| Brand | Hogback |
| Region | Colorado, United States |
| Spirits Type | Whiskey |
| Spirits Style | Single Malt |
| ABV | 64.9% |
Product details
Hogback Wallace Collection Barrel #16 is a bold and distinctive expression from Hogback Distillery, a craft operation nestled at the foot of Colorado’s Dakota Hogback Ridge and founded by Scotch whisky enthusiast Graeme Wallace. Released in 2023 as part of the limited-edition Wallace Collection 23:1, this whiskey is distilled using 100% peated malted barley from Scotland, then matured for four years in an ex-bourbon American oak barrel before being uniquely finished for six months in Colorado aspen wood—a pioneering move that may mark the first-ever use of aspen wood to finish a peated single malt. Distilled in August 2018 and bottled at 64.9% ABV with no chill filtration, Barrel #16 embodies the brand’s ethos: fusing time-honored Scottish techniques with Colorado’s experimental frontier spirit to craft a smooth yet powerfully characterful whiskey.
On the nose, this single malt opens with medicinal and phenolic intensity, evoking a dank warehouse atmosphere layered with tropical fruits, most notably ripe bananas and the sweet edge of fried plantains. The palate follows with an intricate dance of sweet peat, honey, peaches, and licorice, accented by a hint of pencil shavings and lingering phenolic smoke. The unique aspen wood finish adds a gentle woody smoothness and subtle spice, rounding out the robust peat and fruit layers into a surprisingly balanced and memorable sip. Ideal with smoked brisket, BBQ-glazed ribs, or grilled peaches with sharp cheese, this release offers a rare and rewarding journey for lovers of peated whiskies and adventurous cask finishes alike.
