Rye Whiskey

High West Bourye 2025

/ / Bourbon, Other Whisk(e)ys, Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

High West Bourye 2025
Blend of Straight Whiskeys

46% ABV
$125
Website
High West Bourye
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!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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George Dickel X Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

George Dickel X Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

50% ABV
$100-$120
Website
George Dickel X Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

What the Producer Says

George Dickel has teamed up with the Leopold Bros to produce an innovative rye whisky offering. The release blends George Dickel’s column still rye produced at Cascade Hollow Distillery with Leopold Bros’ Three Chamber Rye to recreate a historic style. This union between column distilled rye and Three Chamber distilled rye turns back the hands of time, returning to an era that saw heavy-bodied rye whisky served at bars and saloons throughout America.

Tasting Notes: Rosewater, blackberries, caramel, lavender, fig and citrus are present followed by a finish combining earl gray, honey and cocoa.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Pinched fresh mint leaves, bright, lemon zest and tarragon.
Palate:  Viscous and creamy mouthfeel, lemon, honey, light caramel, mint, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of clove.
Finish:  Moderately long with mint, citrus, cinnamon and white chocolate.
Comments:  I get notes of mint frequently with rye, but this takes it to a whole other level on the nose. The mint it intense while not overpowering it. A really well balanced, intriguing, and perhaps most importantly – delightful dram. Adding a bit of water tamps the mint note a bit on the nose, and tilts the citrus vibe from lemon to orange, while also bringing out a bit more orange on the palate. I really enjoyed sipping neat as well as with a few drops of water.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years

55.3% ABV
$130
Website
Kentucky Owl 11 Year Rye batch 1

What the Producer Says

Straight Rye #1
Released: September 2017
11 YEARS OLD
110.6 PROOF / 55.3% ABV
The nose on this rye has elements of sweet pine, honey, nougat, vanilla, cloves and lavender. Oaky undertones, subtle cedar saw dust or fresh split cedar.

What Gary Says

Nose: Herbal spice, anise, cloves, mint, citrus with grilled peaches and a bit of root beer.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, rye spice with cinnamon, orange zest, lime sour candies, cloves, bit of mint and root beer.
Finish: Moderately long with citrus tending towards lime, mint and fading spices.
Comments: Full disclosure – I’ve never been a fan of this brand. When they came out in 2014 as bourbon was really getting crazy (or so I thought at the time), the lack of transparency and price seemed to me to be designed to just take advantage of the craze over limited editions. I’m sharing all of that because when I saw Richard provided a sample of their rye (which I’d have never bought), I was prepared to find it ridiculously ordinary and overpriced. Can’t say it isn’t overpriced (over $10 a year), but far from ordinary. This is a really nice, strong spice rye. While they don’t disclose the mash bill, nothing ‘barely legal’ here. A bit of water brings out more root beer and cotton candy on the nose, and amps the root beer notes on the palate.

Rating: Must Try

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High West The Noble Share

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

High West The Noble Share
Blend of Straight Whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble Añejo Barrels

52% ABV
$175
Website
High West x Casa Noble The Noble Share Whiskey
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Continuing the tradition of cross-category innovation, High West Distillery is partnering with Casa Noble Tequila on the release of The Noble Share, a blend of straight rye whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble extra añejo barrels. High West, the Park City-based distillery, is known for its meticulously sourced and thoughtfully blended whiskeys. Casa Noble is a fine tequila built on seven generations of mastery using innovative methods that honor modern Mexican culture. This collaboration is something that will appeal to both whiskey and tequila connoisseurs. The dichotomy of the brands and their respective regions is reflected on the label, mirroring one another yet displaying their vastly different geographies. This is an exciting collaboration for the Spirits community and High West is honored to blend its’ whiskey traditions with Casa Noble’s heritage and offer this new expression to consumers.

This unique and limited edition expression leverages 4- to 10-year-old rye whiskeys and finishes them in Marques de Casa Noble añejo tequila barrels for 6 months. A portion of the blend is finished in Amburana barrels at a char of 3 or medium toast treatments for a small period to elevate the whiskey even further. This whiskey blends the heritage of High West Whiskey with the 7-generation legacy and craftsmanship of Casa Noble to create an exceptional bottle of whiskey that tastes and feels unlike any other. It is the first-ever collaboration between Casa Noble and High West.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Ripe mango, ruby grapefruit, spiced apple cider, piloncillo sugar, anise, allspice berries, mesquite wood, sunset walk through an agave field
Palate: Baked pear, charred peaches, ginger molasses cookie, freshly fried churro, orange blossom, cinnamon bark, black licorice, oak, leather
Finish: Pink peppercorns, dark agave honey on a sopapilla

Mash Bill
High West Distillery Rye (80% rye, 20% malted rye)
MGP Rye 4-10 years old (95% rye, 5% malted barley)

What Gary Says

Nose:  Tropical fruit notes of mango and candied pineapple, agave, floral undertones, tarragon, squeeze of lime, cinnamon, hint of anise and oak spices.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with pears, apples and peaches, cinnamon pastry, agave and blood orange.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with citrus and cinnamon.
Comments:  This is a really interesting whiskey! The tequila finish shines through but isn’t overpowering and really complements the core rye base. The amburana finish is also deftly managed, bringing that cinnamon roll note to the party. This drinks deliciously neat, but adding just a few drops of water opens up that amburana cinnamon roll with vanilla icing on both the nose and palate. High West has always been innovative and not afraid to try new things (I think back to when they released Campfire, a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch, back in 2012; made it my mission to hunt one down and was glad I did!) This may not be quite as groundbreaking as Campfire was at the time, but a very nice sipping whiskey.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Blue Note Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Blue Note Rye Whiskey
Straight Rye Whiskey

46.5% ABV
$35
Website
Blue Note Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

We age our barrels along the winding bluffs of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee. The Delta heat and humidity provided by the long, hot summers cook our barrels low and slow like proper Memphis BBQ. This forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor.

Technical Details
Aged: A minimum of three years
Product Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley
Proof & Filtration: 93 proof, unfiltered

Sensory Notes
Nose: Vanilla and Spice
Body: Crisp
Taste: Crisp Apple, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Oak
Finish: Inherently smooth with lingering hints of vanilla,
apple, and spice

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, dried mint and a hint of lemon zest.
Palate:  Vanilla, cinnamon, slightly sour apple and a touch of mint.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with mint and vanilla.
Comments:  Rye is the one class of whiskey that I do find to be drinkable at three years old. This definitely tastes young, and I was surprised at the mashbill based on how soft this is. The apple note isn’t something I get on a lot of rye, which usually tends to have a more citrus bend. With a 95% rye mashbill, I expect more of that rye-spice bite which I didn’t get. Similar to Blue Note Juke Joint, nothing objectionable but also not special for the price point.

Rating: Average

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