There is a science and an art to making good whiskey and the aging process takes time, the more the better. Whiskey actually only takes a few days to make, but takes much longer to develop its distinct flavors.
The process involves oak barrels which traditionally get filled with the young liquor, then the less-than-desirable tasting portions of the drink stick to the interior of the container. Meanwhile, the barrels infuse the spirit with vanilla, woody, and cream undertones.
This traditional method has created some great whiskey over the years, but distillers have found some other very unique ways to infuse this beverage with extra flavor. There are reports that some clever spirit makers have aged their drinks using salt, at sea, underwater, and even in space. One maker even took their drink production to the next level and found a way to age the booze in a chemical reactor. Another company now aims to create a brand new take on whiskey and intends to age the liquor with a very unique item from one of baseball’s legends.
Whiskey maker WhistlePig has a new line of spirits aged with toasted baseball bats used by baseball super star and whiskey enthusiast David Ortiz. The company claims that the spirit ranks as the very first whiskey ever to be aged with baseball bats, and Ortiz worked hand in hand with the company developing the drinks. The liquor hits shelves branded as WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Big Papi Barrel, the first of three limited-edition runs of the beverage.
The whiskey hasn’t sat alongside the bats during the entire aging process. The rye whiskey sat in oak barrels for six years before being moved to barrels with toasted bats for six weeks. The baseball bats were also treated in a particular way to ensure maximum flavor, and add notes of spice and caramel to the spirit, making it a one-of-a-kind experience.
WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Big Papi Barrel sells for $49.99, the company also plans to team up with other players from different sports later this year.
In the meantime, Ortiz fans can plan to pick up an autographed bottle of the whiskey for $340; the proceeds of which will go to children needing heart surgery.
This innovation in whiskey manufacturing process pushes a different one-of-a-kind approach, makes you think, what will they think of next?
https://whistlepigwhiskey.com/whiskeys/piggyback-legends-series-big-papi/
