High West Bourye (2019 Release)

This all-MGP blend from High West contains a "top secret" blend of the 95% rye, as well as MGP's high (36%) and low(21%) rye bourbons, all aged at least 10 years (though I wonder why that age statement is only in marketing materials, and not on the label). Despite the modest proof, the appearance is a fairly dark burnished copper in the glass. Not much in the way of legs after swirling. Nose - Sweet oak, vanilla, caramel, nutmeg, black pepper, and that earthy/leathery MGP funk. There are also some green rye notes, but not really standing out as particularly minty/grassy or vegetal. Overall I'd say the nose is a bit weighted towards bourbon, but the rye is still there. If nosing blind I'd probably guess this was a high-rye bourbon. Palate - Mouthfeel is fairly oily for the proof and coats the palate nicely. Bourbon notes lead up front, with caramel, vanilla, oak, and baking spice. This is immediately followed by more rye-like notes and a peppery, oaky finish that has some bite without being harsh. It really does taste more like taking a sip of bourbon and rye at the same time rather than just a high-rye bourbon. This drinks a bit above its proof both in flavor and intensity thanks to the rye spice on the finish. High West doesn't disclose the percentages of the blend, but I'm guessing the high-rye bourbon makes up a pretty good percentage of it. This is similar to other MGP high-rye bourbons I've had, only with a bit more rye kick on the back end. It's aged nicely, with plenty of oak but not at all tannic or bitter. This is the third consecutive release of Bourye that I've had, and they've been consistently good. My buddy has a bottle of the 2018 release and tasting side-by-side we were hard-pressed to detect any significant differences.