High West A Midwinter Night's Dram

To conclude my High West collection, I'm reviewing three samples of their A Midwinter Nights Dram from different releases. First is Act 5 Scene 6, a generous gift from a friend. The aroma offers powdered sugar-coated balsamic strawberries, cola, and aged wood, followed by mild pipe tobacco smoke and chocolate-covered cherries. Then comes star anise-spiced baked pears, transitioning to dill, spearmint, and cloves with moderate alcohol burn. The flavor has a medium body, beginning with creamy, slightly sweetened red berries and a mild tanginess that quickly becomes a moderate spicy bitterness. This fades to pipe tobacco, leather, and mocha, then star anise-spiced baked pears, followed by cloves, dill, and light spearmint with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is medium-length with mild rye and pepper spice, dark chocolate-covered cherries, espresso, ginger, dill, and scorched pine cones. A very enjoyable rye where the port finish enhances the base rye notes with sweet and sour red berries. However, the taste and finish are spicier than I prefer. Final score: 3.75 Next is Act 8 Scene 1, a generous gift from a friend. The aroma starts with powdered sugar-covered brandy-soaked cherries, cola, and light pipe smoke, then dark chocolate-covered hazelnuts and freeze-dried strawberries. This is followed by cinnamon apple pie and orange zest, transitioning to dill, cloves, and fresh wintergreen leaves with a medium alcohol burn. The flavor has a medium body, beginning with brandy-soaked cherries that quickly turn into a moderate spicy bitterness. This fades to pipe tobacco, leather, and chocolate-covered hazelnuts, then sour apple and orange zest, transitioning to dill, ginger, cloves, and scorched pine cones with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is medium-length with moderate rye and pepper spice, brandy-soaked cherries, cocoa nibs, ginger, dill, and burnt pine cone ash. This bottling is less refined than Act 5 Scene 6, with brandy-soaked fruit flavors contributing more sour and bitter notes, along with increased ashiness. It's still a delightful rye with those port characteristics, but it doesn't quite measure up to Act 5 Scene 6. Final score: 3.5 Last is Act 9 Scene 4, a generous gift from a friend. The aroma presents soft, lightly sweetened raspberries, angel food cake, and cola, followed by milk chocolate-covered raisins, toasted hazelnuts, and light floral notes. Then come baked pears and maraschino cherries, transitioning to dill, spearmint, and lightly toasted pumpernickel bread with a medium alcohol burn. The flavor has a medium body, starting with soft, creamy red berries and cola, then shifting to a mild spicy bitterness that fades to light pipe tobacco smoke and cherries jubilee. This is followed by chocolate-covered toasted marshmallows, baked pears, and orange zest, transitioning to cloves, ginger, dill, spearmint, and lightly toasted pumpernickel bread with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is medium-length with mild pepper spice, dark chocolate-covered cherries, toasted marshmallow, light florals, cloves, and charred pumpernickel bread. Compared side-by-side with the other acts, this one is the winner, offering a better balance of sweet red fruits and rye flavors, with subtle floral notes not present in the others. It still has a spicy bitterness on the taste and finish, but it's more restrained, allowing more flavors to emerge. Final score: 4.0 Conclusion: This was a lot of fun to compare and rate three different batches of MWND. Each was a tasty rye, but batch variation is clearly a factor in their profiles. If I could find one for $100, I would probably buy a bottle, but I would easily pass on anything above that price. Overall score for all: 3.75

High West ‘A Midwinter Night’s Dram’ Act 12 Scene 8, bottled at 98.6 proof. Taking inspiration from the bard, this is a theatrical release from the master distiller. This particular bottling is one of roughly 19,000 from High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. It starts with their Rendezvous Rye, a mix of rye from Indiana and rye made at High West, which is then finished in port casks for complexity. No age statement is given, but it's bottled at 49.3% ABV. I'm drinking it neat in a Glencairn next to a creek. The price was about $150, which is fair for the experience, particularly if it's not your cash. Tasting Notes: Nose: Dark berries, vanilla, and a hint of plum blend with rye. Palate: Raisins, warm spices like allspice and cardamom, and a robust rye flavor are prominent. Finish: Lingering notes of graham cracker, cherry, and subtle chocolate tannins. It’s moderately long and leaves a good impression. Background: This distillery was the first licensed in Utah since Prohibition. They use a 250-gallon copper still and age their product carefully before bottling. It lives up to its dramatic name. Consider supporting this channel with a like, comment, and subscribe to help reach 100 subscribers for a future giveaway. Until then, may your drinks be inspired and your nights feel like midwinter.

Initially, MWND presents a golden amber hue, reminiscent of the color of mosquito-cain in Jurassic Park's dino DNA. The general aroma is of spice and sweet buttercream, like a morning breakfast griddle, with a very subtle hint of alcohol. After the first taste, clear notes of clove, butter, leather, and rich dark fruit emerge. However, as the flavors develop, the finish doesn't linger as long as one would desire. It's a great drink, I just wish it stayed on the tongue longer.

This specific bottle reminded me of a play's fourth act, scene nine. The aroma is delightful, evoking sweet communion wine or homemade wine with hints of apricot. The palate is thick and viscous, with the port finish really making itself known, bringing out the apricot noted earlier. The finish is extended and builds, reminding you it's a rye, yet tempered by sweetness. I found it to be exceptional.

Smell: dark berries, vanilla, plum, rye (obviously), no burn at all Taste: Thin mouthfeel, briefly coats the mouth then immediately disappears; toasted spices (but no cinnamon), beautifully balanced rye, very little heat, stone fruit, cacao nibs Finish: Dry, lingers at the top of the throat, dark notes remain but give way to lighter red and black berry notes

Nose: Immediately identifies as a finished whiskey. Not my preference. Taste: Unquestionably a finished rye. Doesn't align with my preferred profile. Others may enjoy it. I wouldn't purchase this whiskey. I simply don't connect with the flavor or aroma. I respect what they do and generally enjoy their whiskey selections. I've liked earlier versions of this particular product.