Other Whisk(e)ys

Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey

54% ABV
$45
Website

What the Distiller Says

108 Proof / 54% abv
Like any member of our family, Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey stems from previously established roots. Nearly everything we’ve perfected over seven generations of distilling presents itself in this bottle. Much like the park for which it’s named, this whiskey is a uniquely American icon. One worthy of revisiting.

Nose: Cereal malt and honey with a hint of peach blossom.
Palate: Sweet medium body with notes of honey, pear, stone fruit and dates.
Finish: Notes of oak with hints of cinnamon and English walnuts.

What Gary Says

Nose: Honey, hay, subtle fruit and floral notes with pine, a bit of baked apples, pears and a hint of apricots.
Palate: Honey, toffee, pears, cherries, clove and a bit of nutmeg.
Finish: Moderately long with honey, bit of pepper spice and clove.
Comments:  American Single Malt is tough to pin down as it isn’t a well established category (yet) so as a consumer, I don’t have a specific expectation!
What I mean by that is – I like both bourbon and Islay scotch, but if a bottle of bourbon had notes of peat smoke and iodine – that would be “off”. In my limited experience, ASM is more subtle and softer than a bourbon – and this does fit into that expectation. Honestly, I enjoyed this one a bit more every time I came back to it (not in the same evening). My first impression was meh, but giving it more time in the glass helped and perhaps just being more open minded.

Rating: Stands Out

Little Book Chapter 9: None for Granted
Blended Straight Whiskey

60.9% ABV
$160
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and SAVONA COMMUNICATIONS for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Little Book® Chapter 9, “None for Granted” pays homage to the founding flavors that made modern American Whiskey.

FREDDIE’S NOTE
“None for Granted” is my way of paying homage to the founding flavors that made modern American Whiskey.
Chapter 9 takes us back several decades, to an era when whiskey as we know it was just finding its feet. As possibilities were explored and foundations were laid, a certain profile began to emerge: one built on brown sweets, the comforting warmth of vanilla, creamy caramel and big oak.
“None for Granted” celebrates these founding flavors: the ones that are still the backbone of American Whiskey today.
After experimenting with several blends, we landed the profile. Five unique whiskeys blended into a viscous, golden liquid. Each pass of the nose and every sip brings out another layer: Ripe apple. Butterscotch. Baking spice. And plenty others you’ll discover for yourself.
I and countless others wouldn’t be making the whiskey we’re making without the flavors captured in Chapter 9 – the profile pioneered at the start of modern American Whiskey. It’s worth revisiting time and again, never to be taken for granted.

Blend Components:
11yrs Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
8yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
8 yrs Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
7yrs Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
7yrs Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Tasting Notes
Color: Deep copper with golden undertones
Aroma: Ripe apple, butterscotch and baking spices
Taste: Brown sweets, warm vanilla, creamy caramel and big oak

What Gary Says

Nose:  Subtle, honey, toffee, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, fall leaves, butterscotch and a hint of cedar.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, vanilla, baked apples, mandarin oranges, cinnamon and chili oil.
Finish:  Moderate in length, slightly drying with citrus and pepper.
Comments:  This is a well-rounded chapter in the Little Book series—unassuming yet satisfying, with a graceful blend of autumnal sweetness and restrained spice. It delivers on those backbone flavors, offering warmth without scorching and depth without heaviness. The chili oil nuance is a clever twist, subtly shifting the profile from cozy dessert dram to something with savory character. A quiet complexity that makes it stand out. While it might not scream for attention, it earns it with composure and charm, and every additional sip.

Rating: Stands Out

High West The Prisoner’s Share
Blend of Straight Whiskeys finished in The Prisoner Red Blend wine barrels

51% ABV
$175
Website

We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Since originally launching in 2022, The Prisoner’s Share has become a prime example of the magic that happens when a whiskey is finished in a red wine barrel. This year’s iteration of The Prisoner’s Share boasts an exquisite palate of Montmorency cherries, raspberry preserves on brioche toast, cacao nibs, brown butter caramel, roasted chestnuts, bergamot tea, and seasoned French Oak. As a premier sipping whiskey, this year’s version of The Prisoner’s Share is one of High West’s favorite limited edition whiskeys.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Pomegranate kernels, cranberry biscotti, pecan brittle, orange zest, cinnamon bark, light roast espresso, tanned leather from a cedar closet
Taste: Montmorency cherries, raspberry preserves on brioche toast, cacao nibs, brown butter caramel, roasted chestnuts, bergamot tea, and seasoned French Oak
Finish: Black currant jam with a subtle rye spice

Mash Bill
75 % corn, 21% rye, 4& malted barley (MGP)
60% corn, 40% rye (BBC)
78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley (Kentucky)
95% rye, 5% malted barley (MGP)
80% rye, 20% malted rye (High West own make)
Age Length: 4-12 years

What Gary Says

Nose: Cranberries, orange zest, cherries, toffee, oak, raw honey, cinnamon and dry red wine.
Palate: Sour cherries, cranberries, cocoa, honey, walnuts, cinnamon and black pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with cherries, cinnamon and pepper spice.
Comments: A very nice dram that is quite dark in the glass, with a red hue evident from the finishing. The Prisoner Red Blend wine barrel finishing is quite prominent and pronounced, which if you are a fan of the wine is likely a plus. If you’re not into wine, you may find this finishing is a tad heavy and can mask the underlying spirits. I’m not a huge wine fan personally, but I found the distinctive flavors unique and interesting, and really enjoyed this in an Old Fashioned (and I haven’t tried it yet in a traditional rye cocktail like a Manhattan, but imagine it would do well!)

Rating: Stands Out

High West High Country
American Single Malt Whiskey

44.8% ABV
$80
Website

We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

High West’s High Country American Single Malt is a single malt whiskey distilled and blended by High West in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, aged for 4-8 years. Recognized for its robust, flavor-forward profile, this year’s expression features unique notes of sourdough French Toast, crème caramel and fresh-picked kumquats. This monumental release marks a momentous occasion for the distillery on the heels of the TTB’s decision last month to formally recognize American single malt as an official whiskey category in the U.S.

“We can’t wait to share this year’s High Country American Single Malt with whiskey lovers throughout the state,” said Tara Lindley, Director of Blend & Sensory at High West Distillery. “With a slightly older age perception, the blended single malt whiskeys of this rendition were aged in used and new charred white American oak barrels, with a portion finished in French oak Ruby Port, Oloroso Sherry, and PX Sherry barrels for a distinctly robust flavor profile.”

Bottles of the limited run of High Country American Single Malt are available now throughout Utah. The spirit can be purchased at High West General Store in Old Town Park City, High West Distillery on Blue Sky Ranch in Wanship, or UT state liquor stores for $79.99 per bottle.

On the Nose: Wildflower honey, golden raisins, lemon peel, chamomile, sourdough French toast, roasted Brazil nuts, mossy wooden bridge over a babbling brook
Palate: Rich layered toffee notes, ripe cantaloupe, graham cracker, crème caramel, dried hay, puffed cereal, cocoa nibs, leather
Finish: Fresh-picked kumquats, maple pecan pie
How to Drink: Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water while appreciating a magnificent western vista.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Apricot, pears, honey suckle, floral notes, nutty with a bit of oak.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet and fruity with baked pears, apricots and tangerines, vanilla with a bit of pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with pepper spice and a light caramel note.
Comments:  American Single Malt Whiskey is still a pretty new category, which is exciting and challenging at the same time. Exciting as it lends itself well to innovation and different approaches, but challenging as there isn’t a “baseline expectation”. I found this pour to be interesting, and definitely won’t be confused with bourbon or rye. This has more in common with its cousins from across the pond. The lower ABV lends to this being easy to drink and approachable, although it leaves me wondering ‘what might have been’ at a higher proof. Maybe a cask strength limited edition someday?

Rating: Stands Out