Every year, High West puts out a limited release called A Midwinter Night’s Dram. In short, this is a blend of straight rye whiskies (otherwise known as Rendezvous Rye) aged in new white American oak and finished in French Oak and Port barrels.
What was once a blend of 6 year LDI (MGP) and 16 year Barton ryes in the older acts is now a blend of 6-7 year rye whiskies that include both MGP 95% rye as well as High West’s own distillate (80% rye, 20% malted rye). This whiskey is non-chill filtered and bottled at 49.3% ABV.
While not as heavily sought after as some of the other limited releases out there, MWND is not easy to find on shelves. Is it worth the effort to track down? Let’s get to the tasting notes!
High West A Midwinter Nights Dram (Act 6, Scene 4) - 49.3% ABV
Category
Notes
Appearance
Oak Bark
Nose
Herb garden, sweet vanilla, cherries, just a hint of dill, caramel, a bit of clove and baking spice
Taste
A fairly sharp arrival. Prunes and dates, dried cherries, vanilla, oak, more herbs, rye spice. The port influence is most apparent through the palate.
Finish
Fresh mint, earthy, mixed berry pie filling, a bit of lingering oak and cherries, hints of herbs and spice linger for a good long while.
Overall Thoughts
A Midwinter Nights Dram is a constantly pleasant mix of flavors despite the shift in distillate over the years. The rye spice and herbal notes get a nice boost from the dark fruit that comes from the port influence. This doesn’t quite have the depth of early MWND batches but still contains the essence of what I look for when it comes to port-finished rye whiskey. I'm a fan.
Chris Perugini is a bonafide whiskey nerd and isn't afraid to admit it. Chris has been completely immersed in whiskey for over a decade and brings a well-rounded appreciation for all styles of whiskey from around the world. As the creative force behind Single Malt Savvy, he regularly reviews new releases, writes in-depth articles about the whiskey industry, fosters meaningful whiskey discussion on social media, and curates private whiskey tastings for groups of all sizes across the US.
