For fans of rye whiskey, the High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram is something akin to Pappy Van Winkle–but born of spice and mountain grit. The annual release is unveiled each fall and is gone before it even hits shelves. This year, the people behind the Utah-based distillery have somehow managed to one up themselves as they celebrate the praised whiskey’s 10th edition, by adding an even more elusive bottling to the annual collection, The Encore. That’s right, High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 10 and The Encore will both be available, though we doubt for long.
A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 10 showcases High West’s flagship Rendezvous Rye finished in a combination of ruby and tawny port barrels sourced from Portugal. In celebration of a decade of releases that have cemented the dram as a whiskey icon, the distillery is also unveiling a tenth anniversary limited release blend, A Midwinter Night’s Dram: The Encore.
The Encore also uses Rendezvous Rye as its base, however ages the straight blend of rye whiskey in white port barrels. The result is a subtle, delicate balance of white stone fruits and herbs that works in harmony with the whiskeys.
“It goes without saying that A Midwinter Night’s Dram is our most anticipated launch each year,” said Brendan Coyle, Master Distiller at High West. “We really started to notice it taking off in the past five or six years, and the line that now forms at the Distillery bright and early on release day speaks for itself. Blending, discovering, and innovating is in High West’s DNA, as exhibited this year by both Act 10 and the debut of The Encore, and we’re constantly looking for unique expressions to bring consumers.”
Bottled at 98.6 Proof, A Midwinter Night’s Dram: Act 10 offers notes of blood orange peel, Saigon cinnamon, blackcurrant jam, candied ginger, smoked apple wood, and raspberry shortcake with whipped cream.
Bottled at 101.6 Proof, A Midwinter Night’s Dram: The Encore delivers notes of soft licorice, Earl Grey tea, peach marmalade, grapefruit zest, vanilla meringue pie, marzipan, and chocolate mint leaves
Both A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 10 and The Encore will be available beginning October 2. Act 10 will be available in very limited quantities nationwide for $150. The Encore is only available at the High West General Store in Park City, Utah, or the High West Distillery in Wanship, Utah for $150, where consumers can also purchase Act 10.
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.