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Dive into WhistlePig’s second volume of the Encyclopedia of Rye single-barrel series

With 22 single barrels in Volume II, this is a terrific limited-edition series from the people who reinvented barrel-matured rye

US rye whiskey maker, WhistlePig, has released the second volume in its hugely popular single-barrel rye series: the Encyclopedia of Rye Whiskey. There will be five volumes in the series, which started in 2022. Each Volume release is designed to represent the very best of what the rye category offers and is extremely limited. Each Volume will also offer different age statements and flavour profiles, released as barrels reach peak maturity, depending on their own maturation journey. 

Volume I comprised 22 single barrels, each named after a town or location in its home state of Vermont. With Volume II, the names are much more imaginative, including the likes of Camel’s Hump, Bluebeard’s Lily and Red Clover.

This time around, there’s more choice too. The Single Malt Shop sold some of Volume II early in 2025, and it now has bottles from 18 more of the 22 hand-selected barrels, each with a different proof or ABV, and name, of course.

The bottles in Volume II are 12-year-olds, an age statement that is relatively rare in rye whiskey making. Indeed, when WhistlePig released its first 11-year-old, the rarity of the age statement made the release an immediate collector’s item. Nowadays, rye matured to 15- or even 18-year-old is slightly easier to find, and fans love it. The Encyclopedia series leans into this demand for expertly matured rye in hand-selected barrels. 

Volume II

The bottle with the highest alcohol by volume in this series is from the Newfane barrel. Matured entirely in ex-bourbon, it has been bottled at 122 proof (61.5% ABV). The variation in proof levels isn’t huge, but it does affect the flavour, texture and aroma, with each bottle in the series offering its own particular edge and flavour experience. These are gentle variations, designed to bring out the very best of the delicate and spiced nature of rye whiskey. The lowest proof is the Dutchman’s Breeches barrel that produced rye at 107.8 proof (53.9% ABV).

The ambition of the seasoned collector would be to get one bottle from each of the 22 barrels, a hobby that just about any whiskey fan could get behind.

Here’s the full list of our 18 single-barrel releases, each matured for 12 years.

Newfane 122 proof (61.00%)
Alburgh 118.2 proof (59.10%)
Vermont 118.2 proof (59.10%)
Red Clover 236.4 proof (58.70%)
Lamoille River 116.4 proof (58.2%)
Mount Abraham 116.2 proof (58.10%)
Killington Peak 116 proof (58.00%)
Cardinal Flower 115.2 proof (57.60%)
Spring Beauty   114.6 proof (57.30%)
White River 114.4 proof (57.20%)
Camel's Hump 114 proof (57.00%)
Trillium 111.20 proof (55.60%)
Bluebeard Lilly 111 proof (55.50%)
Loblolly Pine 111 proof (55.50%)
Sugar Maple 110.8 proof (55.40%)
Red Maple 110.8 proof (55.40%)
Sweetgum 110.6 proof (55.30%)
Dutchman’s Breeches 107.8 proof (53.90%)

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