Stands Out

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 (2025)

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Port Barrels
Act 13 (2025 release)

49.3% ABV
$150
Website
High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Dram is our beloved flagship whiskey, “Rendezvous” (a blend of straight rye whiskeys ranging in 4 to 10 years of age), finished in Ruby and Tawny Port barrels.

Nose: Crushed blackberries, mandarin zest, almond shortbread, fig jam, dulce de membrillo, allspice, old vine zinfandel, plum syrup spilled on a mahogany table
Palate: Marionberry preserves, chocolate-dipped cherries, marble rye bread, mochaccino, cinnamon bark, oolong tea, winter pine, smoldering Havana cigar
Finish: Velvety and spiced–chai cold foam, clove-studded orange flesh, soft ginger chew

How to drink: We recommend that you enjoy this special spirit neat, due to its many layers of complexity, next to a warm fire as the snow piles up on the window sill.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit, plums, blackberries, figs, heavy port, allspice and orange zest.
Palate: Blood orange, plum, cinnamon, bitter chocolate, nutmeg, cloves and sour oak.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with citrus spice and cloves fading.
Comments:  I reviewed this back in September of 2020, and while I had two samples from different batches (Act 4 and Act 7), they were so similar I decided not to distinguish.  I no longer have anything left from those samples (or samples of other acts I’ve received), so I can’t provide a true ‘side-by-side’ comparison; but either my tastes have changed (entirely possible) or the whiskey has (also entirely possible).  This was one of my favorites from High West when it was first released – “Christmas in a Bottle” is who I would describe it. This year’s release seems to be more heavy handed on the Port finish, losing some of the spice notes from the rye.  I don’t know if the type of port casks have changed, or the duration of finishing – but while this was good it wasn’t as squarely in my wheelhouse as previous releases.  Coupled with the price increasing makes this a bit disappointing.  I certainly hope that this is just an off year (or an off batch).

Rating: Stands Out

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Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel

/ / Gary's Blog, Review / ,

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel

$85
Website
Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon Provisions Parcel
We would like to thank Bib & Tucker and CREATE ENTERTAINMENT for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

At the crossroads of heritage and innovation comes a new signature expression from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon: Gold Roast, a 6-Year Tennessee Whiskey artfully finished with whole roasted Arabica coffee beans using a refined cold extraction method. Gold Roast Bourbon is a celebration of two time-honored American traditions. Inspired by the turn of the century, when bourbon and coffee were rituals of connection, comfort, and craft, this release reimagines those traditions for the modern drinker.

Kit includes:

  • Bottle of Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon
  • Custom Gold Roast Blend Coffee from Muletown Coffee Roasters
  • Bib & Tucker Leather Coasters
  • Premium Glassware

What Gary Says

I reviewed Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon just a few months back, and really enjoyed it.  Many producers start putting together gift box sets just in time for the holidays – and I receive offers to try them and share reviews. The vast majority of the time I pass – not because I think they’re not good products, but often the boxes are simply the whiskey – and some branded glassware; maybe a gimmick or two. They sell the idea of generosity without delivering much real value.

Not this one.

The Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel surprised me—in the best way.

What’s Inside the Box
  • A bottle of Gold Roast Bourbon – six-year Tennessee small-batch, finished with cold-extracted Arabica coffee beans
  • A bag of the same roasted coffee used to finish the bourbon (THIS was my main curiosity!)
  • Two heavy crystal tumblers (my parcel had Nachtmann Noblesse glasses, 13.6 oz—solid in the hand)
  • Leather coasters to support those hefty tumblers
  • Nicely presented gift box with honeycomb flex paper wrapping the bottle (great protection, and a nice visual touch)

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel

Why This Is Worth It
  • The bourbon: This isn’t a gimmick-finish. The coffee integration is real. Check out my review on it, but it’s solid (and in fact the more I sipped it, the more I liked it).
  • The coffee: This was a huge component for me. Imagine a tasting experience where a whiskey is finished in some cask (sherry, wine, etc), and you could get a gift box with a small taste of THAT product!  I would be all over that! This adds a layer of storytelling to the whole experience, and invites you to brew, sit down, sip, compare, and most of all – enjoy.  And how is it?  Really nice, and can see why it was selected – medium roast with notes of vanilla and cocoa; complements the bourbon quite well (which I knew from the whiskey itself)!

Custom Gold Roast Blend Coffee from Muletown Coffee Roasters

  • The packaging: Strong. The bottle’s honeycomb wrap adds texture and substance—way more thoughtful than the usual molded foam, bubble wrap, or heaven forbid packing peanuts.

The Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon Provisions Parcel

  • The barware: Let’s talk about that glass. Whether neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail, I love the way this tumbler feels in my hand. There’s real presence here. You know when you’re holding it, and it looks distinguished.

Nachtmann Noblesse Whisky Tumblers

  • The extras: Leather coasters are a classy touch.

