WhistlePig Distillery: Vermont's Farm-Based Rye Whiskey Story
Updated: 15 hours ago
WhistlePig is a rye whiskey distillery in Shoreham, Vermont, built on a former dairy farm of about 500 acres. The brand began by bottling aged Canadian rye and now makes part of its whiskey on site.
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WhistlePig at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | WhistlePig |
Country and region | Vermont, United States |
Ownership / operator | WhistlePig business; founded by Raj Bhakta |
History | Wikipedia records that in 2007 Raj Bhakta bought land in Shoreham, Vermont to build a distillery and ageing facility for a rye brand. The brand was officially launched in 2010. It… |
Whisky identity | WhistlePig began by bottling aged Canadian rye and later introduced on-site distilling. |
Visiting | Check the producer's latest official tour and opening information before travelling. |
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At a glance
Location: Shoreham, Vermont, United States
Land purchased: 2007 by entrepreneur Raj Bhakta (Wikipedia)
Brand launched: 2010; first product, the 10 year small batch rye, released in 2015 (Wikipedia)
Stills: two pot stills of 750 US gallons each (Wikipedia)
Farm: about 500 acres, roughly 300 of them grown to rye (Wikipedia)
Distillery visits: the Shoreham distillery is not open to the public (Wikipedia)
The story
Wikipedia records that in 2007 Raj Bhakta bought land in Shoreham, Vermont to build a distillery and ageing facility for a rye brand. The brand was officially launched in 2010. It began as a non-distiller producer, bottling a stock of 10 year old Canadian whiskey from the Alberta Premium distillery in Alberta, Canada.
Bottling began in Shoreham in 2009 and production on site began in 2015, the year the first whiskey, the 10 year small batch rye, reached the public. A second still was installed in 2019. Farmstock Rye, first released in 2017, was the first WhistlePig product made mostly from whiskey produced on site.
Bhakta retired from the company in 2017 and sold his shares in 2019, fully leaving the business. Since then the range has widened to include a bourbon (Beyond Bonded, 2021), an Irish whiskey (Limavady, 2021) and older releases such as the 21 year Béhôlden in 2023. Wikipedia also notes that part of the company's whiskey is sourced from other producers, including MGP of Indiana and Alberta Premium.
The people
Raj Bhakta: entrepreneur who bought the Shoreham land in 2007 and left the company by 2019
Dave Pickerell: master distiller who helped source the first stock, helped design the first blend and designed the first pot still (died after his last product, PiggyBack Rye)
Emily Harrison: lead distiller, per Wikipedia
Meghan Ireland: chief blender, per Wikipedia
The range
Wikipedia lists these notable products. The current official range and ABVs were not checked.
10 year Small Batch Rye: the first release
Farmstock Rye: a blend of 6 year and 10 year Canadian rye and rye made on site, first released in 2017
12 year Old World Cask Finish: finished in Port, Sauternes and Madeira barrels
15 year Estate Oak Rye: aged in new American oak, with up to a year in barrels made from oak grown on the property
18 year Double Malt Rye
The Boss Hog: a yearly single barrel, barrel strength rye released in numbered editions since 2013
PiggyBack Rye and PiggyBack Bourbon: 6 year old whiskeys, the bourbon bottled at 100 proof
Visiting
The Shoreham distillery is not open to the public (Wikipedia).
A tasting room in Quechee, Vermont opened in 2021 in the former Parker House tavern, and a pavilion operates at Stowe Mountain Resort (Wikipedia).
In September 2025 the company announced a Louisville, Kentucky location at 403 E. Market Street, known as The Vault (Wikipedia).
Check the official site for current hours before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
Where is WhistlePig made?
The distillery is on a farm in Shoreham, Vermont. Wikipedia notes that some of the whiskey in the range is sourced elsewhere and then aged and finished by the company.
Who started WhistlePig?
Entrepreneur Raj Bhakta bought the Shoreham land in 2007 and launched the brand in 2010. He retired in 2017 and sold his shares in 2019.
