High West Distillery is in Park City, Utah. It was founded by David and Jane Perkins and began distilling in 2007. They have a small 230 gallon still and a saloon on the site. They have been bottling some excellent whiskey since then. I say bottling because they started the brand by sourcing whiskey and their whiskey is so popular that they can’t make enough to supply their markets. They are still sourcing whiskey and marrying it with whiskey they distill. This bottle is no exception. I got a bottle the other day and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
High West Cask Strength Bourbon
Proof: 117
Age: No Age Statement (The website states it is six to twenty year old Bourbon)
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, vanilla, marshmallows, dates, sweet baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, apricots, ginger and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, apricots, dates, lemon zest, white pepper and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and chocolate and cinnamon come out in the taste. Tasted with a pecan and apple Jolly Rancher candy and cinnamon come out in the taste.
- Matt: Vanilla, apricot, ginger and oak wood. The dried cranberry added some lemon zest to the taste. The pecan made the vanilla a rich caramel with ginger and lemon zest.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, white pepper and lingering apricot. The dried cranberry made the finish long with oak wood, chocolate and cinnamon. The pecan made the finish long and spicy with oak wood and cinnamon.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and ginger. The dried cranberry made the finish longer. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, ginger and lingering caramel.
I would pair this fine Bourbon with a cigar that has lots of vanilla and chocolate in the smoke. I would reach for a My Father The Judge cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller