High West Releases 10th Rendition Of A Midwinter Night’s Dram + A Bonus Blend

High West Distillery recently unveiled the tenth version of its popular A Midwinter Night’s Dram whiskey that’s finished in port barrels. Also, as an added bonus, it unveiled a a tenth anniversary limited release blend known as The Encore.

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 10, according to those behind it, is typical of the previous releases in that it showcases the distillery’s flagship Rendezvous Rye finished in a combination of ruby and tawny port barrels sourced from Portugal. A Midwinter Night’s Dram: The Encore, meanwhile, goes in a slightly different direction in that it ages the straight blend of rye whiskey in white port barrels, resulting in what’s described as “a unique counterpoint to Act 10.”

“It goes without saying that A Midwinter Night’s Dram is our most anticipated launch each year,” said Brendan Coyle, Master Distiller at High West, in a prepared statement. “We really started to notice it taking off in the past five or six years, and the line that now forms at the Distillery bright and early on release day speaks for itself.

“Blending, discovering, and innovating is in High West’s DNA, as exhibited this year by both Act 10 and the debut of The Encore, and we’re constantly looking for unique expressions to bring consumers.”

Both A Midwinter Night’s Dram: Act 10 and The Encore are available now, with Act 10 appearing in very limited quantities nationwide for $150. The Encore is uniquely available only at the High West General Store in Park City, Utah, or the High West Distillery in Wanship, Utah for $150. Official tasting notes for both are below.

• A Midwinter Night’s Dram: Act 10 – 98.6 Proof
  • Tasting notes: Blood orange peel, Saigon cinnamon, blackcurrant jam, candied ginger, smoked apple wood, raspberry shortcake with whipped cream
• A Midwinter Night’s Dram: The Encore – 101.6 Proof
  • Tasting notes: Soft licorice, Earl Grey tea, peach marmalade, grapefruit zest, vanilla meringue pie, marzipan and chocolate mint leaves

Both, by the way, have a mash bill that’s blend of 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP and 80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West distillate.