High West Rocky Mountain Rye 16 YO Very Rare

ReviewsAmerican WhiskeyRyeHigh WestSingle Barrel Picks

Nov 28

Written By David Levine

High West Rocky Mountain Rye 16 YO Very Rare

High West Distillery, CO

16 YO Rye

46% ABV/92 Proof

Eye: Manuka honey, thin rims and droplet legs.

Nose: Woody with caramel and vanilla building. A bit muted. Spiced apple cider and mulled wine.

Palate: Tongue tingle, lots of oak. Strawberries and cherries dusted in cinnamon powder. Tastes syrupy without feeling like it. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, lightly coating yet very lingering, leather and oak bringing up the rear.

Finish: Leathery with a touch of heat at the back of the palate. Creamy oak, then the barest hint of dryness.

Overall: Lovely, an easy drinker if not outstanding. The oak keeps building while the fruits dissipate, leading this to drink more like an older bourbon with solid rye strength.

Rating: 6.7

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)