High West American Prairie Bourbon Barrel Select

(2021 Release) A bold, Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey by David & Jane Perkins founders of High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. It is aged in new, white American oak; then finished in a peated whiskey cask & bottled at 100 proof. It is dedicated to the American Prairie Reserve's mission to preserve the nature and wildlife in the American West. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, fruit, wood, earth, smoke & spices; while a rich & complex life adds notes of corn bread, honey, vanilla, caramel apple, nougat, peat, cherry & brown sugar; that led to a balanced death of medium length with notes of candy corn, toasted oak, sea spray, camphor & peat smoke. December 2021 / August 2022

Next up on my High West series is their American Prairie that was finished in brandy casks and bottled at 51% ABV. The nose starts with a mix of light sour lemon, grape must and pipe tobacco then dark chocolate covered almonds followed by pears, prunes and peach ring candy that transitions to mild earthy notes of leather and dusty oak with light ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy fruits that then veers towards a mild bitter spice that slowly fades to grape juice and pipe tobacco then dark chocolate covered toasted marshmallow followed by baked pears, apples and orange zest that transitions to black pepper, leather and mild bitter black tea with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dark chocolate, espresso, freeze dried apples, raisins, ginger and a mild bitter oak spice. This is a very enjoyable dram that manages to enhance those typical bourbon flavors with the brandy finish adding some extra complexity, but the balance is slightly off with some mild bitterness on the palate and finish. These appear to cost under $40 which is a fantastic price for a tasty bourbon with some brandy notes that would be a great one to have around for a daily drinker. I'm not sure how @soonershrink manages to find all these great value picks, but a huge thank you for sharing this one with me.

Blackwell’s Winter Pick, Barrell #18365, finished 8 months in Amontillado cask, 49.1 ABV The amontillado adds a nice berry/nut component to the usual American Prairie notes, it’s a little rough around the edges and hot on the finish, yet somehow compelling to drink.