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Whiskey Review: High West Yippee Ki-Yay

We review High West Yippee Ki-Yay, a sourced rye from the popular Utah distillery which is finished in vermouth and Syrah casks.

OVERALL RATING

  • Savannah Weinstock is a whiskey enthusiast and industry professional.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
In the glass, the dram is a beautiful peachy rose gold.
Nose:
Warm stone fruit (nectarine, peach, and plum) marry brown butter to create a sensual pineapple upside-down cake effect. Floral and caramelized,Yippee Ki-Yay smells of butter brickle ice cream and gardenias. Incredibly floral for a rye, which is likely owed to the vermouth finish.
Palate:
The first impression is sweet but rapidly becomes more and more tannic. The butter pecan note from the nose travels swiftly to the palate, turning into puppy chow and back again to butter brickle ice cream. Sweet, rich, and nutty, the dram finishes on a butterscotch sauce note. Finish: Quite short and clean. Almost refreshing and crisp. Conclusion: Both expressively rich, clean, and controlled, Yippee Ki-Yay strikes a curious chord. While at mid-palate the dram tastes slightly over-finished, the over effect remains pleasant. The tasting experience leaves me wondering why High West chose to re-finish an already very rounded whiskey, but wanting to drink more. Fun and delicious, but possibly in need of some tweaking, Yippee Ki-Yay nonetheless remains another success from High West in my mind. FINAL SCORE: 89/100
Finish:
Quite short and clean. Almost refreshing and crisp.
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.

Savannah Weinstock

Savannah Weinstock is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where her Environmental Studies thesis delved into the intersection of Scotch Whisky, sustainability, and the commodification of nature and culture. During her thesis research, she spent time living and studying in Glasgow, Scotland, visiting and interviewing distilleries across the country, with a particular focus on the Hebridean Isles. Savannah is currently immersed in the industry, gaining firsthand experience with whiskey, spirits, and cocktails on a daily basis.

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