I confess that I will always have a soft spot for High West. My whiskey journey started with its American Prairie Bourbon in a jazz club in Kansas City. My very first rye was High West double rye. Both offerings are good, light representatives of their respective whiskey genres. While I have since moved on to other whiskies as favorites, I like to keep an eye on High West’s new releases and try them when I can. When I saw a new cask strength bourbon from High West, I had to grab it. Below are my thoughts.
I let the whiskey sit for 5 minutes after pouring. I drank neat from a Glencairn.
Bottled at 57.5% ABV (115 proof)
Nose: Green apple, baking spices, light nuttiness (pecan?), Sharpie, caramel.
Palate: Caramel apple sucker, light oak, baking spices.
Finish: Baking spices, light oakiness, slight ethanol burn, light continuation of the caramel green apple theme.
Price: $69.99 (Available in limited quantities, prices may vary).
Rating: 3 out 5 stars.
There’s a distinct green apple note to this. It first starts as a general fruitiness, then sharpens into a crisp green apple. The apparent caramel notes make me think of a caramel apple. That’s the predominant note, but around that I get a light nuttiness that I later identify as pecan. The ethanol on this is also readily apparent. Overall a pleasant nose, and certainly unique. Not as strong as I’d expect from a cask strength whiskey.
The caramel green apple note carries over to the palate. I almost wonder if this is my mind playing a trick on me since I’m reviewing this in early November, but I can only write what I’m tasting. Specifically, it makes me think of one of those caramel green apple suckers you see this time of year – for some, that might be a turnoff, but I love those candies. Framing that center note are the more traditional flavors of oak and baking spice. This bourbon has a rather viscous mouthfeel, which is enjoyable.
The finish follows the palate closely. Lighter versions of the caramel apple, oak, and baking spice linger before fading quickly. Overall forgettable finish.
An enjoyable and unique cask strength offering from High West that doesn’t blow me away. Some good notes here, and the caramel apple vibe is a fun one, but this whiskey is overall just ok, especially for the price ($70). Worth a buy if you like High West and fruity notes in your bourbon, but there are better buys in this range.
Featured photo courtesy of Constellation Brands assets.