I made the Gold Roast Old Fashioned from Bib & Tucker’s recipe here and it worked beautifully. That coffee edge plays well with bitters and a twist. Stirred it up, dropped in a couple of rocks, and let that glass do its thing. Heavy in the hand, light on the lip. Everything I want in an end-of-day pour (and yes, if it looks like the fill line is high – I made a double; don’t judge me).

Gold Roast Old Fashioned

Final Word

In a crowded field of bourbon gift sets, this one doesn’t just pass muster—it stands out. The whiskey is legit. The coffee is just plain fun to experience that connection. The packaging is intentional – including being stylish and functional. The accessories are high quality. It doesn’t scream for attention; it just shows up ready to impress – and it did that!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Ōlta Mexican Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Ōlta Mexican Whisky

40% ABV
$55
Website
Ōlta Mexican Whisky
We would like to thank Ōlta Whisky for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Denver, CO — Olta Whisky, a pioneering corn-based Mexican whiskey, is now available throughout Colorado and California in fine retail locations including Total Wine and Molly’s Spirits and is preparing for expansion into Texas and Florida retail locations in the coming weeks. The award-winning brand’s 3-year expression is also currently available in a fast growing list of Latin American restaurants nationwide. Olta plans to release 4-year and 7-year expressions in 2026.

Produced and bottled in Michoacán, Mexico, Olta is made from locally-picked ancestral corn and is earning its reputation as a quality spirit, alongside Mexico’s premium tequila and mezcal brands. It won a bronze medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in May 2025.

The 80% corn, 20% malt mixture is double-distilled and aged in American oak barrels for three years in a small mountain village that sits at 7,000 feet of elevation. Olta barrels were originally used in the United States for traditional whiskey, then in Mexico for agave-based spirits like tequila, and now for corn-based Mexican whiskey. This process gives Olta a unique flavor profile unlike any other whiskey on the market. Olta, which means “to inebriate” in the Irish language, has notes of agave, vanilla and spice and slight smokiness.

“Olta was inspired by my daughter’s half-Mexican and half-Irish heritage. I wanted to create a spirit that celebrates the beauty of blending cultures while showcasing the incredible versatility of Mexican ancestral corn. Whiskey became the perfect bridge, a way to honor tradition, innovation, and pride in a single bottle,” said Olta founder and CEO Selene Nestor. “Olta is more than just a spirit; it’s a tribute to heritage, community, and craftsmanship. Every sip carries that story, and I’m proud to say it stands apart as something truly unique in the world of whiskey.”

Nestor, who is based in Colorado, has a long history in the hospitality, food and beverage industries and is co-founder of the Hispanic Restaurant Association. She researched and experimented with corn-based whiskey production for two years before she found the ideal recipe, ancestral corn, barrels, knowledgeable distillers, and climate for aging the product. She employs a team of female farmers and distillers in Michoacán to help her produce Olta.

Olta Whisky is also available online nationwide at https://oltawhisky.com/ and has a suggested retail price of $55.00

What Gary Says

Nose: Grilled corn, vanilla, honey with notes of agave – nearly tequila.
Palate: Sweet with a smokey funky corn note, honey, vanilla and a bit of an earthy note.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with smoked honey.
Comments: This is a very interesting dram to be sure.  The tequila maturation is quite clear – in fact on the nose my brain thought tequila over whiskey but the palate brought it back. I think this is the first Mexican whisky I’ve tried, so I can’t provide comparisons to the category at large but if this is a fair representation than I’m excited about the possibilities! It isn’t trying to be like American corn whiskey or bourbon in terms of profile – a truly unique product that takes the senses on a trip to Mexico in every sip. Hoping that distribution grows so others can experience this for themselves!

Rating: Stands Out

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Stoll & Wolfe Blend of American Straight Whiskeys

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Stoll & Wolfe Blend of American Straight Whiskeys

43% ABV
$60
Website
Stoll & Wolfe Blend of American Straight Whiskeys
We would like to thank Stoll & Wolfe Distillery and The Whiskey Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Stoll & Wolfe have moved to the forefront of a crowded whiskey landscape by using recipes and methods passed down by Legendary Pennsylvania Master Distiller Dick Stoll. The distillery has been a vital part of reviving whiskey making in small-town Pennsylvania. The collection of Stoll & Wolfe spirits embodies the style and 250-year history of distilling in Lancaster County.

Both the Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey, distilled by Dick Stoll, and the Blend of American Straight Whiskeys, with casks selected and blended by Dick Stoll, have been heavily awarded. Both spirits received scores from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge indicating whiskies that are both highly recommended and excellent in quality. These two flagship bottles were each awarded a Silver Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – in the Rye Whiskey and American Whiskey categories respectively. Among the awards, both spirits finished as Chairman’s Trophy finalists in their categories with a Top 3 Finish. Stoll & Wolfe has continued to build upon the legacy of Dick Stoll and the early success of these spirits by expanding to a number of whiskey variations and other distilled offerings. Stoll & Wolfe offerings are available in both the tasting room for purchase and pickup or online for shipping nationwide. View our online shop to try one of Pennsylvania’s most authentic whiskies.

