High West started out by sourcing the whiskies for their spirits, with much of it coming from MGP. They also began distilling their own spirit for use in their products; now that some of that whisky has matured, their products are a mix of sourced distillate and their own distillate, and some are even entirely their own spirit.
This Double Rye whisky, their entry-level product, is a combination of High West rye and MGP rye. The High West rye uses a mashbill of 80% rye and 20% malted rye; the MGP component is their classic 95% rye, 5% malted barley whisky. The brand actually gives us a bit more interesting information, as well: the High West component is the older of the two whiskies used, and it's made using a pot still, while the MGP component is made on a column still.
This is bottled at a solid 46% ABV (92 proof), so it has the potential to deliver more flavor than other entry-level ryes at a lower proof point; the age statement stands at 2 years, though we know there is some older rye in these batches.
High West Double Rye
USA - Rye
Price: USD 32 (2025)
Age Statement: 2 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 4 years; bottles at 50%, 30%, and 20% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Quite a range of notes across our tastings: young rye, with lots of spice and a bit of some new make-like acetone, but also fruits of peach and black cherry, some pepper spice, and butterscotch. Time brings more rye character: dill pickles, peppermint, some sage... hints of cream soda and apples, too.
Palate: A medium-thin mouthfeel; a mixture of light sweet notes from zesty orange peel and butterscotch, but also a dominant rye spice: pepper and dill. There's a strong effervescent note, bringing menthol and light powdered sugar, and with time, a bit of burnt caramel. We don't get much of an oak influence on the palate - relatively youthful and bright.
Finish: That effervescence from the palate continues, bringing menthol and mint, some cinnamon spice, and lemon-lime soda. Apples, spiced cider, and candied orange then mix with vanilla and soft light oak; it's a medium-short finish.
Final Note: This is a very bright, fruit- and spice-forward rye that seemed very distillate-driven to us. Not much of an oak impact, and there is a bit of a raw alcohol note at times, but it had plenty of that rye grain spice; the combination of citrus and apples was a nice touch. While the nose did show a nice range of scents, there isn't much complexity on the palate, and the mouthfeel and length of finish seemed average at best.
Value, though is still a little above average - this is a very reasonably priced bottle, and could be a great pick for those who like that rye-forward profile.
Our Average Rating: 5.4 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.80
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other High West reviews:
Review #493 - High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 11 Scene 7
Review #345 - High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 9 Scene 4
