Category: Infused/Special Finished Whiskey

A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 9 Scene 4

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Brian’s A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 9 Scene 4 Review:

reviewed 08-December-2021

HIGH WEST A MIDWINTER NIGHTS DRAM ACT 9 SCENE 4 RYE REVIEW:

Each fall, High West Distillery’s A Midwinter Nights Dram is a much sought after bottle. This year’s addition, Act 9 Scene 4 (MWND A9S4) is no exception and my first experience with both the offering and distillery. Admittedly, this is only my ninth rye, (a favorite enjoyed while on vacation went unreviewed). I was really looking forward to this pour. While I understand the passion for limited release whiskies, for me and my nose and palate, I feel a little let down.

HIGH WEST A MIDWINTER NIGHTS DRAM ACT 9 SCENE 4 RYE VITAL STATS:

Released: October 2021
Category: A blend of straight rye whiskeys, finished in port and French oak barrels.
Region: Wanship, UT
Distillery: High West Distillery (HWD)
Mash Bill: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP Ingredients, Inc.
80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD
Ratio of whiskeys: Top secret!
Barrel Char: undisclosed
Barrel entry proof: undisclosed
Barrels: Aged in new, charred, white American oak and finished in French oak port barrels
Filtration: Not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.
Age: undisclosed
ABV: 49.3% (98.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 27041
Price: $99.95 (Fall 2021, Idaho)
Availability: A limited release of High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels
Bottle Identifier: Act 9 Scene 4

“Act” and “Scene” reference the release and bottling run. This is the 9th release (the Act) bottled on the 4th day (the Scene) of this MWND production.

Learn more at https://www.highwest.com/.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

By alternating pours, four once review amounts went into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this rye here!

HIGH WEST A MIDWINTER NIGHTS DRAM ACT 9 SCENE 4 NOSE:

MWND A9S4 has no alcohol nip or burn when first brought to the nose. Most aromas are faint but I do get notes of sherry wine, which I am sure is due to the port barrel finishing. I also sense dusty grain, some tobacco laid out in the sun to dry, red grapes and plump gourmet raisins nestled in a mixture of bready cinnamon and rye. The sweets are faint as well, just a touch of light vanilla, some nearly burnt brown sugar, and roasted hazel and pinenuts. Even the earthy woodiness is muted, with just the faint aroma of seasoned wood toasted to a light char coming through.

HIGH WEST A MIDWINTER NIGHTS DRAM ACT 9 SCENE 4 PALATE:

The first sip of MWND A9S4 is warm, is easy to hold and gives the tongue a nice tickle. The aroma I sensed of sherry wine passes through to the palate but I also taste a potpourri of dried herbs, dusty grain, and faint tobacco. The fruit shifts from grapes to dried figs with some orange zest, pepper and rye now found in the liquid as well. While the light vanilla remains, the sweetness changes to light molasses and slightly bitter hazelnuts. But the woodiness in the Dram throws me off. The wood flavors present as strong seasoned and toasted pine, not the oak to which I am accustomed. But a new flavor of earthy old leather helps to save this pour.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
MWND A9S4 has a subtle balance in its traditional flavors. The mouthfeel is full and silky and in the Glencairn the legs disappear quickly into the burnt amber pool leaving behind fast falling drops from the crown. But while the pineyness I sense is a bit off-putting, the flavor diminishes as my pour is downed.

HIGH WEST A MIDWINTER NIGHTS DRAM ACT 9 SCENE 4 FINISH:

A MWND A9S4 has clean and warm medium finish. I sense a hint of mint, orange zest, some cinnamon, pepper and light molasses; in a sense the flavors of mulling spice. The pine-woodiness I sensed on the palate remains as does the earthy leather. And when the final dram is downed the empty Glencairn smells of toasted pine along with a little black pepper.

