Hogsworth Releases Its Oldest Whiskey Yet — WHOLE HOGSWORTH THE 18, Limited to 8.25 Barrels

Older, Richer, More Complex, and More Than You Bargained For

SHOREHAM, VT | Hogsworth, the rulebreaking whiskey brand created by spirits maverick Raj Peter Bhakta, announces WHOLE HOGSWORTH THE 18 (SRP $100) — a one-time release of eight-and-a-quarter barrels, and not a drop more. With an average age of 18 years, it’s the oldest Hogsworth yet. . . and nothing on the market comes close at its price.

Since its debut, Hogsworth has done exactly what the whiskey industry claimed it couldn’t: deliver more for your money. THE 18 is the boldest proof yet.

“The 18 is the apex,” says Bhakta. “It’s very rare — only eight and a quarter barrels. And it’s the very height of what this brand stands for: the greatest complexity, flavor and age, at an unheard-of value.”

Two American Bourbons lead the blend, deepened by three vintage French Armagnacs. Composed of 66% Bourbon and 34% Armagnac and bottled at cask strength, 104.8 proof, THE 18 was hand-selected by Hogsworth Master Blender Giles Garnham and Bhakta to create a flavor profile unlike anything Hogsworth has bottled before.

“We’re doing this to show people what an 18-year-old can be,” says Bhakta. “I challenge anybody to taste it side by side with any other 18-year-old, whether that bottle costs $200 or $2,000.”

AVAILABILITY

WHOLE HOGSWORTH THE 18 ships nationwide. Single bottles are available at select retailers. Online at hogsworth.com, it is available in four ways:

• The 18 3-Pack | Three bottles of THE 18 ($300)

• Younger Pack | THE 18, The 10 and The 11 ($195)

• Older Pack | THE 18, The 11 and The 15 ($220)

• Super Pack | THE 18, Batch 1, Batch 2, The 10, The 11 and The 15 ($325)

TASTING NOTES

The blend begins with 2021 Tennessee Bourbon, aged five years and two months, creating a full-bodied, Bourbon-forward foundation. The 2017 Indiana Bourbon, aged nine years and three months, adds structure, aromatic intensity and spice. Then it’s time to put the old French bones on this big, rich pig.

Rare French Armagnac vintages from 2012, 1982, and 1973 aged 13, 43, and an astonishing 52 years bring decades of maturation, depth, and complexity to the blend. Together, these five components achieve an extraordinary 18-year average age, balancing the muscle of American Bourbon with the elegant depth of single vintage Armagnac.

• Aspect | Deep, golden orange 

• Nose | Sweet, caramel, buttery notes with aromas of toffee apples that get more complex as it opens revealing deeper hints of mature French oak aged Armagnac

• Palate | A soft, sweet attack of vanilla and freshly baked croissants. Beautifully balanced, the mouthfeel is gentle with mellow tannins that follow at the end. 

• Finish | Slight bitterness on the finish. It would complement a quality dark chocolate.

ABOUT HOGSWORTH

Hogsworth blends honest American bourbon with aged French Armagnac, hand-bottled in Vermont. Older, richer, more complex. Narrated by H.W., a 1920s Tennessee-born flying ace turned Hollywood-era entrepreneur, Hogsworth stands for getting your Hogsworth: everything you can get out of your money.