This year’s High West Distillery’s release of Bourye is marvelous!
It’s so good I just knew it had to be the first statement for this post. Bourye is an annual limited edition bourbon and rye whiskey blended by the Utah-based distillery. Blending is something the company does really well. They are also adept at transparency. The component whiskies for the 2018 release come from MGP in Indiana. Here’s the breakdown:
- 12-year-old straight bourbon (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley)
- 11-year-old straight bourbon (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley)
- 11-year-old straight bourbon (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley)
- 14-year-old straight rye whiskey (95% rye, 5% malted barley)
- 13-year-old straight rye whiskey (95% rye, 5% malted barley)
While the exact percentage of each whiskey remains undisclosed, the company says this bottling is very similar in the age and taste profile of the very first release. Bourye is bottled at 92 proof and available for $79.99.
The nose here is ripe with honey, baking spices, dark caramel, and hints of oak. Those aromas carry over to the palate. Rich, sweet and spicy are the themes here. Spiced honey and slightly burnt caramel kick things off. Those rye spice notes ramp up quickly, complementing the whiskey’s richness. A slight undercurrent of candied orange peel and vanilla run throughout. Elegant oak develops into the long, dry finish.
I like this a little better than last year’s release, which wasn’t too shabby. I gave that release a 9 out of 10, and I think I’ll give this one the same score. Don’t get too caught up in the numbers. Just know the 2018 release of Bourye is well worth a look. 9/10
Thanks to High West for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Adventures In Whiskey 