Brian’s High West Bourbon Review:
reviewed 31-May-2022
HIGH WEST BOURBON REVIEW:
High West Bourbon (High West) formerly known as High West American Prairie Bourbon is said to have gone through changes since its first release. This review is representative of what is on store shelves as of this posting.
The aromas and flavors of High West are in balance with one another. Each mouthful is fresh and clean, gives my mouth a mild tickle yet yet has a silky feel. The aromas of dusty grain, dark fruits, baking spice and dark fruits pass to the palate and through to the finish. At $40 MSRP, this is a pleasing pour.
HIGH WEST BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Category: Blend of Straight Bourbons
Regions: Indiana, Kentucky, Utah
Distillery: undisclosed (MGPI, High West and speculated to be additionally sourced from Barton, Four Roses, and/or Heaven Hill)
Producer: High West Distillery
Mash Bill: undisclosed (Blend of 3 or more straight bourbons)
Barrel Char: undisclosed
Barrel entry proof: undisclosed
Age: 2 years old (plus a blend of older bourbons)
ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
Batch: 22B25
NABCA CSC #: 18604
Price: $39.95 (Idaho, May 2020)
… [W]e have recently updated our packaging, you may receive an old bottled labeled American Prairie Bourbon. The whiskey inside hasn’t changed, so enjoy!
— High West Distillery
NOTE: David Perkins, High West’s founder, blender and chemist sold the distillery operations to Constellation Brands in 2016. In addition to labeling and line changes, High West distillate is now used in the blend to meet demand. While his name still appears on the bottle label, Perkins joined Minnesota’s O’Shaughnessy Distilling as “Liquid Collaborator and Advisor” in May 2021.
ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:
Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into three Glencairns. My daughters and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.
Check out Hannah’s review for this bourbon!
HIGH WEST BOURBON NOSE:
When brought to my nose, High West seems dry with a faint potpourri of fruit tree blossoms and dusty grain. I also sense fresh orange zest with some dark raisins and figs. There is a baking spice aroma here too which comes in the form of cinnamon, candied ginger and rye biscuits. Other than vanilla bean notes, a bit of burnt caramel, and dark hazelnut toffee this is less sweet than a traditional bourbon. However most prevalent is the scent of air dried hazy oak, musty leather and an earthy depth.
HIGH WEST BOURBON PALATE:
High West tastes herbal with a potpourri of dry corn and dusty grain. I get a sensation of apricot blended with dark dried fruit then mixed with cinnamon, ginger, pepper, and rye. The sweetness is dark as well, with notes of bitter dark chocolate, vanilla extract and like I sensed on the nose, dark, hazelnut toffee. The foundation for these flavors dry and hazy oak, a bit of barrel char and old leather.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
High West’s aromas and flavors are in balance with one another. Each mouthful is warm, silken, creamy and easy to hold. I to get a mild mouth tickle, but this is fresh and clean. As I work the liquid within the glass, swirling, sipping and tipping, long clinging legs stretch to the honey pool then break into many small rain droplets.
HIGH WEST BOURBON FINISH:
High West Bourbon has a medium-long and dry finish with a bit of a bite. Although much fainter, the herbal aromas and flavors of dry corn and dusty grain, apricot, cinnamon, pepper, rye add to the warmth. As the flavors fade, dark honey and vanilla peak in, but only for a moment, and then they drift on as well. And when gone, the empty Glencairn smells of dry old oak and leather.
MY RATING: 87/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
High West will not be a bourbon I need to have in my bunker but it would be a nice diversion to have once in a while.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
Want to hear my thoughts on other High West products?
–> Midwinter Night’s Dram Rye
WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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