High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 7 (All Scenes)

A Friday night finds me free. A moment to formally take some tasting notes. A Midwinter’s Night Dram Act 7 Scene 4. This was opened for about a month and I’ve been taking this in over time. Nose: Letting this open for some time yields rewards. Immediate flashbacks to late autumn evenings. Baking spices float within a warm and cozy house on a crisp night. Oak, cinnamon, and nutmeg mingle with vanilla, dark caramel, and brown sugar. A hint of maple syrup and milk chocolate. A combination of cream soda and root beer is also detectable, or perhaps similar to the combined previous aromas. Palate: When drawn onto the palate, you are immediately introduced to wood spices and brown sugar sweetness. Ground cinnamon, allspice, and ground black pepper with hints of grape jam and Gala apples. This is delivered with a surprisingly thin body. With water (or ice): As I've experienced with AMWND, water improves the flavor. It rounds it out and, in this dram, brings forth the sweetness. Unfortunately, it takes an already thin body and thins it out further. Finish: The finish is woody and bitter. Medium in length. As it fades, the sweeter side appears and leaves one with a pleasant, warm satisfaction. Overall: After Act 4, the subsequent releases were what I would call adequate, whereas the predecessors were brilliant. Act 7 has quite delightful aromas; the palate is a diluted version of the nose, and the finish is fine, but I was expecting or wanting a bit more length and flavor in the finish. Act 7 is a step in a positive direction towards the excellence of Act 2 and/or Act 3. [$99][90/100][Tasted: 3/8/24]

Amazing. I searched for this bottle for two years and finally found one during a visit with relatives. It did not disappoint and stands out as one of the most unique whiskies I've ever had. Nose: Loads of sweetness, particularly brown sugar and maple syrup, with an undercurrent of dark cherries, vanilla, and oakiness. It's subtle yet intense, a wonderful mix of sweet notes. Taste: Caramel-covered apples upfront, followed by a hit of cinnamon and a burst of berries. Finish: This is where it truly excels for me. The port cask finish emerges and lingers, accompanied by a spicy note reminiscent of Mexican Hot Chocolate (cocoa with cinnamon and cayenne). It concludes with a velvety smooth finish. Overall: 4.75. Value: Around $100, varying by location. For something special without an excessive price tag, this is worthwhile. I would happily pay $100 again.

This is a really interesting rye. Dark fruits and roasted nuts appear alongside mint and other herbal and floral notes. The palate is very smooth, and the taste matches the nose. It has a round and medium finish. I can definitely see why some say it reminds them of Christmas... I understand why this is a great rye; I'm simply not a big fan of rye. Given its complexity, I'm rating it a 3.5. I use the rating scale below. The distiller uses a 5-point scale, and I use a 10-point scale, but I'm sure you're not too inebriated to do the calculation! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

This is Act 7 Scene 1. A blend of Rendezvous Rye whiskey sourced by High West (from MGPI), finished in French oak port barrels. It's 49.3% ABV. A beautiful, deep auburn hue. Vanilla and stone fruit on the nose. Flavors of warm cereal grain, plum, brown sugar, and spices, fading into the grassy spiciness of rye, with a long-lasting sweetness. It has a round and oily mouthfeel. Oak, vanilla, and rye are all present, but enveloped in a fruit essence that smooths everything out and gives it remarkable depth. A fantastic winter drink, rated 5 stars, but... High West charges a premium for rye they source, blend, (in this instance) re-barrel, and bottle. It's all marketing. I live in Utah and appreciate the product, except for the price. Their own distilled whiskey... not as impressive. As more distilleries produce their own superior whiskeys, High West will be hindered by their pricing and lack of distilling innovation and excellence. Keep this in mind.

The aroma is a fantastic blend of oak and wine notes, supported by molasses sweetness. Smooth tastes of vanilla and brown sugar follow, with floral rye spice unifying the elements. The palate begins with floral rye spice, swiftly transitioning to wine sweetness. A slight chewiness emerges, bringing out black pepper that fades quickly. This is an exceptionally smooth drink, strongly leaning towards wine characteristics. The combination of rye and wine is consistently a winner, offering lovely simplicity with clear flavors. The finish is moderately long and a bit spicy, with lingering notes of oak and wine sweetness. It's dangerously easy to consume and makes a wonderful dessert accompaniment.

I really wanted to enjoy this more, given the rye, port aging, and its reputation. To be honest, I prefer my spirits neat, and when I took a sip, the burn overshadowed the experience. After a few more tastes, I detected the rye spice, but barely any port. Vanilla and subtle red fruit also appeared. However, good news for those who enjoy ice! I added a large cube, and the ethanol burn on the nose and palate significantly decreased. This allowed a clearer appreciation of the intricate flavors. A lovely, long finish as well.