S. Whiskey at Kentucky Bourbon Fest 2025 and Review: Bardstown Bourbon Discovery Series Double Barreled.