MY RATING: 84/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
While I typically would not purchase another bottle with a rating as noted above, A Midwinter Nights Dram is an annual release and each one will differ from one another. Therefore I will always be interested in the next release.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

Original review written November 16, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Innovative, original, new, this is a dry, sweet, pour with character unique to others, and I am happy we have a bottle. I’m looking forward to my next pour, and am already lamenting when this bottle is inevitably emptied without a replacement waiting. 93/100

VITALS:
Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Lux Row Distillers
– Classification: Special Finish Bourbon
– Age: nas (includes two 8 year rye bourbons and one 14 year old rye bourbon)
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: One of the 8 year old’s finished in Sauternes casks; undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 49.3% (98.6 proof)
– Price: $99.95 USD in Idaho (2021)

Visit luxco.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Lay on your back in the middle of a grassy field with the sun shining down on you with all of its brightness. Not too hot, and not too cold, this bourbon is just a good friend to relax with and not have to think about anything with. It’s a simple indulgence and quintessentially a great day. The world seems to spin slowly so you can appreciate every moment properly and to the fullest.

Photo by Joseph Young on Unsplash

NOSE:

I can certainly smell the wine influence, providing warmth and an immediate richness. A hint of currants, and even dried cranberries lift the back end of the inhale to add some additional character. There’s light vanilla, pastry, toffee, and some almonds to ease the balance of the fruit. I get a bit of white pepper and rye, but otherwise, the spices are happy to sit behind the fruits and sweetness. They contribute to the blend on this nose quite well, nonetheless. I also still do find the corn of the bourbon mash bill – roasted and with much of the corn sweetness present.

I admit I am struggling to find the actual wine casks or any other strong wood element, but this does not bother me so much. What is there, is incredibly mild, as is the alcohol. It smells warm, great, and inviting.

PALATE:
Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

– Mouth Feel: I was slightly disappointed at this mouth feel. With Pact 7 being finished in wine casks, (white wine casks or not), I expected this to have a bit more body than what I’m finding. Nevertheless, this is smooth, if not slightly dry, like some wines can be.
– Balance: Unexpected. I did not anticipate any kind of fruit acidity, but it is here, backed by dry sweet in a way that just works really well.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this has fat legs that drop quickly, leaving behind an inverted crown with some clinging droplets.

– Taste: I find the acidity of the grapes with a distinct brightness I wasn’t anticipating. I find a very light vanilla paired with the almonds of the nose, which create the slightest touch of bitterness. There’s still some raisins, but they don’t add much to the depth of this spirit, rather just contribute further to the overall acidity. In fact, there really is not a strong dark fruit presence in this glass, aside from a fleeting dark stone fruit – maybe plum or plucot – that only appears occasionally on sips.

The oak is also stronger on the palate, I am finding. Whether it is the oak of the wine casks or the oak of the bourbon, I am not sure. It is a new oak; that much is certain. The spice is still subtle, but it does make its presence a bit more known on the palate than it had on the nose. There’s some light ginger, white pepper, and the lasting rye.

All the while, the alcohol is incredibly mild. There’s a nip that comes in and out on the sips, but for the most part, it’s smooth and gentle all the way through. This could become dangerous quickly if you’re not careful, because it certainly does not taste like it’s 90+ proof. In fact, I’d say this is very reminiscent of what I could find in a Riesling, but with just a bit more proof. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, green grapes explode in juicy bursts with a fair amount of alcohol burn… but not enough of a burn to dissuade me from taking another chew.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I don’t find a particular high amount of warmth, but there is some aftertaste.
– Between Sips: Acidity and sweet grapes linger between sips, and I am not at all upset about it. It all works quite well.

– No More: This stays consistent the further into the glass I get, but with its dangerous level only increasing. This whole bottle would be so easy to finish with a few good (appreciating) friends, and you’d barely realize it was happening.

The empty Glencairn is a fruity oak with even some of the fruit juice still present.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$100 is a big ask. If you’re considering buying Blood Oath – any pact – realize that you are not purchasing tradition, or tried-and-true methods. You’re not buying history or a name that has been in the game since the beginning. Instead, recognize you’re purchasing innovation, creativity, and originality. This brand is fresh and willing to try new things, and for me, that kind of envelope-pushing is worth a look. If you’ve got $100 to burn and acknowledge what you’re buying, give this a try, because it is most certainly a treat.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 REVIEW RATING: 93/100

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Hillrock Solera Bourbon Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Hillrock Solera Bourbon Review

