Review #493 - High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 11 Scene 7
For their annual limited release of A Midwinter Nights Dram, High West finishes rye whisky in Port wine barrels. Early editions were made up of sourced MGP rye, specifically the famous 95/5 recipe; more recently editions are comprised of a blend of ryes. Some of that blend is still MGP's 95/5, but there's also an increasing proportion of the distillate from High West's own production - their recipe is 80% rye, 20% malted barley.
The finishing casks are a combination of Port wine casks and French oak barrels - that should add both fruit and some wood spice. The bottling strength sits at the standard 49.3% ABV for this Act 11 release, which arrived in 2023.
High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 11 Scene 7
USA - Rye
Current Locally Available Price: USD 150 (2025)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 49.3% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in French oak and ex-Port casks
Details: Bottled 2023
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 80% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Sweet red fruits and chocolate start us out - sweet in general, though we soon get a bit of rye spice. There's an oat grain here, and the chocolate begins to take on a more malty character; brown sugar and cardamom add more baking notes. With time, we get a soft rose petal note, adding a floral element.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel; a blast of red fruits, specifically strawberry and cherry. That cask influence is quite strong, and rye spice is relegated to the background - we do find some cinnamon and peppermint, though. The texture is quite syrupy, too.
Finish: Medium length, sweet and rounded, dare we say 'smooth.' Cherry juice and strawberry candies add sweet fruit, while some herbal eucalyptus and peppercorn spice hint at the rye backbone. The oat note from the nose returns, and time brings dry cinnamon spice.
Final Note: Very tasty finished rye - a bit heavy-handed with the finishing casks, but we did still get a bit of that rye character in the background, as well as an interesting addition of malt and oat grains. It definitely leans toward the sweet side of the spectrum; that syrupy texture and mouthfeel were above average considering the bottling strength.
Value is just okay - this release from High West has grown steadily more expensive over the past several years despite production numbers growing rapidly. We wouldn't pay any more than the MSRP of $150 for this, and we would really prefer to find it on sale, though that isn't particularly likely.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.65
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other High West reviews:
Review #345 - High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 9 Scene 4
