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.
Click 84/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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