High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 5 (All Scenes)

My first acquaintance with High West Distillery was with an earlier version of this brand, “A Midwinter Night’s Dram”, which is released in “Acts” (same per year) and “Scenes” (various bottlings in the same year, or “Act”). This particular bottle is Act 5, Scene 2, which was released in 2017. AMND 5.2 is a rye blend sourced from MGP, in addition to High West’s own distillate (the percent of each is not disclosed). The brand is a play on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and as much as I love Shakespeare, you can read about that on the website. I discovered via a quick Internet search that this bottle, if you can find it, is selling for around $300. I bought mine (which this note just polished off) for about $70 if memory serves, sometime three or four years ago. High West was purchased by Constellation Brands in 2016 for $160 million. Dark tawny burnt orange color. Interesting nose shows rye, Chinese five spice, cardamom, cherries, cocoa, and vanilla, finishing with spearmint: but these aromas have to be coaxed out over several minutes—at least for me. While the different descriptors suggest complexity, it is a subtle complexity rather than rather than a kaleidoscopic one. AMND 5.2 is easy drinking at 98.6 proof: it offers a smooth, mouthcoating entry, with a touch of well-integrated back-end heat. The nose shows promise, but the ride is a bit downhill through palate and finish, where there is a very slight bitterness. Overall, good, not great. 3.75 on the Distiller scale. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in separate Glencairn glasses.

Scene 11, Act 5 Nose - sweetness mixed with the typical rye smell which is faint but there Taste - light, slight sugar with a mix of stone fruit Finish - that port finish comes through, very smooth with little burn Score - 4.5 Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched to others 4.5 - Excellent, I will always keep a bottle in stock if possible 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink, can consider as a solid choice 3.5 - Good, would taste again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, able to drink but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—wouldn’t drink again unless I am desperate

Nose is sweet and a little tart, like a green apple. Hint of cinnamon too. Palate has that classic rye breadiness, but leathery and smokey notes rein it in. Long, smokey finish with some umami flavor I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m normally not crazy about ryes, but this is very enjoyable.

Nose - Eucalyptus and herbs, lemon and baking spices, underlying sugars and a hint of ash Taste - dry rye spices, molasses, leather, vanilla sweetness Finish - spicy sweet, lingers awhile, touch if dryness at the end, medium burn

Giving it time to open up, this has been the best expression of this bottling to date (2020). Neck pour had lots of vermouth...but. As it opens, loads of dark fruit and figs, followed by rye, clove, and allspice. Amazing.

Loved. 1st tried was Act 5, Scene 6 (2017 near end of year) Now have Act 11, Scene 4 (smugged, more likely Act 4 than Act 5? which is Oct 2023). All 98.6 proof.