High West Rendezvous Rye Ed Mell Edition (2021 Release)

A limited edition Rendezvous Rye with a Mell label. Rendezvous Rye, traditionally an award-winning blend of MGP straight rye whiskeys, is now offered by HW as a limited release featuring more of the distillery's own pot still rye. The nose has sweet grain, nuts, and a light ethanol presence. It's licorice-like, grassy, and mildly astringent on the palate, with honey sweetness that turns dry and hot. The finish brings spicy rye, more ethanol, and a dry, sour conclusion. Adding ice makes the entire drink bland and flat. It's disappointing, falling far short of the older, MGP-sourced Rendezvous Rye I've enjoyed for years. Living in UT, I'm familiar with this spirit. Is the issue the HW distillate or the blend of younger MGP ryes? For its premium price, this "limited supply" offering is simply subpar. HW's labeling has become vague since Constellation acquired them, no longer detailing blended whiskies, mashbills, age statements, or sourcing states. It doesn't specify the amount of their own aged distillate used, just "bottled in Utah." The price keeps rising, but quality, transparency, and consistency have vanished. I'm unhappy with their current direction, feeling they're concealing their process (blending sourced whiskies, which they've done well for years with aged Indiana and Kentucky whiskies) behind vague descriptions and romanticized notions of 1820s fur trapper gatherings. It's at best nonsensical. The best aspect is the Ed Mell label; he's a brilliant artist. As for the whiskey itself, you can find much better ryes at a fraction of the cost, which is a sad reflection on what was once a premium product.

High West Rendezvous Rye (Ed Mell Artwork) Nose: A well-balanced blend of pleasant rye spices, presenting a note of fresh green rye grain. The aroma is quite sweet and full-bodied. Palate and Finish: Sweetness dominates the palate in a very pleasing way. The rye grain is noticeable but not overly spicy or overpowering. The palate has an excellent sweetness and a finish that is short but rich. As it lingers on the palate, the rye grain becomes more pronounced towards the end, along with a fresh grassy note, which are the final impressions. Overall, this whiskey is very enjoyable. The combination of bubble gum sweetness, rye, and sweet grassy characteristics makes it inviting for continued sipping.

Quite pleasant. While not as amazing as the last batch, it's still shelf-worthy. It has the same smoothness but lacks some complexity. Smell: orange zest, pepper, and spice. Hints of fresh wood. Taste: moist cake. Warm spices. Crushed pepper. Faint fruit and honey notes. A touch floral. Certainly tastes like a rye. Anyone drinking this will find it agreeable. No need for nitpicking! It's a bit too expensive for regular cocktails but would likely make an incredible old fashioned for a special event!

I'm picking up more corn in the mash bill here compared to the usual Rendezvous. The nose presents corn and citrus with a hint of leather. The palate is sweet corn and vanilla with a touch of rye spice. The finish is pure oak smoke and some butterscotch, which disappears fast. It's very good, sweet, and smooth, but not as amazing as the standard Rendezvous.

Sampling spirits during our whiskey get-together. Had low expectations given recent commentary, so perhaps my hopes were already down, but I found it to be quite enjoyable. A quick sip didn't highlight any specific notes; it presented a typical rye character. It's superior to WT 101 Rye, yet it doesn't justify spending more than two bottles' worth on it.

Nose is lemon, salt, and dill. It's also floral. Body is strawberry, chocolate, and grain. Finish is more chocolate, with mild black pepper. Some walnuts are also on the finish. This is tasty and unique, but I can't help feeling like it's a bit overpriced.