Richard-ModernDrinking
High West High Country American Single Malt
American Single Malt — Utah, USA
Reviewed
January 30, 2021 (edited January 31, 2021)
High West has done such an outstanding job sourcing and blending whiskies that its transition to incorporating its own distillate risks disappointing fans of its sourced rye products. Its single malt, however, arrives without any such baggage, providing a blank canvas for High West to demonstrate its distilling chops. This first release of its own juice is a blend of two- to eight-year-old spirit made using the complex combination of barley and barrels detailed in the Distiller description.
I wanted very much to like this but it’s rather disappointing given the caliber of the brand and how long it has been working on it. This tastes like something from the early days of American single malt, out of step with the leaps in quality of the past 12 months. The nose has the wet cardboard aroma characteristic of some younger malts. Things improve on the palate, which has a hint of chocolate and a sprinkle of peat, and the finish has a decent length, but the best I can say about this overall is that it’s not unpleasant. It pains me to write this review as I’m a fan of the brand and was really looking forward to this release, but I think they need to go back to the drawing board on this one if they’re to compete in a market awash with good whisky.
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@PBMichiganWolverine nice. I have act 8. One day when I open I can send you a pour, if you desire and I remember lol.
@Scott_E I still have their Act 2. It’s from years ago, when I first tried their Act 2 Midwinter. Immediately ran out and purchased another bottle.
@Scott_E I had given up on them until Act 7 came out. In the same token, I’m going to hold off getting any of their stuff for a few more years. Their own distillate will be matured by then
@PBMichiganWolverine totally in agreement on 2 & 3. Fantastic. Around Act 4, Constellation Brands purchased the independent. Don’t know if this was good or bad for HW. I still root for them.
I think you're on the money there @PBMichiganWolverine . I was a little hopeful for this one because American Single Malts aren't usually aged all that long, but it sounds like optimism was not warranted.
@PBMichiganWolverine definitely dwindling older stock hasn't helped. Integration with their distillate hasn't really worked that well. They are now doing all their limited edition releases as distillery only. I will say some of their picks are still solid. Had an American Prairie finished in a Fume Blanc cask that was delightful.
@dubz480 i thought the issue was that High West was able to get older 16 yr MGP rye more readily years ago, but then started making their own as prices went up with availabilty going down. So, will be a few years till they have their own stocks that can stand on their own
@ctbeck11 I’ve not tried their 2020 act 8 , but did buy a bottle in 2019 of the act 7. At act 7, they were finally starting to get back...so i imagine one more year of aging in act 8 would be even better
High West are slowly killing what was one of the great American Whiskey brands! I got to try this a year or so ago and agree it's really underwhelming, especially for the $80 price point!
@PBMichiganWolverine I picked up an Act 8 a few months back. Really like it. Granted, it’s the first one I’ve tried so I can’t compare it to the older ones.
@WhiskeyLonghorn they did make a pretty good recovery in the Midwinter. I remember loving their early Act 2 and 3, then went downhill starting Act5. Their Act 7 was getting back, but quite not the same as Act 2/3.
The response to this one has been lackluster, but knowing High West I’m sure they’re responding to feedback and constantly tinkering with things. Witness the rise, fall, and subsequent rise again of Midwinter Nights Dram.