High West Bourbon (USA)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

High West Bourbon brings together straight bourbons of different maturities and grain recipes. The whiskeys mature for at least two years in charred American white oak casks. Young, moderately aged and older bourbons are blended to bring together fruity sweetness, corn character and oak influences.

The components include bourbon from MGP made with 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. Another grain recipe contains 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley. The rye contributes to the earthy, lightly spicy character, while lemon peel adds a bright accent. The bourbon is neither chill-filtered nor treated with activated charcoal and is bottled at 46%. It is suitable for drinking neat as well as in cocktails.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals subtle caramel alongside sweet vanilla.
• Palate: The bourbon is full-bodied and earthy on the palate. Its sweetness recalls the American confection candy corn, honey nougat and sweet corn baked goods.
• Finish: Vanilla remains present on the finish, accompanied by a hint of caramelised apple and pecan pie.

Distillery/Bottler:

David and Jane Perkins founded High West in 2006 in Park City, Utah. David had previously worked as a biochemist; a visit to a whiskey distillery in Kentucky inspired him to apply his knowledge of fermentation and distillation to a distillery of his own. Distillation began in 2007 with a small copper pot still in a historic building that had once served as a stable and garage.

High West operates as both a distillery and a blending house. Alongside its own distillates, the company uses whiskeys purchased from other distilleries. In the laboratory, a sensory team assesses the individual whiskeys and develops the blends; the core products are also reviewed and adjusted through sensory evaluation each year. Once the whiskeys have been combined, the team checks the finished blend again. For the bourbon, different levels of maturity are a deliberate part of the concept, rather than relying exclusively on a uniform age.

Facts: