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"Do you have Bhakta 50-year-old gin?"

History in a bottle: Raj Peter Bhakta, Green Mountain College and Bhakta 50

It's been a colorful life for spirits entrepreneur Raj Peter Bhakta, yet his greatest challenges lie ahead.

So, You Found an Old Bottle in Your Basement — Now What?

Leo Gibson, cofounder of BHAKTA, a brand that specializes in aged Armagnac, says the category offers three things that can attract collectors and soaring price tags.

Introducing Bhakta 1990, a 26-Year-Old Rum That's an 'Absolute Breakthrough'

Aged in whiskey barrels and finished in Armagnac casks, Bhakta 1990 promises to be a revelation for rum fans, says former Whistlepig honcho, Raj Bhakta.

1990 rum

The 9 Absolute Best Rums to Drink Right Now

Best Grail Rum: When it comes to rums aged for 20-plus years, Jamaica’s Appleton Estate is unmatched.

1990 JAMAICAN RUM

Armagnac's Finishing Touch

The second of Bardstown’s armagnac-finished whiskeys, this blend of Kentucky and Tennessee bourbons is dense with a palate of French toast, raspberry jam, bright apples, and nutty vanilla.

2013 Bourbon

Get To Know Armagnac, the Oldest French Spirit

Raj Peter Bhakta is well-known for founding WhistlePig. He’s moved on to a new venture called BHAKTA Spirits and this included Armagnac.

1973 Vintage

WHISTLEPIG WHISKEY’S FOUNDER JUST RELEASED A NEW RYE MADE WITH RARE ARMAGNAC

The rye whiskey market is booming, as are super-aged high-end whiskies, but even those finds don’t quite have the juice (literally) that BHAKTA’s new 1928 Rye contains.

1928 Rye

The 14 Best-Looking Whiskey Bottles For Your Home Bar

Not all of Bhakta’s blends are made from whiskey, but since the Vermont-based non-distiller producer has a handful of bourbons and whiskeys under its belt, it counts for the sake of this list.

The Best American Whiskeys of 2023 (That Aren’t Bourbon or Rye)

Maybe technically not a whiskey, but this bottle is certainly interesting and whiskey adjacent.

1928

The Best Bourbons of 2023

What’s in the bottle is a nearly 100% corn bourbon distilled in Indiana in 2013, aged about nine years, finished in ex-Armagnac casks and bottled in Vermont.

2013 Bourbon

The 25 Best New Spirits of 2023

It’s not just a vintage rum — BHAKTA’s rum release is actually a blend of column- and pot-stilled rum from 1985 and 1990

1990 Rum

Bhakta Spirits

Aficionados have referred to Raj Bhakta as the Indiana Jones of spirits for his relentless pursuit of the rare and unusual.

Armagnac’s new generation dynamism

Bhakta wanted to introduce armagnac to the American whiskey drinker, launching Bhakta 50, an armagnac finished in Islay whisky casks.

10 of the Most Buzzed About Rum Releases of 2023

Former WhistlePig founder, Raj Peter Bhakta had recently started his own vintage spirits brand aptly named after himself.

1990 Rum

Raj Bhakta releases 10YO rye whiskey

US-based Bhakta Spirits has unveiled Bhakta 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey, marking its founder’s return to the category since leaving WhistlePig in 2016.

2013 rye

The Top 10 Rums of 2023

Raj Bhakta got started with brandy. Now he’s turned his sights to rum as well, starting with this vintage-dated blend of two Jamaican rums, one from 1990 and the other from 1985.

1990 Jamaican Rum

The Best Whiskeys To Chase Down This February

Bhakta Straight Rye Whiskey Distilled 2013 Finished in Calvados Casks

2013 rye

18 Top Whiskeys Released in January 2024

WhistlePig Founder Leaps Back Into Familiar Territory With 1st Rye Whiskey Release Under New Brand

2013 Rye

What Makes Armagnac And Cognac Different?

However, this disparity in prestige and sales may slowly change, thanks in part to the 2020 opening of Bhakta Spirits, a U.S.-based company owned by WhistlePig founder Raj Bhakta.

Review: Bhakta Single Vintage 1982 Armagnac

Entrepreneur and media personality Raj Bhakta built a hallmark whiskey brand by founding WhistlePig, and he’s using his storytelling playbook to grow another — this time eponymous — spirits bottler with Bhakta Spirits.

1982 armagnac

Review: Bhakta Bourbon 2013

Since its launch in 2020, Bhakta — the namesake of multi-time spirits entrepreneur Raj Bhakta — has built its name on brandy releases with eye-popping age statements.

2013 Bourbon

Monthly Roundup: These Were the 42 Top Whiskeys Released in October 2023

WhistlePig Founder Raj Bhakta’s Latest Expression Blends Rye With Ancient Armagnac

1928

Bhakta 1928 Blends Rye Whiskey with Calvados and Armagnac

WhistlePig, synonymous with top-notch American whiskey, witnessed a turning point in 2019 when founder Raj Bhakta departed to embark on a new venture.

1928

The World’s Top Brandies According To The 2023 Beverage Testing Institute Judging

Bhakta Spirits dominated the Beverage Testing Institute's recent brandy judging, sweeping all three of the Platinum Medal–Superlative awards and six out of seven top-ranked Gold medals.

RAJ BHAKTA AND HIS BHAKTA SPIRITS BRING ON AGED ARMAGNAC AND FUN

Raj Bhakta is larger-than-life; a vibrant, driven man with good looks and swagger. It figures that this kind of personality, who founded the hyper-successful WhistlePig whiskey brand didn’t stop distilling after selling his piece of that business.

Whiskey Review: Bhakta 2013 Bourbon

Bhakta is on his way to great success and perhaps a revitalization of the Armagnac industry

2013 Bourbon

Building the Ultimate Spirits Getaway: A Visit to Bhakta-Griswold in Vermont

Since 2020, Raj Bhakta’s eponymous second act in spirits has built a reputation as one of the most interesting companies in alcohol.

The WhistlePig Founder’s New Company Just Dropped a 26-Year-Old Rum for Whiskey Drinkers

This vintage rum gets a special French finish in Armagnac casks.

2013 Bourbon

WHISTLEPIG WHISKEY FOUNDER DEBUTS LUXE BHAKTA 1990 JAMAICAN RUM

After selling his stake in WhistlePig in 2017, Bhakta embarked on a sabbatical in search of new... 120 character here...

1990 Jamaican Rum

WhistlePig Founder Raj Bhakta Forays Into Rum With 1990 Jamaican Blend

The brand represents the transparency rum connoisseurs have been fighting for in recent years.

1990 Jamaican Rum

10 Armagnacs Worth Trying This Year

Bhakta Spirits 1973 Vintage Armagnac isn’t a gateway Armagnac. It’s the kind of expression you work your way toward, purchase and then savor slowly on a cool evening.

1973 Armagnac

Why You Should Discover The Incredible Value Of Ultra-Aged Armagnacs

We recently visited Bhakta Spirits, the new home of the historic house of Ryst-Dupeyron Armagnac, to taste their legendary collection of ancient Armagnacs from 1888 to 2001.

The Hands Down Best Booze to Drink Right Now

Best Booze to Drink in 2021

BHAKTA 50