Can you tour the WhistlePig distillery?
According to Wikipedia the Shoreham distillery is not open to the public. Tasting rooms operate in Quechee, Vermont and at Stowe Mountain Resort.
Does WhistlePig use its own rye?
Part of it. The property grows rye, and Farmstock Rye was the first product made primarily from whiskey produced on site.
From dairy farm to farm-to-bottle rye
A Tales of the Cocktail Foundation profile (5 December 2017) describes WhistlePig Farm as roughly 500 acres of rolling hills in Shoreham, Vermont, a former dairy farm turned into a home for rye whiskey by founder Raj Bhakta. It says the project began with a 2009 purchase of Canadian blending whiskey to rebottle in Vermont, which launched a five year plan to move to a fully homegrown, farm-to-bottle distillery.
The distillery opened in 2015 in a 150 year old renovated barn and runs a copper pot still designed by master distiller Dave Pickerell, with a plate honouring the farm pig mascot, Mortimer. The brand calls its approach Triple Terroir: its own grain, water and wood. The article says the company uses locally sourced Vermont oak for custom barrels and grows rye on the farm.
Releases mentioned in the 2017 profile
FarmStock, first batch Rye Crop 001, released spring 2017 at 86 proof
The Black Prince, released September 2017, a 14 year old 100 percent rye finished in Armagnac casks
Visiting
In 2017 the farm was open to industry guests by invitation, while general visitors used a tasting room in Middlebury, Vermont. Opening hours given then were Thursday to Saturday 11:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday 11:30am to 4:30pm. These are from 2017, so confirm current details with WhistlePig.
Sources and gaps
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, From Dairy Farm to Whiskey: A Tour of WhistlePig Distillery, 5 December 2017 (read 20 October 2026)
Wikipedia, WhistlePig (read earlier)
Gaps: the official WhistlePig site was not read, so current ownership, range, visitor offer and any later changes are unconfirmed. The 2017 article is nine years old. Wikipedia and trade pieces cover the sourced-whiskey phase and Dave Pickerell's departure, which this draft does not detail without a source read.
Whisky Clan does not publish tasting notes in its distillery profiles.
2026 whisky awards, releases and international availability
The 2026 International Whisky Competition awarded WhistlePig Estate Oak Rye 15 Years Old first place in its Canadian whisky and Canadian rye categories (88.77 points). WhistlePig Old World Rye 12 Years Old followed with 87.10 points. These results are product-category awards, not evidence that the distillery itself is located in Canada.
What makes WhistlePig distinctive?
WhistlePig began by bottling aged Canadian rye and later introduced on-site distilling.
WhistlePig whisky bottles and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
WhistlePig 10 Year Old Small Batch Rye | 10 years | Check label | WhistlePig began by bottling aged Canadian rye and later introduced on-site distilling. |
WhistlePig 12 Year Old Old World Rye | 12 years | Check label | WhistlePig began by bottling aged Canadian rye and later introduced on-site distilling. |
WhistlePig FarmStock Rye | NAS / varies | Check label | WhistlePig began by bottling aged Canadian rye and later introduced on-site distilling. |
This table describes documented expressions. It does not guarantee current stock, age statements or strengths. Check producer labels for details.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about WhistlePig
Where is WhistlePig based?
Vermont, United States.
Who operates WhistlePig?
WhistlePig business; founded by Raj Bhakta.
What distinguishes WhistlePig?
WhistlePig began by bottling aged Canadian rye and later introduced on-site distilling.
Which bottlings are documented?
WhistlePig 10 Year Old Small Batch Rye, WhistlePig 12 Year Old Old World Rye, WhistlePig FarmStock Rye. Some editions may be historical.
Can you visit WhistlePig?
Please check whether tours are currently operating and book through the producer before travelling.
Sources and editorial checks
Original research and historical notes have been retained. Visitor details, owners and bottle ranges may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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