High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 5 (All Scenes)

My initial experience with High West Distillery was with a prior bottling of this spirit, “A Midwinter Night’s Dream,” which is released in “Acts” (one per year) and “Scenes” (multiple bottlings within the same year, or “Act”). This specific bottle is Act 5, Scene 2, from 2017. AMND 5.2 is a blend of rye sourced from MGP, along with High West’s own distillate (the proportion of each is not revealed). The name is a nod to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and while I admire Shakespeare, you can find more about that elsewhere. Through a quick online search, I learned that this bottle, if available, is currently priced around $300. I purchased mine (which this review concludes) for approximately $70, a few years ago. Constellation Brands acquired High West in 2016 for $160 million. Appearance is a dark tawny burnt orange. The intriguing aroma presents rye, Chinese five spice, cardamom, cherries, cocoa, and vanilla, finishing with spearmint; however, these scents require several minutes to emerge, at least for me. While the varied descriptors hint at complexity, it's a subtle complexity rather than a dazzling display. AMND 5.2 is smooth drinking at 98.6 proof: it offers a velvety entry with a hint of well-integrated warmth at the finish. The nose shows promise, but the experience declines somewhat through the palate and finish, revealing a very slight bitterness. Overall, it's good, not exceptional. Rated 3.75. Note: All spirits tasted neat in separate Glencairn glasses.

Scene 11, Act 5 Nose: Sweetness mingled with the characteristic, albeit faint, rye aroma. Palate: Light, with subtle sweetness and a blend of stone fruit flavors. Finish: The port influence is evident, providing a very smooth experience with minimal burn. Score: 4.5 Scoring Guide 5.0 - Outstanding, unparalleled. 4.5 - Excellent, a staple I'd keep stocked if feasible. 4.0 - Very good, enjoyable to drink and a reliable option. 3.5 - Good, worth trying again. 3.0 - Average. 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable. 2.0 - Inferior, drinkable but not pleasurable. 1.5 and below - Would avoid unless absolutely necessary.

The aroma is sweet and slightly tart, reminiscent of a green apple, with a hint of cinnamon. The palate has the typical rye bread flavor, but notes of leather and smoke temper it. The finish is long and smoky, with an umami taste I can't quite identify. I don't usually go for ryes, but I find this one very pleasing.

Nose: Eucalyptus and herbs, lemon and baking spices, underlying sweetness and a hint of ash Taste: Dry rye spices, molasses, leather, vanilla sweetness Finish: Spicy sweet, lasts a while, with a touch of dryness at the end, moderate burn

Giving it time to breathe, this is the best rendition of this bottling I've had yet (2020). The initial pour had a lot of vermouth notes...however. As it breathes, there are abundant dark fruits and figs, followed by rye, clove, and allspice. Fantastic.

Enjoyed it. My first tasting was Act 5, Scene 6 (around the end of 2017). I now have Act 11, Scene 4 (purchased, likely Act 4 rather than Act 5? which is from Oct 2023). All are 98.6 proof.