High West distillery is a manufacturer and blender of spirits, located in Park City, Utah, hidden deep within the Rocky Mountains. Founded in 2007 by David Perkins, this petite distillery makes its spirits in small batches and is the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since the end of the American Prohibition. Most of their spirits are sourced and blended, although they do distil some of their spirits themselves.
The Double Rye is made from the marriage of two straight Rye Whiskeys with very different compositions. One is a 2-year old fresh Whiskey with a high rye content, and the second is a 16-year old Whiskey with a lower rye content and higher corn percentage. The extra age and corn provides some extra sweetness to calm the "bite" of the younger rye for a relationship — an interesting combination that seems to work.
The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in High West Double Rye and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.
We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
Excellent for the price. A good sipper on the rocks, but not my favorite for mixing.
Lisa,
I actually went in to upgrade this review. When I first opened the bottle, it came across as very strong (brought to mind hard core moonshine smell and taste). I had to put the bottle aside for quite some time, probably about 4 months. I went back to try it after that time and found that it really developed some personality. The alcohol smell and taste really mellowed and I picked up a lot more fruity and spicy tones. A much better sipping whiskey after it is allowed to breathe some. Otherwise, it would make a good mixer right after you open it.
John,
smelled and tasted grassy and herbal, but when cut it becomes more creme brulee with vanilla then burnt sugar finish. Definitely need to drink this cut or on the rocks.
Terry,
I bought this because a guy in the whiskey isle at a local store said it was hard to find but the distinctive tastes were not to my liking. I would say it had lots of wood and tobacco flavors (but I'm not the greatest as naming everything that I taste).
Paul,
Nice and spicy. Enjoyable and flavorful!
guest,
My new favorite rye whiskey, easily.
Jesse,
Amazing rye, especially for the price. Very spicy and exactly what I think of when looking for a rye.
Ryan,
A solid, affordable rye to enjoy neat. Plenty of rye spice, cinnamon, a bit of sweetness, and long finish.
Christopher,
I tried this multiple times to be as objective as possible. Bottom line...I don’t prefer it. Why 5 stars? The smell...some funk to the rye notes. I did get a nice mint note, but there was some grassy earthy smell that put me off each time I gave it another chance. I will agree with Flaviar that the palate was better than the nose. But that off putting note on the nose continued. I’m glad the finish is over. I rinsed my glass and poured some Barrell Rye. It’s double the price but so much better (also a “unique” rye like this one...I read about it). If you like rye and want to explore...give this a go. It’s not expensive. Bottle looks cool. The American Prairie bourbon is much better and also very reasonable in price.
Andrew,
I had someone refer to the smell as textbook glue
Brandon,
I give it a 10 for price to taste ratio. This is a great rye. Easy to drink and mixes well.
Matt,
I love how Smokey it is. Perfect for drinking by a campfire
Theress,
The only rye I actually like.
Ron,
Nice and spicy Rye that has a little kick but goes down smoother with each glass.
Igor,
The rye spice and unique flavors make this an easy to drink rye whiskey. Although they don't use a 16-year old rye in this blend anymore (now it's a blend of 2-year and 7-year ryes), it's still a well above average rye for a great price.
Emmanuel,
Awesome rye. It's smooth maybe not to complex but I did enjoy the taste.
Michael,
note of caramel, smooth
Denise,
Really enjoyed it. Nice rye spice; neat is the best way to enjoy.
guest,
This is one I always have around. Love the rye spice in this.
Matthew,
An affordable and go-to rye at a budget price. Easily as good as bottles twice as expensive. I enjoy this on ice or in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
Nicholas,
For my first experience with a rye, it took a bit of getting used to. A little too spicy to sip neat, but really shines in a simple whiskey sour.
Charles,
Nice rye spice and very drinkable. This is good for cocktails or straight, and reasonably priced for every day.
Stephen,
Very smooth and drinkable for newer whiskey drinkers. Honey is stronger in the nose than I thought. Light burn afterwards.
Jordan,
Light spice and mint. Mild pine/bitterness
Sam,
You better like spicy
Matt,
Great rye. Good mixer or can drink straight.
Erik,
Not too bad for every day
Michael,
Absolutely love this stuff. Had 3-4 bottles for far and is a great everyday clean rye. Makes a great spicy old fashioned.
Connor,
Unbelievable value! The blend works perfectly. Spice, fresh mint finish. Great sipping neat and in an old fashioned.
Robert,
Great every day drinker
Greg,
Nose and palate reminded me of lemon tea with a bit of spice.
Alex,
The pine & botanical sell it! It’s a perfect fall geared rye. The cinnamon compliments the profile to all profiles to enjoy!
Brian,
This was the rye that got me into eyes very spicy and great for sweet cocktails like old fashioned
Matt,
This one has a bit more bite from the younger spirit than I expected. Although I usually enjoy rye this was a bit harsh for me. Spice was there, but the raw 'heat' overpowered most of the flavors for me. I had high expectations for this but found Sagamore Rye much smoother and more flavorful.
Robert,
One of the best Rye’s I have tasted to date
Andy,
I have discovered I am not a fan of rye neat but on the rocks this has a wonderful piney sweetness that I really enjoy. Nice for hot summer days.
Neil,
This is a good rye for the price if your looking for a change of pace. Starts crisp with good flavor. However, it has a weak finish compared to my favorites like Angel’s Envy and Whistlepig 10-year.
COLIN,
Highly underrated rye imo, especially for the price. Fill, mint, spice. This one has it all.
John,
Very nice, enjoyable to the last drop
Tanner,
Rough and tumble rye
John,
My first rye! Great flavors and spice. Lots of apple, cinnamon, and spice! This is the best value bottle I own.
Bryn,
When i first tried this i couldn't get enough of the mouth feel - so creamy and delicious!
It's one of my favorites and there is always a bottle on the shelf.
Ryan,
Spicy and sweet, smooth
Harrison,
I first started really drinking Rye when I got into making Black Manhattans (I've never much cared for sweet vermouth). While I enjoy the flavor of Amaro Averna, I''ve ended up using less and less of it in my drinks to preserve the flavor of this Rye, which I also have enjoyed drinking neat. Frankly I agree with the Flavor Spiral in terms of the notes, but I'll add that the sweetness mentioned is very subdued, which makes it a very enjoyable drink for someone like me who stays away from sweeter whisk(e)ys.
Ira,
Shortly after the pour in a Norlan: nose of apricot, initial taste of apricot and cedar. Peppery burn that leads to a nice long finish that ends up tasting like prunes in the middle back of my tongue. I love High West's ryes.
After letting it sit a bit, the prune and apricot nose and flavor really pop. Great stuff!
Andrew,
Really good rye, not overwhelmingly spicy, and good balance in a cocktail.
Greg,
A really tasty rye. Very nice straight
James,
it is simple and clean - mixes well - alone it is nice, vanilla with a little spice
Tyler,
If you’re a rye fan you’ll love this. I’m not big on rye but this bottle really opened my eyes to it. Great stuff here.
Jason,
Smooth and approachable
Elliot,
A bit spicy with no distinctive flavours
Kevin,
Great for Manhattan’s!
Jason,
Sweet! Honey! Wow. For the price it’s tough to beat
guest,
It is the most interesting and lower budget whiskeys you can buy.
guest,
Really smooth
Judy,
love this
Rodney,
Good stuff. It makes a good mild old fashion.
William,
Hmmm. Tasted this following a 200 dollar bottle from Kentucky Owl. I am killing my palate with really good whisky. Nose, palate and finish left me wanting more of the KO.
Jim,
Just did not like this. flavors were weird, maybe too spicey, but just not great to me.....
Glenn,
This is unique. The botanical aroma and taste stays for the finish. It's an adventure to taste for the first time.
Corey,
Probably my favorite Rye. This competes favorably with bottles that trade at 2.5x its price point. Very complex flavor profile and pretty unique among Ryes, so not everyone will love it but this is my go-to for a daily pour.
Craig,
My favorite rye that I have tried so far. Great for sipping and mixing into a cocktail.
Travis,
Wow, this is not for the faint of heart. Strong notes of bread, herbs, and eucalyptus on the nose. Strong and aggressive notes oak, herbs, slight medical taste and a long hot rye finish on the pallet. great sipper for me on a night when I want to savor a glass or two.
Philip,
We tasted this and immediately thought it was unique, delicious, and a great value.
The botanicals are pleasant and easy to pick up, it’s smooth and has a long minty finish. I’d pour this for any guest or be confident in giving it as a gift. It gets a 10 when factoring in value. Strong contender for our favorite bottle under $35.
