High West Double Rye
The Basics:
High West Distillery - blend of High West and MGP straight ryes
103.6 proof
Aged 2-7 years - finished in Syrah barrels for 9 months
Frugal MacDoogal Store Pick
$50 MSRP
Nose:
Apple, caramel, toffee, mint, black pepper, cantaloupe, orange peel, and plum
Palate:
Raw walnuts, tangerine, apple, mint, and cantaloupe
Dark chocolate covered blueberries
Finish:
Wine makes itself known, grape, slight mint, plum, cloves, leather, and lemon peel
Black cherry Warheads tartness on sides of your tongue
Final Thoughts:
Wine finished whiskies can go either way for me. Generally, a wine finished bourbon becomes too sweet as the dark fruit notes of the wine clash with the sweetness of the bourbon. In this case, the dark fruit notes coming from the Syrah barrel complement the mint and spice notes from the rye. This single barrel pick is a winner in my book, and the iridescent bottle makes it stand out in any collection!