Wigle Whiskey is turning up the heat on one of its most distinctive spirits with the release of Spicy Eau de Pickle, a limited-edition aquavit created in collaboration with The Pickled Chef. Released in celebration of Picklesburgh 2026, this exclusive small-batch spirit will be available in extremely limited quantities, with only 250 bottles produced.
Bottled at 80 proof / 40% ABV in a 375 ml format, Spicy Eau de Pickle offers a bold and savory tasting experience, balancing classic pickle-inspired botanicals with the warmth and complexity of barrel-aged hot sauce. Tasting notes include jalapeño, garlic, dill, and brown sugar, making it a spirited tribute to Pittsburgh’s love of pickles, fermentation, and inventive craft beverages.
This release brings together two local makers with a shared passion for flavor, experimentation, and fermentation. To create the spirit, Wigle distilled a rye mash, brought the spirit to 100 proof, then macerated dill weed, dill seed, garlic, mace, mustard, caraway, and coriander overnight before redistilling the spirit with the botanicals. The result was then finished in a truly singular barrel: a Wigle bourbon barrel that The Pickled Chef had used to ferment its Wigle Whiskey Barrel Aged Fresno Hot Sauce before returning it to Wigle to age Eau de Pickle.
The finished spirit captures the crisp, savory character of dill and brine, layered with garlic, warming spice, and the lingering heat of The Pickled Chef’s barrel-aged Fresno hot sauce.
“Eau de Pickle has become one of our most anticipated Picklesburgh releases — it’s always popular, and it sells out every year,” said Alex Moser, COO at Wigle Whiskey. “With Spicy Eau de Pickle, we wanted to take that fan-favorite spirit and push it into new territory. The Pickled Chef’s barrel-aged hot sauce brings heat, depth, and complexity that kicks this release into the next level of beverages. It’s bold, briny, spicy, and completely Picklesburgh.”
Aquavit, a traditional Scandinavian-style spirit, is made by distilling a fermented grain or potato mash and redistilling it with herbs and botanicals. The dominant flavor must come from caraway or dill, often accompanied by ingredients such as coriander, fennel, citrus peel, cumin, cardamom, aniseed, or grains of paradise. Wigle’s Spicy Eau de Pickle honors that tradition while giving it a distinctly local, pickle-forward twist.
Spicy Eau de Pickle is designed for adventurous sipping and standout cocktails. Wigle recommends trying it in a Bloody Mary, Pickle Sour, or Dirty Martini, where its dill, garlic, spice, and brine notes can shine.
Spicy Eau De Pickle will be available for purchase at the Wigle Distillery & Ross Park Mall bottle shops and online for shipping in Pennsylvania & DC (while supplies last) beginning on Tuesday, July 14th, and at Picklesburgh July 16-19.
Product Details
Spirit Name: Eau de Pickle — Spicy
Spirit Category: Aquavit
Release: Picklesburgh 2026
Proof: 80 proof / 40% ABV
Format: 375 ml
Price: $36
Availability: Limited to 250 bottles
Tasting Notes: Jalapeño, garlic, dill, brown sugar
About Wigle Whiskey
Wigle Whiskey is an award-winning spirits company producing small-batch, craft whiskey with unique and distinctive flavor profiles. As a true grain-to-glass producer, Wigle cherishes the art of craft distilling, sourcing grains from local farmers and crafting each bottle by hand with an expert distilling team. This commitment to quality and tradition, rooted in the rich history of whiskey production in Western Pennsylvania, has earned Wigle national recognition, including being named the Most Awarded Craft Distillery by the American Craft Spirits Association and ranking among the top 10 best craft distilleries in America by USA Today.
About The Pickled Chef
The Pickled Chef is a family-owned and operated Pennsylvania company specializing in handcrafted, scratch-made, all-natural pickled, preserved, and fermented foods. With a storefront in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, The Pickled Chef creates jarred products and fermented items that celebrate bold flavor, traditional preservation techniques, and small-batch craftsmanship. Known for its creative approach to pickling and fermentation, The Pickled Chef brings local flavor and culinary ingenuity to markets, events, retail shelves, and collaborations across the region. For more information about The Pickled Chef, visit thepickledchef.com.