Adam,
Great rye, especially for the price
Mike,
Solid rye... bites a bit took much as spice is very strong. Very complex.
Aaron,
Excellent! Really enjoyed this.
Jason,
This is my jam!
guest,
Very spicy, makes for a great Old Fashioned. It’s more than I’d like to sip neat.
Jason,
Awesome!
Mark,
An easygoing sipper, one I turn to often after a long day because it provides pleasure but makes no demands. Milder and sweeter than most ryes, but still quite tasty and an excellent value.
Kenn,
Enjoyed this. First rye whiskey I have tried.
James,
So much value for the price. Definitely a go to moving forward.
Beau,
I'm a fan of ryes, and heard good things about this one. I wasn't necessarily disappointed, but it was so-so to me, I like the Rendezvous Rye much more.
Francisco,
So smooth and nice, long finish. I tastes more like $40-45, not $31.99, so it's definitely a great price!
Erik,
Up there with Old Forester 100proof Rye as the best budget ryes in the game.
William,
Spice, Botanicals, this is a great value and makes an amazing manhattan
Daniel,
Trying to get into rye whiskey, this was not a great place to start. Maybe as i explore more i'll learn to appreciate it. It's very spicy with a dry aftertaste i can't put my finger on. Gains a moderate sweetness with a little water
Forrest,
Such a good rye for this price. My new go-to.
Linda,
I really enjoyed this rye on its own and in an old-fashioned. It has a nice spicy finish which compliments the zesty orange peel in an old-fashioned very well. I would have given it more stars, but it can give you that nagging alcohol headache. Overall, it's a nice sip.
Stephen,
Yummy and warm.
Brandon,
Almost as great as their Prairie bourbon. Definitely a floral nose and a rather quick bite. The flavors go quickly but still pleasant. Good on a cool night and a good book or show.
Patrick,
Enjoyed the Spice
Liz,
Did not like this one. Very harsh finish. I’ll want to mix this one with something like ginger ale to finish it. Very spicy.
Shannon,
My go-to rye with a good level of spice.
guest,
High West Double Rye a solid whiskey which makes me want to sit out in Montana over a campfire while holding an 870. Nose-not extremely complex a tad bland to be honest very subtle notes of dark fruits and syrup Palate-The palate truly makes up for the nose Westward Ho! A lot of leather/earthy notes with a mild tobacco and rye spice hint definitely a great blend. Finish-Medium Long more notes of rye spice. Overall a great rye a tad bit sweet and lacking on the nose: 8.4/10
Timothy,
Spicy yet smooth it’s an upper shelf old-fashioned rye for me and better than Michter’s, Sazerac, Old Forester and almost as good as Whistle Pig Piggyback Rye.
David,
Nice rye whiskey for sure, but not within my flavor wheelhouse.
Patrick,
Decent, but to me it’s too sweet. I like Ryes that have a nice spicy taste though, so it might work if you prefer sweet.
Phillip,
Perfect for cocktails
Matt,
High West rarely misses, and everything about Double Rye is a win - taste, cost, and compliance with cocktails. This is one of my favorite bases for an Old Fashioned. It's a satisfying sipper too...nothing too crazy or complex, but for the money it's an outstanding rye from one of my favorite distilleries.
Matt,
Nice spices and tang mix with modest sweetness for a good sipping rye.
Laura,
Excellent! Smooth, balanced, a little smoky a little sweet. New favorite.
Patrick,
Decent for the price, but would just keep on hand as a stock bottle.
Dmitriy,
Harsh cheap flavor.
Austin,
You like rye? You like whiskey? This is the most rye whiskey blend I have ever tried and I love the kick! High West makes a variety of great blends of whiskey and bourbons but this is one of my favorites.
guest,
I’m rating this whisky so highly because the price point is great for such an amazing flavor and body n of this blend for the the price point!
Bart,
Fantastic flavour, very smooth, can enjoy this one on a very regular basis.
Matthew,
Batch reviewed is 19H06. Color is a basic amber. Nose has a faint oiliness, with notes of mild ethanol, faint evergreen, and subtle rye spice. First sip is pleasantly spicy, with a blend of classic rye spice, baking spice, and a very mild baseline sweetness. Mouthfeel is full, very slightly oily. Finish is a little short, with a continuation of the backing spices. Additional sips reveal subtle notes of the evergreen/juniper. Good, but doesn't really stand above other MGP-including products.
