After taunting the Scots last year with The Béhôlden, Aged 21 Years, WhistlePig today unveiled its next super age statement: WhistlePig 25 Single Malt – The Badönkådonk.

A new chapter in the future of Single Malt sees cult California Cabernet Silver Oak and John Cleese join WhistlePig’s whiskey revolution.

Most Single Malt Scotch was created by generations past for generations past. In its quest to rouse the category with a new whiskey world order, The Badönkådonk goes big on age and cask finish with an ally in American Oak.

After a quarter century in new American oak, each barrel is finished in a Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon barrel, bringing notes of stone fruits, cedar wood, and a hint of discord to the final whiskey. The Badönkådonk is bottled as a Single Barrel to capture the individual complexity of each barrel.

“Our Single Malts stand apart not only for age, but also maturation in the world’s best barrels,” Meghan Ireland, Head Blender at WhistlePig, said in a news release. “After finishing The Béhôlden in our own well aged Rye Barrels (with a wink), we set our sights on the best of California wine country.

“Known for their superstar Cabernets aged exclusively in American Oak barrels, Silver Oak is the perfect partner to push boundaries with, showing what’s possible on our side of the pond.”

Named not for a ghost of 19^th century distilling nor for an unphonetic hill, glen or loch … nor for somebody walking said hill or glen (boring!), The Badönkådonk is an audacious advance on the next front in WhistlePig’s whiskey revolution. To commemorate the coup and co-opt yet another national treasure, WhistlePig invited one of Great Britain’s own, John Cleese, to discern the dram. Shocked, offended, and ultimately awed, the English actor and comedian proclaimed: 

“I thought it was rather cheeky when I learned that some colonials were trying to ape the Scotches that have from the beginning of time been crafted in Scotchland … AND with a name of such sublime ridiculousness – WhistlePig 25: The Badönkådonk! That doesn’t sound very Scotchish, does it? BUT … when I tasted it … MY WHOLE WORLD CHANGED!! My very DNA was instantly revised, my taste buds DANCED THE BAGPIPE, and I instantly became SPIRITUALLY ADVANCED. You MUST try it. (Or I will send a small posse of highly trained Raccoons to tie you up and pour it into your cake-hole until you announce your arrival in HEAVEN).”

The Badönkådonk is sure to convert even the most loyal of Scotch sippers, and likely to make the forebears of the Keepers of the Quaich (which, let’s admit, is really just a cup) roll over in their graves.

WhistlePig 25 Single Malt – The Badönkådonk will be available in additional very limited quantities annually alongside a limited annual release of WhistlePig 21 Single Malt – The Béhôlden. They are available for sale now in 750mL format with a suggested retail price of $1,999.99 and $899.99, respectively, at whistlepigwhiskey.com/shop and in the best liquor stores, bars and restaurants across the nation.

To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com.