Age: 5 Year Bourbon (MGP)/2 Year Rye
Mash Bill: 80% 5 Year High Rye Bourbon (75% Corn/21% Rye/4% Malt), 20% 2 Year Straight Rye (60% Rye/30% Corn/10% Malt)
Cask Types: Zak Cooperage 2 Year air dried staves American oak (2 Year Rye)
Things to Note: Non-Chill Filtered

Tasting Notes
Nose: Warm and approachable with notes of caramel, vanilla bean, and baked apple. A soft undercurrent of toasted grain and sweet corn adds roundness, while a light hint of oak and marshmallow offers depth without heaviness.
Palate: Smooth and balanced. Opens with sweet notes of butterscotch, honey, and light stone fruit. Layers of vanilla, toasted cereal, and soft spice unfold across the mid-palate, carried by the subtle structure of Pennsylvania rye.
Mouthfeel: Silky and medium-bodied with a gently warming presence. The rye brings just enough backbone to support the softer, sweeter elements of the blend.
Finish: Warm and lingering, with brown sugar, light oak, and a fading ribbon of vanilla and marzipan.

What Gary Says

Nose: Soft, mild vanilla, light caramel, buttered corn, fall leaves and a hint of oak.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with honey, vanilla, bit of butterscotch and subtle wood spices.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with fading honey and vanilla.
Comments: This is a very light, smooth sipping whiskey. Not off-putting in any way, but for my taste it’s just too mild/smooth. I’m a fan of bourbon and rye blends (there’s a company out west who has made a great one for years, although a world-renowned distillery in Kentucky tried one a decade ago – and I’ll just save I’ve forgiven them that mistake).  I also really enjoyed Stoll & Wolfe’s rye whiskey! But this blend just didn’t do anything for me. Appreciate the transparency on the bourbon source (and have had some really nice MGP bourbon), but not sure if the bourbon was uninspiring, or the two just don’t work well together. If tasting blind, I might have guessed this to be a corn whiskey or a light whiskey versus a bourbon and rye blend.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey

45% ABV
$48
Website
Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Stoll & Wolfe Distillery and The Whiskey Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Stoll & Wolfe have moved to the forefront of a crowded whiskey landscape by using recipes and methods passed down by Legendary Pennsylvania Master Distiller Dick Stoll. The distillery has been a vital part of reviving whiskey making in small-town Pennsylvania. The collection of Stoll & Wolfe spirits embodies the style and 250-year history of distilling in Lancaster County.

Both the Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey, distilled by Dick Stoll, and the Blend of American Straight Whiskeys, with casks selected and blended by Dick Stoll, have been heavily awarded. Both spirits received scores from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge indicating whiskies that are both highly recommended and excellent in quality. These two flagship bottles were each awarded a Silver Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – in the Rye Whiskey and American Whiskey categories respectively. Among the awards, both spirits finished as Chairman’s Trophy finalists in their categories with a Top 3 Finish. Stoll & Wolfe has continued to build upon the legacy of Dick Stoll and the early success of these spirits by expanding to a number of whiskey variations and other distilled offerings. Stoll & Wolfe offerings are available in both the tasting room for purchase and pickup or online for shipping nationwide. View our online shop to try one of Pennsylvania’s most authentic whiskies.

Age: 3 Years
Mash Bill: 60% Rye, 30% Corn, 10% Malt
Cask Types: Zak Cooperage 2 Year air dried staves American oak
Things to Note: Non-Chill Filtered, Sweet Mash Kline Farm Grain

Tasting Notes
Nose: Bright and grain-forward with aromas of rye spice, lemon peel, dried mint, and toasted oak. Subtle notes of cinnamon and orchard fruit peek through with time in the glass.
Palate: Focused and expressive. Classic Pennsylvania rye character comes through with black pepper, clove, and dry herbal notes, rounded out by hints of honey, toasted grain, and dried fruit.
Mouthfeel: Firm and structured with a dry edge and chewy grain texture that lingers.
Finish: Long and spice-driven with lingering notes of cracked pepper, oak, and dutch cocoa.

What Gary Says

Nose: Bright rye spice – mint, thyme, dill with some lemon zest and oak.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with honey, vanilla, cloves, tangerines, mint and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long with pepper spice followed by cloves and oak.
Comments: Rye whiskey is the only category of whiskey that I find enjoyable at under 4 years old (and not ALL rye whiskey fits that description). For a three year old rye, this punches well above it’s weight! The non-chill filtering really shines through, and the spices in this dram – I would have guessed it was more like an 80% rye (although it doesn’t have that crisp edge that a higher rye would have). This is just delightful! I would love to try this with a few more years of maturity, and a higher ABV (maybe a limited edition in the future, maybe straight, 5 year old cask strength? A guy can dream, right?)

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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