WhistlePig The Boss Hog XIII - The Golden Pharaoh
Barrel strength, ~102.6–105.6 proof (varies by single barrel) | 750mL | Straight rye whiskey, single barrel | Finished on the WhistlePig Farm, Vermont — WhistlePig The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh is the thirteenth Boss Hog — the brand's annual "big, bold, and uncompromising" single-barrel rye whiskey — and it's Ancient Egypt-inspired.
The world's-first finish: barrels seasoned with Egyptian black honey (*asal eswed*, i.e., sugarcane molasses — not bee honey) and tiger nuts, inspired by a 3,000-plus-year-old tiger-nut cake recipe depicted on an Egyptian tomb wall and recreated on the WhistlePig Farm in Vermont. The well-aged straight rye matured in new American oak before the finish, and each bottle is capped with a handmade pewter pharaoh pig topper inspired by King Tut (an exceptionally rare few get a gold topper), presented in a tomb-inspired collector box with jewel-toned artwork, hieroglyphic-etched topper, and NFC-authenticated back label. Expect brown sugar, toasted almonds, and baking spice on the nose; rich molasses, cinnamon, black pepper, black-honey sweetness, vanilla, dark caramel, and roasted nuts on the palate; a long, warming finish of spiced honey, peppery rye, and dry oak — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Tasting notes
Nose: brown sugar, toasted almonds, baking spices, mild fruit. Palate: rich molasses, cinnamon, black pepper, black-honey sweetness, vanilla, dark caramel, roasted nuts, structured oak. Finish: long, warming — spiced honey, peppery rye, oak tannin, dry oak.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- World's-first finish — barrels seasoned with Egyptian black honey and tiger nuts
- Single barrel, barrel strength — ~102.6–105.6 proof, varying by individual barrel
- Handmade pewter pharaoh topper, tomb-inspired box, NFC-authenticated label
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat, at barrel strength — add a few drops of water to open the honey and molasses notes. This is a collector's pour; open it for an occasion.
Frequently asked questions
What makes this the "Golden Pharaoh"?
The Ancient Egypt concept: a finish inspired by a 3,000-year-old tiger-nut cake recipe from an Egyptian tomb wall, using barrels seasoned with Egyptian black honey and tiger nuts — plus a King Tut-inspired pewter pig topper.
What is the proof?
It varies by single barrel, reported between 102.6 and 105.6 proof — check the bottle label for this barrel's number.
Is this different from the "Gold Topper" version?
Yes — the standard Golden Pharaoh carries a pewter pharaoh topper; only an exceptionally rare few bottles receive the gold topper. This is the standard pewter-topper release.