High West Double Rye (Batch 12B29)

Christopher Hayn — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 20:09:37 +0000

The High West Double Rye is a blend of two straight rye whiskies: a “feisty” 2-year-old (95 % rye and 5% barley malt) and a “saddle smooth” 16-year-old (53% rye and 57% corn). The one important thing to note is that the Utah-based High West Distillery is a relatively young distillery (founded in 2007) which doesn’t release its own whiskey yet, at least to my knowledge. Instead, they buy already matured whiskey and blend them. So in the case of the Double Rye, the 2-year-old comes from the contract distillery MGP Ingredients (formerly Lawrenceburg Distillery Indiana), and while the origin of the 16-year-old is not official revealed, it comes from the Barton 1792 Distillery (Bardstown, KY), according to The Complete List of American Whiskey Distilleries & Brands.

Name:	High West Double Rye
Category:	Blended Rye Whiskey
Cask Number:	Batch 12B29
Strength:	46.0% vol.

Nose

Very “green” and “gin like” at first — eucalyptus, menthol and peppermint, herbs, pines and firs. Then vanilla and dried fruits (peaches and apricots) come through, together with freshly polished leather.

Taste

The taste resembles the aroma. A mixture of menthol, peppermint and eucalyptus candies, followed dark honey and white pepper alongside hints of citrus fruits.

Finish

Long and drying. Sweet honey, spicy oak and even more peppermint.

Overall

I think that blending a very young rye with a rather old rye is a great concept, but I’m not totally convinced by the result. Its just too “botanical” for me, but I guess some people might enjoy that.

Score: 80 / 100

Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary

Christopher Hayn — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:00:24 +0000

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day (or Lá Fhéile Pádraig in Irish) and dramlicious.com is celebrating, too! And what would be more suitable for this special day than a little vertical tasting of Irish Whiskey? So I grab four different bottlings from Old Bushmills for today. The fourth (and last) one on my list is the Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary. Earlier Today I already reviewed the 10 Year Old, 16 Year Old and 21 Year Old.

So this special bottling was created to celebrate Bushmills 400th birthday (which is actually in 2184 but anyway). In contrast to the already reviewed Single Malts from Bushmills it is non-chillfiltered and bottled with 46.0%. This blend is partly made up of crystal malt – malted barley which has been dried at a high temperature whilst the grains are still moist, thus partly converting the grain’s into sugars and caramelizing them. Sounds interesting to me and to be honest to you this is the first time that I read about this type of malt.

Facts

Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary

Name:	Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary
Age:	NAS
Cask Type:	Bourbon and Sherry Casks
Distillery:	Old Bushmills
Category:	Blended Irish Whiskey
Strength:	46.0% Vol.
Colored:	Yes
Chill Filtered:	No

Nose

At first a very concentrated floral note. I get heather, freshly-cut grass, roses and lavender out of it. Then some more sweeter elements, maybe some vanilla and pine honey. Also marzipan and red fruits. On top of this some medium dry Sherry notes.

Taste

A sweet entrance to the palate with traces of vanilla. Afterwards a noticeable Sherry influx paired with roasted almonds. A slightly oaky touch in the background.

Finish

long with slightly dry Sherry. Lingering dark chocolate and rum-soaked raisins

Conclusion

Pretty much your picture-book type of blend. A bit of almost everything put together in a very enjoyable way.

Score: 81 / 100

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High West Double Rye (Batch 12B29)

Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary