High West Bourye 2025
Blend of Straight Whiskeys
46% ABV
$125
Website
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
Legend has it, the only way to catch a glimpse of the cunning and elusive jackalope is to enjoy a glass of a truly incredible whiskey. That’s why we made Bourye®, a cross between bourbon whiskey and rye whiskey (Bourbon + Rye = Bourye) that—like the jackalope itself—is unique, mysterious, and gone in a flash. All whiskeys in this carefully crafted, limited-release blend are a minimum of ten years old. Overflowing with rich flavors of orange crème anglaise drizzled over dark chocolate ginger cake, with notes of espresso on the finish, Bourye® is sure to attract even the most discerning of jackalopes.
All whiskeys in this carefully crafted blend are a minimum of 10 years old and sourced from multiple distilleries. See highwest.com for technical details and sourcing, that’s not a secret. However, the proportions are! Bourye® is best enjoyed around a campfire while looking at the Milky Way.
Mash bill Details
Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP; 80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD
Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP; 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley from MGP; 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley from KY
Filtration: No Chill filtration, no flavor added
Sensory Notes
Nose: Honeycrisp apples, caramelized peaches, homemade waffles with honey butter, bergamot, toasted almonds, sandalwood, wooden chest filled with dark chocolate truffles
Taste: Maple glazed doughnut, salted crème brûlée, candied orange peel, chicory, English breakfast tea, ginger chews, seasoned oak
Finish: Fresh yellow nectarines with a softly building rye spice
Bourye® is best enjoyed around a campfire while looking at the Milky Way. Sip straight or with a little water. Not recommended with ice.
What Gary Says
Nose: Baked apple crisp, vanilla, oak, cedar, hint of maple syrup, chocolate, almonds and blood orange zest.
Palate: Salted caramel, chocolate orange, toffee, ginger snap cookies, cinnamon with a bit of oak.
Finish: Moderate in length with peaches, caramel and rye spice.
Comments: I’ve been a long-time fan of High West Bourye since I first reviewed it almost 9 years ago to the day. Sadly I don’t have any from that far back, when I did happen to have bottles from 2024 and 2017 that I pulled out for comparison purposes. Insanely similar to last year’s batch, and pretty darn similar to 2017. All that said – this is a really nice whiskey, giving you the best of the sweetness of bourbon with some spice from the rye. You may wonder – is this different from simply a ‘high-rye bourbon’? Short answer – yes. It has some pretty high-rye bourbon in the mashbill (or blend-bill?) but it definitely has different characteristics. And whiskey enthusiasts are well aware that even IDENTICAL mashbills can produce very different whiskies based on where they age and for how long. This is very well balanced pour, and while I’ve never enjoyed it around a campfire – it was delightful in the comfort of my own home!