High West Yippee Ki-Yay (2019 Release)

I suggest pouring this dram and allowing it to sit for several minutes. This helps to mellow the sweetness on the nose resulting from the finishing process. The wine and vermouth notes were initially quite dominant. I did appreciate this addition to the High West lineup. The whisky was quite enjoyable as it evolved from the moment it was poured until the last sip. It began very fruity, sweet, and almost excessively so. By the end, after some air, the typical rye characteristics became more apparent. I will keep a bottle in my regular selection. Nose - dark fruit, butter, vermouth Palate - sweet, apple, nutty, oak Finish - short, crisp, with a lingering resemblance to the sparkling grape juice served to children on New Year's Eve.

Fruity and indulgent. I detect a strong raisin note, which I typically associate with fruit-forward, finished whiskeys. This is a superb pour, but if you're like me and wondering if it's worth opening your bottle of this discontinued product, I'd suggest saving it and opting for one of High West's finished selections. A Manhattan pick I currently have presents very similar notes, and I'm reassured knowing I can find it again.

I ended up wanting to like this more than I actually did. It has a distinctive aroma, mainly from the vermouth, which I find slightly berry-like but also reminiscent of medicinal cough syrup. The flavor is pleasant initially with a decent mouthfeel, but the finish is somewhat tannic and left much to be desired. I'm a big admirer of HW Double Rye, and the price of Yippee left me even more disappointed.

I struggled to discern much flavor initially. From the scent to the conclusion, it was quite subtle, but as I continued to taste, I detected hints of cinnamon and black pepper, perhaps? A touch of fruitiness, reminiscent of spiced apple. I'm curious to see how this evolves with future tastings, but I'm intrigued for now.

I definitely get the red fruit and sweetness from the French Oak barrels, but the flavors lacked the depth I anticipated. It seems a bit hollow compared to MWND, which I expected to be similar. There's also less spice than I foresaw, especially considering the mashbill. It's still a tasty dram, but not for around $80.

The aroma is very sweet, matched by a sweet palate. The vermouth and Syrah are prominent, along with brown sugar and a touch of pepper. The finish is long and moderately spicy, though I would have preferred it to be a bit spicier. It's quite comparable to another spirit but lacks the same complexity or depth of flavor.