The press info goes on with tasting notes that are actually really fun to read. This limited release whiskey is a sumptuous marriage of our Rendezvous Rye finished in both port and French oak barrels. One taste of A Midwinter Night’s Dram alongside a cozy fire will surely transport you to a dreamlike state. At High West, we consider whiskey an indispensable part of making it through the long cold winter. When cruising the press info from High West I found this bit I wanted to share: This year’s release comes along with a new set of tasting notes and discussion points from the distillery. Today’s offerings from High West don’t include the aged stock of yesteryear’s offerings however, last year’s Midwinter’s Night Dram rated well for me and I think they have dialed in the blending of their own distillate to the point where future offerings should have plenty of potential. It may seem a little muddy reading “a blend of straight whiskeys” on the label, but really this is just their Rendezvous Rye which is the well-known 95/5 (rye/malted barley) straight rye whiskey from MGP as well as an 80/20 (rye/malted rye) straight rye whiskey from High West Distillery. This is a blend of straight rye whiskeys that has been finished in French oak Port barrels that clocks in at 98.6 proof. In every way it’s a perfectly sippable whiskey and if you haven’t tried it I recommend you do.Continuing on my path of reviewing finished whiskeys for the closing of 2020 I’m taking a look today at High West Distillery’s Midwinter’s Night Dram (Act 8 Scene 3). Still, it’s a fine dram and I’m perfectly content to sit and sip on a glass after a long day. I’m drawn more towards the assertive spicy rye character in the RR than I am the sweetness of the High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram. Tasting them next to each other I came to the conclusion that about 4 days out of 5 times I’d rather come home to a glass of the Rendezvous over the Midwinter Night’s Dram. It covers up some of the more nuanced spice notes of the RR that I love. It’s a fantastic combination of sweet and spicy delivered in an ruddy oaky package, but that nice winey sweetness comes at a bit of a cost. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 2.9 is a great combination of rich sweet winey notes that pair well with the rustic spicy nature of the traditional Rendezvous Rye. Well balanced, full bodied and a warm thick texture. Long ribbons of dilly spice intermix with dark fruit, wood and a general sweetness. Spicy cinnamon and dill make their way across with notes of oak, raisiny dark fruit, strawberry taffy, Smarties, toasted grain and some light touches of leather, nuts and pink peppercorns. There’s a light bit of an alkaline metallic nature under the core aromas. Price: $80 High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Reviewĭilly rye spice moves out followed by notes of caramel, grape heavy dark fruit, Smarties, iodine and vermouth. Mashbill: MGP = 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley | Barton = 80% Rye, 10% Corn, 10% Malted BarleyĬask: New Charred Oak – Finished In French Oak & Port Barrels High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Infoīlend: 6-Years-Old MGP + 16-Years-Old Barton Their site doesn’t give the exact details on if it’s first finished in ex-Port barrels and then finished in French Oak, or the other way around or if some of the RR is finished in French Oak and some in ex-Port and then blended together so I don’t have those details, but what I do know is that it’s a mighty fine experiment. The balancing act Perkins creates by combining ryes that are a decade apart is spectacular and it’s one of my favorite daily drinkin’ ryes.īeing that I hold this whiskey in such high regards I was more than excited to see what the High West guys were able to achieve by giving their traditional Rendezvous some additional maturation in used French Oak and ex-Port barrels. If you’re not familiar with it, the traditional HWRR is a blend of 6-year-old MGP rye and 16-year-old Barton rye both have a massive rye mashbill but lend different characteristics to the whiskey. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram is their traditional Rendezvous Rye that’s been finished in French Oak & ex-Port casks.
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