Review: High West Bottled in Bond Rye and Bourye (2024)
Two big new releases from Utah’s High West, starting with its first bonded whiskey ever, a recognition of its (slow but) steady transition to in-house distillate. 2024’s annual drop of Bourye is also in the review lineup, and it too has a bit of High West’s own whiskey in store for us this year… but plenty of juice from other parts of the country, too.
Let’s check them both out.
High West Bottled in Bond Rye – 80% rye and 20% malted rye, 4 years old (produced actually in 2018). Exuberant and racy on the nose, this is a bold rye that pulls no punches. Both baking and savory spices make an immediate appearance here, with cloves and nutmeg sparring against graphite, dried flowers, and toasted bread. That may sound like a noseful, but it’s surprisingly cohesive and intriguing, with a layer of mint on top. The palate takes that mint and runs with it: mint chocolate, then peppermint sticks and fresh ginger. Lots of fruit builds as the mint starts to fade: apples and pears, a squeeze of lemon. At last, along come the more savory touches, featuring caraway seed, pepper, and dill, a classic rye bread experience. It’s a beautiful whiskey that tells a great story and tells it well: that High West is emerging as a distillery to watch — not just a blender you can count on. I’m excited to see what it will do with other whiskey styles coming off its stills… and to continue to taste as its stock gets older and older. 100 proof. Reviewed: Batch 23L19 H218. A- / $80
High West Bourye (2024) – This is our fifth round with Bourye, and our first in five years. As always, the story changes a little each year, blending bourbon and rye from various places into a (hopefully) cohesive whole. 2024’s batch includes two straight rye whiskeys (one: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP; two: 80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West) and two straight bourbon whiskeys (one: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP; two: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley from a Kentucky distillery). Age is, as per the norm, at least 10 years in barrel. This expression finds High West leaning into the rye — perhaps a nod to its bonded offering above — a bright orange peel nose undercut with green rosemary and thyme, followed up with a whiff of dark chocolate. Grassy, nutty, and warming on the palate, it’s a dry experience that favors notes of toasted cedar, almond skins, menthol, and red pepper over understated fruit — applesauce, banana, and some coconut. Touches of maple and cinnamon raisin bread add the brightest touch of sweetness as the finish arrives — though a heavy layer of more savory spices is hard to shake. If you like your Bourye heavy on the rye, don’t miss this release. 92 proof. Reviewed: Batch 24B20. B+ / $125 [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
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