Michael,
Did not personally enjoy the taste, I gave the bottle to a friend who did enjoy it. I experienced to much spice/clover for my liking.
Cameron,
Love the flavor and smooth finish!
Andrew,
Great. Very sweet.
Kent,
Just didn’t work for me. The flavors just Seem all wrong. With so many other great Ryes out there I probably won’t buy again.
Ben,
This is an incredible whiskey. The idea that marrying the youthful vigor and spice punch of a two year rye with the finesse and complexity of a 16 year old rye to somehow acquire the the best of both worlds seems like a fools errand. Except they nailed it. Upfront the palate is swarmed with spice and power and fruit, but then, there is an incredible turn toward vanilla and delicate barrel spice with an astonishingly long, complex, and satisfying finish. Also, this is $30. This drinks at three times that price.
Christopher,
One of the best ryes for the money, nice and easy drinker.
Sam,
Good stuff got a unique taste that I kinda gotta be in the mood for.
guest,
A great Rye to drink when you’re relaxing with friends. Great burn.
Mathew,
Love the hint of mint and floral flavor. Very different from the typical spicy whiskey I normally drink. Refreshing and delicious
Liz,
Perfectly balanced sipper with a smooth finish despite a moderately spicy start
High west does a great job. I have not had an offering of theirs I disliked. you really should have a few bottles of theirs especially considering their excellent prices
Michael,
Not bad. Will drink again.
Dante,
A distinct profile that starts off with a slightly sweet and woody hit and ends with a more traditional rye flavor.
John,
Wonderful rye - complex, rich, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon.
Matthew,
Excellent every day rye, great for Sazeracs!
Lane,
Yes this is my daily go to
Johnathan,
A fine rye on a budget!
Justin,
Good rye for the price. I haven't tried the more expensive expressions from High West because you can get this Rye and their Prairie Bourbon for around $30. Hard to justify spending $70 on the others when these are so good.
Lane,
So true. The others are better but not for double the price
Ian,
the best rye i’ve ever had - nice, smooth, and spicy but not too dry as a lot of ryes i’ve run across can be
Frank,
Great stuff. Spicy but with a thick, rich flavor like it’s more expensive brothers from HW.
Christina,
An outstanding bourbon. Really unique flavor that is unlike anything else I've had. Sweet, smooth, plenty of rye, but it's just better than any other rye I've had.
John,
Not my favorite, will not buy again when there are so many good ones out there.
Frankie,
Perfect winter warmer. Citrus and fruit with a backside of earth.
Johanna,
I'm leaving room for something better, but I haven't found it yet. Yum. Smooth and flavorful
Joseph,
Strong, Smooth, Aromatic, and Tasty
Michael,
Pretty good, if you enjoy rye whiskey. It is basically a whiskey for people who enjoy rye whiskey. It has a nice burn and a deep rye taste.
Sneh,
Not bad
Kevin,
This is the best rye whiskey I’ve had the pleasure of tasting.
Rodger,
I received a bottle for my 50th birthday. This is a very pleasant drink. I have found the spice is very strong and long lasting.
Allen,
An excellent, tasty whiskey with character and a lot going on for a rye. Sits strong in the mouth, has a nice chewy, spicy flavor and the right kind of rye burn. Really fun to drink.
Chris,
Nice flavorful Rye! Loved the caramel and spice. I'll buy this one again.
Ro,
High west is one of my favorites, and of their regularly available line of whiskey this is probably my favorite.
Justin,
My go to rye for the price
Jim,
one of the best that we drink on a regular basis
Lisa,
Great rye for the price
Thaine,
The best rye you can get for your money.
Norman,
Love it.
Omar,
I like this one a lot, again, new to the tasting, just kind of know what I do and do not like. It has a sweet finish and is quite strong but I do like it. I work in retail and this is a new product in one of liquor stores, so I gave it a go and was not disappointed.
David,
Great for Sazeracs
Michael,
Very good.
Matt,
Yesssssssss!!!!!!
guest,
Great Rye for the price!
Eric,
Sublime.
Douglas,
High quality whisky for a very reasonable price. My new go to daily!
guest,
Il top
guest,
Spicy wonder punchy example of a well done mgpi rye.
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