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Whiskey Review: High West Valley Tan Utah Whiskey

We review High West Valley Tan Utah Whiskey Batch no. 3, one of the first whiskeys made in-house by High West as it makes its transition from non-distilling producer to distiller.

OVERALL RATING

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High West Valley Tan Utah Whiskey

Tasting Notes

About:

Batch No. 3, bottle No. 2046. 43.5% ABV. At least one year old. Retails for around $60 per 750ml bottle.
Appearance:
White wine. I would feel remiss if I were not to remark on High West’s amazing bottles. They’re made of thick, embossed, slightly foggy glass flecked with bubbles and impurities. The effect works wonderfully, evoking a pre-industrial time where everything – containers included – had just a little more texture. Real cork closures are handsome, but alas, they always seem to leave a little residue on the neck of the bottle.
Nose:
Ozone, lemon zest, gin, quickbread batter, banana walnut oatmeal, and a touch of honey. The wood character comes through in thin, fresh pencil shavings, graphite and all. The effect is very lively, almost spritely, in both the woodland nymph and lemon-lime soft drink sense of the word.
Palate:
Surprisingly thick and coating at first, but that thins out quickly to a fairly intense alcohol burn. The impression of quickbread batter from the nose carries through to the palate, with a very raw, floury kind of grain taste as well an odd baking soda-like lifting of the palate, a strange and enjoyable effervescence on the tongue. Powdery, with a hint of banana and lime juice. The finish is light yet surprisingly lingering, with a kind of permanence to it – soda water failed to scrub my mouth clean – but it leaves you with gentle tartness and alcohol heat, rather than oaky richness. A touch of water is welcome: it tames some of that alcohol burn, amps up the thick, creamy mouthfeel, and retains some of those nice tart, citrusy notes. It’s like having an oatmeal highball. Final Thoughts: Light and delicate, this might be a really great option for an afternoon dram, but it doesn’t really reward contemplation. That said, it’s definitely unique, and it’s nice to see a craft brand truly striking out on their own without emulating the big brands. Score: 85/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF HIGH WEST VALLEY TAN UTAH WHISKEY]
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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