Hannah’s High West Bourbon Review
Original review written May 31, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
An introductory bourbon, if there ever was one. Balanced sweet, unaggressive alcohol, affordable price. Nothing to complain about, and a good intro to the line. 88/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Indiana, Kentucky, Utah (known widely to be Utah, USA)
– Distiller: undisclosed (MGPI, High West and speculated to be additionally sourced from Barton, Four Roses, and/or Heaven Hill)
– Classification: Blend of Straight Bourbons
– Age: 2 yrs. (plus a blend of older bourbons)
– Mash Bill: undisclosed (Blend of 3 or more straight bourbons)
– Casks: undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 46% (92 proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho 2022
Visit highwest.com/products/bourbon for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with sister, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review of this bourbon here!
SETTING:
Have this bourbon with some flan dessert to bring out the sweetness of the bourbon and the depth of what flan can be. Everything will melt together well, I suspect, while making you feel torn between taking a bite… or taking a sip. Which one, which one?
Photo by Max Griss on Unsplash
NOSE:
This smells sweet like light brown sugar and cinnamon dusted, ginger shortbread cookies. There’s very subtle fruit like figs here, wrapped in pastry like that all-too-familiar fig newton snack (which I personally enjoy). There’s a dark berry fruit leather as well, but I couldn’t begin to pin down an exact fruit. Dusty, dried corn grain trails the aromas at the very end, along with a syrupy essence that is both rich and on the spicier side rather than an upfront sweet. The alcohol is nonexistent, but there is an ember of heat and wood smoke to offer depth.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Oily and viscous. It matches the sweetness of the bourbon’s flavors well.
– Balance: There’s a base of wood that sweet successfully plays off of, without overwhelming the palate.
– Visual: Honey in color, this leaves many droplets falling from a defined crown, and wow, do they cling to the side of the glass.
– Taste: The cinnamon, ginger cookies actually are present from the nose here on the first draw of the palate! It even comes with a bit of bite/crispiness to lighten the sip. There’s a bitterness that catches the flavors like a net just after the cookie, like not-yet ripe grapes and cherries. The bitterness eases as a plum takes over and offers acidity and extra sweetness. More draws find an almost flan-like flavor with vanilla custard and light caramel drizzled and set on top. It’s a unique flavor to bourbon that I have not ever found before, but I find that I quite like it.
The alcohol remains mild here as well, just as it was on the nose. The wood is textured but not necessarily deep; it offers a foundation, nonetheless. A Kentucky chew brings out more cake-like sweetness without greatly offending the alcohol. With that cake surprisingly comes more grain, rounding out the bourbon well.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. There is warmth here, but it goes a bit unnoticed unless you’re truly looking for it. Not much to say for aftertaste.
– Between Sips: Oak and extremely light vanilla linger between sips, but they fade quickly and are truly negligible.
– No More: It isn’t the most complex of bourbons, but it is really growing on me, and I’m happy with it. It’s easy to sip, easy to hold, and it has balanced sweetness, which isn’t always easy to achieve.
The empty Glencairn is a deep sawdust, perhaps a little waterlogged, but distinct enough to smell mostly fresh and welcoming.
WORTH THE PRICE?
In a bourbon world of growing prices by the month, $40 seems almost entry level bourbon, these days. That being said, I do most certainly contend that it is worth the $40, and it’s one I look forward to having again. A great value, and I think it’s a good introduction to bourbon for someone who may be anxious about the proof. Even as someone who has had many different bourbons, it provides an originality that still proves interesting. Note: Don’t let the lack of American Prairie Bourbon label fool you – this is that same stuff :).
HIGH WEST BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 88/100
Click to see Hannah’s rating process
Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
Want to hear my thoughts on other High West products?
–> Midwinter Night’s Dram Rye
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