The Story
WhistlePig SmokeStock Wood Fired Whiskey. WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont — a collaboration between WhistlePig and Traeger Grills that applies Traeger's all-natural Apple BBQ wood slow-smoking technique to WhistlePig rye whiskey aged in American Oak #3 char barrels, creating a whiskey designed to sit at the intersection of craft spirits and American BBQ culture — bottled at 86 proof for easy summer sipping.
SmokeStock is WhistlePig's most food-forward expression, built around a specific partnership between the Vermont rye distillery and Traeger, the wood-pellet grill company that defines American backyard BBQ. Traeger's all-natural Apple BBQ wood — the same pellets that impart apple and orchard fruit smokiness to slow-cooked meats — is applied to WhistlePig's American Oak #3 char-aged rye through a slow-smoking process. Apple wood's smoke character is distinctly different from the hickory smoke of Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke or the peat smoke of Scotch: apple wood is softer, sweeter, and more fruit-adjacent, creating a smoke note that is immediately recognizable as BBQ rather than campfire or agricultural burn.
At 86 proof — lower than any standard WhistlePig expression — SmokeStock is explicitly designed for accessibility and food pairing. The lower proof means the smoke note and the rye's natural spice can be appreciated without the intensity that higher-proof WhistlePig expressions demand. The brand recommends enjoying it low and slow, just like the BBQ tradition it was built alongside.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Apple wood smoke, WhistlePig rye spice, and a BBQ-adjacent sweetness. The smoke is present and immediately identifiable but softer and more fruit-forward than hickory or campfire smoke.
- Palate: The American Oak #3 char aging's caramel and vanilla alongside the apple wood's gentle smoke sweetness. The rye spice cuts through the smoke character for balance at 86 proof.
- Finish: Clean and approachable with the apple wood smoke and rye spice fading together. Designed for warm weather sessions.
Specs
- Distillery: WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont
- Collaboration: Traeger Grills
- Smoking: Slow-smoked with Traeger all-natural Apple BBQ wood
- Barrel: American Oak #3 char
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Size: 750ml
Browse our full selection of whiskey at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does SmokeStock's smoke differ from Scotch peat smoke or hickory smoke? Apple wood smoke from Traeger's BBQ pellets is softer, sweeter, and more fruit-adjacent than hickory (which is robust and bold) or Scottish peat (which is iodine-forward and medicinal). Apple wood smoke in whiskey reads as BBQ-adjacent rather than campfire or agricultural — a distinctly American, food-forward smoke character.
- Why is SmokeStock bottled at 86 proof? Lower proof than any standard WhistlePig expression to maximize approachability for the BBQ and food-pairing context. The smoke and rye spice are present and balanced at 86 proof without the intensity that would make it more spirit-forward than food-friendly.
- Is this a good cocktail whiskey? Excellent for Old Fashioneds where the apple wood smoke adds a BBQ-adjacent dimension to the classic format. Also works well in highballs or simply on the rocks alongside grilled meats and smoked foods where the apple wood character echoes the cooking method.
Description
WhistlePig SmokeStock Wood Fired Whiskey. WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont — a collaboration between WhistlePig and Traeger Grills that applies Traeger's all-natural Apple BBQ wood slow-smoking technique to WhistlePig rye whiskey aged in American Oak #3 char barrels, creating a whiskey designed to sit at the intersection of craft spirits and American BBQ culture — bottled at 86 proof for easy summer sipping.
SmokeStock is WhistlePig's most food-forward expression, built around a specific partnership between the Vermont rye distillery and Traeger, the wood-pellet grill company that defines American backyard BBQ. Traeger's all-natural Apple BBQ wood — the same pellets that impart apple and orchard fruit smokiness to slow-cooked meats — is applied to WhistlePig's American Oak #3 char-aged rye through a slow-smoking process. Apple wood's smoke character is distinctly different from the hickory smoke of Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke or the peat smoke of Scotch: apple wood is softer, sweeter, and more fruit-adjacent, creating a smoke note that is immediately recognizable as BBQ rather than campfire or agricultural burn.
At 86 proof — lower than any standard WhistlePig expression — SmokeStock is explicitly designed for accessibility and food pairing. The lower proof means the smoke note and the rye's natural spice can be appreciated without the intensity that higher-proof WhistlePig expressions demand. The brand recommends enjoying it low and slow, just like the BBQ tradition it was built alongside.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Apple wood smoke, WhistlePig rye spice, and a BBQ-adjacent sweetness. The smoke is present and immediately identifiable but softer and more fruit-forward than hickory or campfire smoke.
- Palate: The American Oak #3 char aging's caramel and vanilla alongside the apple wood's gentle smoke sweetness. The rye spice cuts through the smoke character for balance at 86 proof.
- Finish: Clean and approachable with the apple wood smoke and rye spice fading together. Designed for warm weather sessions.
Specs
- Distillery: WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont
- Collaboration: Traeger Grills
- Smoking: Slow-smoked with Traeger all-natural Apple BBQ wood
- Barrel: American Oak #3 char
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Size: 750ml
Browse our full selection of whiskey at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does SmokeStock's smoke differ from Scotch peat smoke or hickory smoke? Apple wood smoke from Traeger's BBQ pellets is softer, sweeter, and more fruit-adjacent than hickory (which is robust and bold) or Scottish peat (which is iodine-forward and medicinal). Apple wood smoke in whiskey reads as BBQ-adjacent rather than campfire or agricultural — a distinctly American, food-forward smoke character.
- Why is SmokeStock bottled at 86 proof? Lower proof than any standard WhistlePig expression to maximize approachability for the BBQ and food-pairing context. The smoke and rye spice are present and balanced at 86 proof without the intensity that would make it more spirit-forward than food-friendly.
- Is this a good cocktail whiskey? Excellent for Old Fashioneds where the apple wood smoke adds a BBQ-adjacent dimension to the classic format. Also works well in highballs or simply on the rocks alongside grilled meats and smoked foods where the apple wood character echoes the cooking method.
