High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Named as a take off of Shakespeare's famous play, High West's blend of straight ryes sources whiskeys from MGP, however as of 2018 (the 6th Act), High West's own distillate is included. The mash bill of the two components is 95% rye / 5% barley (MGP), with an 80% rye / 20% malted rye mash bill from High West. The age of the whiskeys is said to be 4-7 years old, which is medium by rye standards. At the time of writing, we're onto the 8th edition. As this is a seasonal release (different 'vintages' are stated as different acts on the front label), batches will be subject to change without notice (the scene number just refers to different bottling days). The ryes are first aged in new, charred American oak, then blended and finished in French oak and ex-port barrels. Bottled at 49.3% and non chill filtered, the producers describe the flavour profile as being reminiscent of Christmas pudding.

Other reviews... The robust spicy rye notes are still present in the glass, but as it sits, red fruit tempers that just a bit. As you taste, the spicy rye comes again to the forefront along with vanilla and more red fruit. The finish is warm and spice filled with hints of chocolate and fresh whipped cream with a dash of white pepper. 92 points - distiller.com

INCLUDED IN WINE ENTHUSIAST'S TOP 100 SPIRITS OF 2020

[Sixth edition reviewed]... A nose of gingerbread, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon melds with fragrant cedar chest, leather, and oak. The palate offers sweet blackberry, chocolate, raisins, and dried plums, along with toasted oak and tobacco, leading to a spicy finale. A beautiful balancing act and a wonderfully indulgent treat. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2019)

...The proportion of each whiskey is not revealed, though all are at least five years old. If I had to guess, I’d peg the percentages at 65% bourbon, 20% rye, and 15% Scotch. All the elements are here, dominated by vanilla and honey-flavored nougat. The nose offers the smoke — inescapable in even a mildly peated Scotch — and that carries through on the body, especially on the finish of the whiskey. In the middle, more sweetness, and a racy spiciness that speaks to the rye. (Peat will dominate all of these elements any day, especially the rye, hence my relatively low proportion of Scotch on my estimated blending bill.) All in all, well, it works. High West even goes so far as to say “you may not like it at first” but I’m liking it from the get-go. All kinds of complexity here — tobacco leaf, tea, wood, leather, blackberries — but it all comes together in the end. Whiskey fans served blind will undoubtedly guess this is Scotch — Highlands, maybe — and that will surely serve to inform many a bar bet over the coming months until Campfire is sold out. The rest of us can simply enjoy it on its own merits. 2012 review. - drinkhacker.com