High West Rendezvous Rye

High West's second offering. The initial one was sampled over six years prior, specifically the Campfire. I found that quite enjoyable and am surprised it took this long to try another. This particular bottle features High West's mid-tier rye, presented in its original bottle style from Batch No. 19J25. Nose: Black pepper. Cinnamon Applejacks. A touch of black cherry. Vanilla custard. Bubblegum. Brown sugar. Palate: More of the Cinnamon Applejacks and black cherry. It's remarkably sweet and light. Vanilla. Orange citrus. Summer wheat ale and sweetened iced tea. Black licorice. Clove and nutmeg. Sawdust. Pistachio. Black pepper. Dill. Oak. Finish: Lemon and orange citrus. Black pepper. Dill. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Cinnamon Applejacks return. A moderate duration. This dram possesses a surprisingly subdued aroma. Not unpleasant at all, just lacking impact. That transforms significantly on the palate, which is outstanding and offers considerable depth. The finish is far less memorable, merely serving as a brief continuation of the palate, not truly adding any new dimensions to the overall character. Therefore, I'd label this a great-tasting spirit, decent overall. At $66, the price is high for an NAS. I recall this having an age statement before I ever had the chance to taste it. Consequently, it's difficult to determine its age, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt due to its exceptional profile, awarding it a 4/5.

AROMA Dill, woody, caramel, coppery, peppery, herbal, lemony, with a hint of fruitiness, citrus peel notes, and taffy sweetness. This profile is noticeably different from the previous Rendezvous Rye, which is understandable given changes in sourcing and blending, and this current version is quite good. PALATE Dill, woody, caramel, coppery, peppery, herbal, lemony, a touch of fruit and leather, with a slight hint of overripe vegetable that opens up to subtle notes of mineral-rich clay and vanilla taffy. The High West Rendezvous Rye 21C23's palate has an overall character reminiscent of a Citra hop IPA whiskey... intriguing. FINISH Long, with fading notes of copper, dill, herbal qualities, spice, and wood.

This is exceptional. The most balanced and enjoyable rye I've encountered. It was once a regular purchase until High West inexplicably made it an allocated seasonal item and doubled the price. This appears to be a blatant attempt to capitalize on demand, and once again I find myself let down by High West, which has transitioned from a bold, independent trailblazer to just another generic, lazy, self-righteous opportunist. When this bottle is finished, I doubt I'll buy another, so I offer you a toast: here's to remembering the glory of our past, the painful demise of our present, and the ashes of our future.

Opening the bottle 🍾 Allow to rest for approximately 5 minutes. Appearance: Pale yellow-ochre and copper, with rusty red and brown hues; viscous legs cling to the glass; Scent: Abundant fresh mint leaves, a hint of dill, spearmint, minimal ethanol presence, I don't detect much spice; Taste: More mint, a rich creamy texture, reminiscent of Irish cream, butterscotch notes appear at the finish, numerous layers of flavor; Aftertaste: Faint alcohol warmth lingers, incredibly delicious, the creaminess persists pleasantly, a wonderful pour!

Appearance = Quite light in appearance, suggesting it could benefit from longer aging. Overall, the color is not bad. Scent = A decent overall aroma, doesn't overwhelm when inhaled. Taste = The highlight of this rye. Exceptionally smooth and sweeter than typical. Aftertaste = Also a positive aspect here. Very little burn in the throat, with the warmth felt primarily in the stomach, indicating a quality blend.

My first time enjoying a glass neat. Nose - mint, subtle spice, and the typical rye aroma. Taste - Numerous elements are present and perfectly balanced. Rye, clove, oak, mint, chocolate, and a long, balanced spicy finish. An outstanding taste. Overall - The aroma lacks depth, but the palate is significantly superior to recent rye whiskeys I've experienced. It carries a substantial price tag of $70+, but it's justified.