A Midwinter Night’s Dram is one of those bottles that needs no introduction in whiskey circles, but Act 14 might be the one that finally converts the holdouts. To mark High West’s 20th anniversary, this year’s annual release expands the finishing program further than ever before.
The base is High West Rendezvous Rye, a blend of straight ryes aged 4 to 10 years, traditionally finished in Ruby and Tawny Port casks. Act 14 adds something new: rare Amontillado, Oloroso, and PX Sherry barrels layered into the finish. It is bottled at 98.6 proof, non-chill filtered, which High West notes is a fitting number for a whiskey built for winter’s coziest moments.
The tasting notes read like a holiday dessert menu: wild strawberry, blackberry preserves, and fig up front, blood orange and cherry fruit leather on the palate, finishing like a jam thumbprint cookie with spiced chai. I have not tasted this one yet, but that finish description alone has my attention.
It is available now in limited quantities nationwide at an SRP of $124.99. You can find it through High West’s site or at their general stores. If you have been waiting for a year to splurge on one winter bottle, this is a strong candidate. I covered last year’s Act 13 too, and the sherry cask expansion makes this one the more ambitious pour.
