Review #1: Highest Midwinter's Night Dram

High West Midwinter’s Night Dram was my White Whale. I don’t bother with Pappy this or BTAC that. I’m from Ohio. The odds I will ever get my hands on one of those bottles are none to none at all. So I set my sights on something big, but attainable. At least I thought. After trying to buy a bottle here, in Kentucky and online, I gave in. I decided to join the mosh pit known as Whiskey/Scotch Swap and get a sample.

Rye is my favorite spirit and I love me some High West Double Rye! and Rendezvous Rye. So I needed the Dram. I landed two samples from /u/t8ke, for who I am eternally grateful for my first swap. And that is why it is my first review.

I admit to having poor tasting skills, especially nosing skills, so I enlisted the help of my pregnant wife and her Superpower Nose…

Act 3 Scene 3; no age statement; 49.3% ABV; sample compliments of /u/t8ke

Pregnant Wife Superpower Nose: “Woody. So strong if you put your nose in it. Pine-Sol. It smells spicy to me. Pickles!”

My Nose: Cherries. Cherries. Cherries. Surprisingly soft considering the proof. A few swirls and…. there’s the dill. Indeterminate baking spices.

Pregnant Wife Taste: Just kidding…

Taste: Oak and spice. In spades. So much oak and pepper. Very aggressive. Medium mouthfeel. I’m not getting any sweetness at all.

Finish: Pepper that fades very slowly, leaving some cinnamon, maybe clove spice. A warm feeling, if not satisfaction.

Overall: I have to say, I am a bit disappointed. I was really excited to try this. I expected this to be much softer than I found it. It was extremely aggressive. Don't get me wrong. I like this. But I would rather have HWRR or even HWDR. Perhaps it is just an off night, or perhaps, like for Ahab, the whale has won this fight. I have 3 more ounces, so I will be back in the boat again.

Score: 85