High West Double Rye Whiskey
The High West Distillery is located in Utah - a state that is usually better known for Mormons and skiing than for whiskey. But hey, sometimes the best surprises come from the most unexpected places! The distillery is located in the Wasatch-Uinta Mountains and is the first legal distillery in Utah since 1870. The Double Rye with its 46% vol. is, as the name suggests, double: two different rye whiskeys are married here. It's like pairing two different herb gardens together and hoping they get along well.
Tasting Notes
Nose
This nose is very fresh - almost cooling, as if someone had thrown a menthol candy into the whiskey. The many herbs are so present that you would almost expect Brother Benedict to come round the corner and offer a cough syrup. Particularly striking: the dill! Who would have thought that a whiskey would smell of the spice that normally ends up on cucumbers? It is joined by mint, which is so intense that it is almost menthol-like. The rye bread completes the picture - and makes you really hungry for a proper evening meal.
Palate
The rye spice immediately comes into its own, followed by some caramel - but be careful, it doesn't get sweet! It's as if the caramel is saying, "I'm here, but I'm not making a big deal out of it." Very subtle, very grown-up. The herbs are back - and so strong that it almost tastes like cough syrup. But the good cough syrup that you secretly liked as a child (admit it!). The whole thing is very much built on the botanical side, as if a botanist had decided to make whiskey instead of tea. Surprisingly, it's not terribly intense, although it is very flavoursome.
Finish
The exit is short and concise - like a good joke. It comes, does its job and disappears again without overdoing it. It finishes spicy and oaky, with a hint of vanilla and a slightly dry note.
🥃 We would like to give you the opportunity to participate in a private bottle sharing at cost price with this bottle.
To our bottle sharingsThoughts
Marcel 73/100
This High West Double Rye really brings the fun to the glass – fresh, spicy, and with a hefty dose of character you wouldn’t expect. It’s made for a summer evening, not a heavy winter dram, but rather a cheeky herbal cocktail with soul. Sure, the finish is short, but sometimes a good joke is all you need.
Sascha 77/100
The High West Double Rye impresses with a balanced interplay of spicy rye notes and subtle sweet hints that nicely support its complex herbal character. Its clear structure and distinct, though not overly long, finish make it an interesting all-rounder that really shines in the summer. A solid rye whiskey with a well-thought-out flavor profile.
Value for Money: Fair
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79/100Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the High West Double Rye Whiskey special in terms of taste?
The High West Double Rye combines two different rye whiskeys, giving it a complex spiciness. Notable are the fresh, menthol-like notes of mint and dill, along with a pronounced rye spice, accompanied by subtle caramel and herbal aromas.
Why does the High West Double Rye Whiskey not carry an age statement?
The whiskey has no age statement because it is a blend of various rye whiskeys without a fixed minimum age. This allows the distillery to achieve the optimal flavor profile by mixing younger and older whiskeys.
How does the High West Double Rye Whiskey fit into the American whiskey landscape?
High West is the first legal distillery in Utah since 1870 and stands out by combining two rye whiskeys. While traditional American rye whiskeys often come from Kentucky or Tennessee, High West brings fresh, spicy, and botanical notes from the Wasatch-Uinta Mountains to the market.