Review: WhistlePig Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned
At the start of 2022, to coincide with Dry January, WhistlePig Whiskey launched WhistlePig PiggyBack Devil’s Slide, a limited edition, non-alcoholic Rye spirit distilled from 100% rye, aged 6 years, then undistilled to under 0.5% ABV (1 proof).
In the years since, WhistlePig has launched a unique non-alcoholic ready to drink cocktail every January: WhistlePig Dry Orange Fashioned in 2023, WhistlePig Dank & Dry Old Fashioned in 2024, and WhistlePig Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned this year.
WhistlePig Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned is crafted with dealcoholized rye whiskey, barrel-aged maple syrup, non-psychoactive cordycep mushroom powder, schisandra berry extract, and damiana extract. WhistlePig claims that the cordycep mushroom powder increases mental clarity, stamina, and focus, and that the damiana extract may have aphrodisiac effects.
Before I dive into my review, I should state that I don’t actively participate in Dry January. I drink in moderation year round and see no reason to abstain from alcohol for an entire month. However, when WhistlePig offered to send me a bottle of Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned, I accepted because I was curious to see how close it would taste to the real thing. Let’s find out.
WhistlePig Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned Specifications:
- Product: Non-Alcoholic Ready to Drink Cocktail.
- Ingredients: Dealcoholized whiskey, glycerin, maple syrup, sugar, natural flavors, cordycep mushroom powder, schisandra berry extract, damiana extract, xantham gum, and sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives.
- ABV: Under 0.05% (1 Proof).
- Price Paid: N/A (Sample from WhistlePig Whiskey).
- MSRP: $49.99 for 750 mL.
Tasting Notes:
- Color: Straw.
- Nose: Light and fruity, with a slight funk – likely from the cordycep mushroom powder – and a faint aroma of black pepper. This doesn’t scream Old Fashioned, but it could certainly pass for a cocktail or mocktail of some sort.
- Palate: The mouthfeel is thin compared to that of a real Old Fashioned. In terms of taste, it exhibits a slight funk, which I again attribute to the cordycep mushroom powder and maybe even the damiana extract – as well as notes of berries, orange zest, maple syrup, and mild spice – primarily black pepper – in the background.
- Finish: Short. The black pepper note increases in intensity and is accompanied by more mushroom funk, berries, and maple syrup.
WhistlePig Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned does not taste like a conventional Old Fashioned. When considering the unconventional ingredients, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. However, Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned feels like it’s missing something. The flavors of caramel, vanilla, and oak – notes that add a certain richness to a cocktail, and that I would expect to find in just about every Old Fashioned made from a bourbon or rye whiskey base – are simply missing here.
While WhistlePig Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned doesn’t quite nail the Old Fashioned profile, it still makes for an acceptable non-alcoholic cocktail. I’ll finish the Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Old Fashioned that’s currently in my glass as I type this review, but the next Old Fashioned I consume will be a real one made with WhistlePig 10 Year Old Small Batch Rye, Runamok barrel-aged maple syrup, and orange bitters, because nothing is better than the real thing.
Rating: C- (70–72%).
1 Comment
As a big Rye fan I had high hopes for this adaptogenic version. Major disappointment! not only is it a putrid color that doesn’t even come close to resembling the color in their marketing campaign ads but it burns your mouth and throat. tastes nothing like what Whistlepig claims it should. All in all, save your money, major pass! I expected more Whistlepig, shame on you!