The Midwinter Night’s Dram is a seasonal release from High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. It has always been a very good rye whiskey. This is Act 13 Scene 11 and is finished in Port wine barrels. It is very much port wine forward in the taste. I like a fruity whiskey and this is no exception. They sent me a bottle for review the other day and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
Midwinter Night’s Dram Rye Whiskey
Proof: 98.6
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, raisins, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Rye grass, dates, vanilla, nutmeg and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, raisins, dates, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the raisin, dates and grape flavors are enhanced and it adds a hint of black pepper. Tasted with a pecan and the vanilla becomes a rich caramel and the port wine flavors are enhanced.
- Matt: Vanilla ice cream, mint, dates and oak wood. The dried cranberry added the flavors of grapes and cinnamon. The pecan made the vanilla a rich caramel and added cinnamon spice.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, raisins and lingering vanilla. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and added pepper spice to the finish. The pecan made the finish long and fruity with oak wood, pepper spice and port wine.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and dates. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and added cinnamon spice to the finish. The pecan made the finish long and spicy with oak wood and pepper spice.
I would pair this fine rye whiskey with a A. Fuente Gran Reserva “Between the Lines” cigar. The vanilla and cedar spice of the smoke would pair well with the vanilla and spice of the cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller