Review #574 - High West Double Rye
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
