High West Double Rye Moscatel Finish 49.3% ABV

A lively, spicy double rye whiskey from High West distillery in Utah that is made with a blend of two high-rye whiskeys, one with a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, the other 80% rye and 20% malted rye, both matured for at least three years, and finished for 1 year in a moscatel cask.

Appearance

Quite a deep gold in colour, it has a nice thick swirl line in my Glencairn, with slow thick legs and thick teardrops. #thewhiskeychaps

Nose

Oooooh, that’s higher ABV on the nose than I expected, greengages, a little bubblegum, definitely dusty, with quite a lot of dunnage, cigar leaves and black coffee. #thewhiskeychaps

Cont – It’s becoming sweeter now, tropical fruits, and a nuttiness is coming through too, hazelnuts I’d say. #thewhiskeychaps

Got quite a range hasn’t it 👍 #thewhiskeychaps

— Dram it Mick! 🥃 (@StillSurreal) November 26, 2022

Palate

Mouthfeel is medium thick, and the flavours come on slowly, instead of slapping your face. It’s slowly becoming spicy. Lots of vanilla, sponge cake, the nuttiness is coming through here too. There is some bitterness, cask char, espresso coffee. #thewhiskeychaps

Walnut cake, black liquorice, flat cola, and becoming spicier, it’s a grower that’s for sure. #thewhiskeychaps

Finish

Medium to long in length, staying spicy, leaning towards marmite on toast for me, definitely reminding me of a soaking rum cask too. Lots of dark fruits, chest warming too, it’s a lovely dram. #thewhiskeychaps

My thoughts

This wasn’t the first time i’d tried a whiskey from High West, i had tried one previously, and i remember enjoying it. So i had high hopes for this dram, how did it stand up to my expectation of it? I can happily report that it stood up rather well. I do enjoy rye whiskies, and this one sits firmly on my “very nice” list.

One thing i will remember about this whiskey is it’s arrival. This one isn’t a face slapper, it slowly builds up, not something iv’e come across before in all honesty, and i really enjoyed that aspect.

Overall i think this is a lovely rye whisky. I’d very happily have a bottle of my own, it’s one i’d really enjoy.

A big thank you goes out to Duncan, Paul and Tony for joining us on the tasting this whiskey was a part of, they, along with us can be followed on twitter using the buttons below.