Original review written June 1, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This bourbon surprised me in many ways, and while I don’t think I’d keep it on hand in my bunker, I’d certainly splurge occasionally for this warm, fruity treat! 92/100

VITALS:
Hillrock Solera Bourbon Review

– Made In: Hudson Valley, New York
– Distiller: Hillrock Estate Distillery; blend of sourced bourbon (undisclosed source) and Hillrock Estate distilled bourbon
– Classification: Special Finish/Blended Bourbon Whiskey (finished in sherry casks)
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: unknown char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 46.3% (92.6 proof)
– Bottle reviewed is from Barrel No. 45
– Price: $79.95 USD in Idaho

Find more information at hillrockdistillery.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with my sister as well as my father/fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Carry Hillrock Solera in a flask while trudging through a snowy wood, with pine trees towering over you. While this bourbon may not be the warmest or richest bourbon to enjoy while you’re cold, the flavors are unique enough to distract from the cold. It’s soft, like the snow beneath your feet, and it could certainly bring back a bit of summery fruits to you in the middle of winter.

Photo by Laura Lauch on Unsplash

NOSE:

Soft grains, particularly wheat (maybe even the winter wheat you taste in a Maker’s Mark product) come across the nose first. But there is a lot of flavors to be found here, all dark but I don’t know if I would necessarily say rich. There is a dusting of dark brown sugar, but there is more of a chocolate-covered orange or maybe an acidic berry. But they have definitely been frozen first, as the milk chocolate coating isn’t very strong. I get a wood, but I don’t think that it’s oak. I think it is more pine in origin, and I’d say further that it is a wet pine. There is a smattering of white pepper, dates, and even molasses.

All of these flavors sound like they would lend themselves to a rich aroma, but I think because of the pine, it remains just at dark, as pine is a rather gentle wood. The alcohol isn’t strong per say, but deep inhales can give you a little zing every now and then.

PALATE:
Hillrock Solera Bourbon Review

– Mouth Feel: Very, very soft. A bit of a rasp comes at the back of the palate, but otherwise, it’s gentle and welcoming.
– Balance: The wheat flavor evens out the rest of the palate quite well, making all of the sweetness meld together and pair great with the wood and hint of spice.
– Visual: Auburn in color, there is a very defined inverted crown. The droplets fall quickly, but there are many.

– Taste: That chocolate-covered berry from the nose (decidedly not orange) is what I taste first, and there might be a bit of cherry here too. I think the wheat is still here also, contributing a softness that makes it slightly challenging for many other flavors to emerge. I find graham cracker crust, vanilla, a simple syrup, and on top of that a fruit syrup that you could add to a club soda. Meaning, it’s a touch artificial, but I will say that the sweetness is not obnoxious or overpowering. In fact, I quite like it.

The pine is still here from the nose also, but I do think there is more oak here on the palate too! It adds a richness that perhaps the nose was lacking, and with all of these flavors, it is certainly welcome. The alcohol is mild throughout, save perhaps for a slight raspy tickle just at the back of the palate that lifts the other flavors. Doing a Kentucky chew awakens some white pepper, caramel, and a hint of peach juice. It isn’t dangerous, and at just over 92 proof, I wouldn’t expect it to be. With this bourbon, doing a Kentucky chew is fun, and I highly recommend it.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. It’s there in warmth and a bit of flavor, but it truly is quite mild.
– Between Sips: I think a bit of blueberry and milk chocolate linger between the sips, with the wheat surrounding both and making everything very soft.

– No More: The fruit syrup/club soda addition flavor I noted in the palate evolves the further I get into the glass, becoming almost like a port wine – light-hearted, but still deep and flavorful.

The empty Glencairn is rich and oaky, but still with that pine that has remained insistent throughout the entire pour. It’s warm with lingering sweetness, and a great finish to a pretty great bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$80 is a big ask, certainly, but this is not a bourbon you come across very often (at least we don’t here in Idaho). While maybe too much to seek out consistently to keep in the bunker, I think it is well worth the price, and for a splurge moment, I would definitely reach for Hillrock Solera.

HILLROCK SOLERATE BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 92/100

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