Review #18 High West Bourye Limited Sighting: Rye

Score: 8.5 / 10

Distillery: High West

Type: Craft Blended Straight Rye and Bourbon

High West -Mid Summers Days Night Early Winters, or whatever other names these guy come up with, this name also doesn't disappoint. If that is foreign to you, catch the conversation on episode 8 of our whiskey podcast Po It Up here. Always trying to find a new edge on whiskey, This craft distillery is hitting the nail on the head more often than most others. Bourye is a blend of 3 whiskies, one rye and two bourbons that were aged for at least 10 years. This particular release is the 2019 release.

-Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt;

-Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt

-Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley malt

Whiskey Review:

Nose: wheat and hay with some spice upfront, surrounded by warm notes of vanilla and cinnamon. A touch of honey, lemon zest and brown sugar hides in the background

Palate: slick, oily and juicy mouthfeel that only gets juicier as you sip it. Bursting with fruit and lemon flavors. Vanilla, toasted sugar and oak give way to tingling cinnamon on the back-end. At 45% (90 proof) its an easy swisher which stirs up caramel and grassy notes.

Finish: honey, cinnamon, lemon with a little whiskey kick – hot toddy finish

Score 8.5

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Un-common - Rare. This is not going to be in a small local liquor store, but I see it store cases from time to time. A fantastic craft rye if you're looking for one.