High West Brings Back Popular Bourye Whiskey, a Well-Aged Blend of Bourbon and Rye
High West unveiled Bourye, one of the brand’s culty, limited releases. (Photo: High West)
On Monday, High West Distillery announced the limited-release return of its culty whiskey, Bourye, and it’s exclusively available at the distillery in Park City, Utah. Bourye is a mixture of rye and bourbon whiskeys — hence its clever name — and 20% of the blend is composed of malted rye made at the High West Distillery.
Bourye hosts an ABV of 46% and a suggested retail price of $124.99.
The whiskey is a blend of straight rye and bourbon whiskeys aged for a minimum of 10 years. The mashbill includes a blend of rye whiskey that is 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP, according to the brand, 80% rye and the additional 20% of malted rye from High West’s own distillate.
High West has been using its own pot still rye in the blend for the last two or three years, the brand told Whiskey Raiders.
As for the bourbon part of Bourye, High West uses an Indiana bourbon distilled by MGP from a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley and a Kentucky bourbon made of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley.
The Bourbon Exchange reports that Bourye has been around since 2009 but was not produced from 2012 to 2014 and was reworked with a new blend in 2015.
From 2009 to 2019, Bourye incorporated whiskey from MGP, the gigantic whiskey producer behind brands like Ezra Brooks, Remus, Blood Oath, Ross & Squibb and Lux Row, to name a few. MGP acquired Penelope Bourbon in May for a whopping $105 million.
The Bourbon Exchange additionally reports that in 2010 and 2011, High West sourced bourbon from Four Roses and rye from Barton 1792 Distillery.
As for the 2024 release of Bourye, High West recommends enjoying this whiskey “around a campfire while looking at the milky way.” The brand does not recommend diluting the spirit with ice but says a bit of water can be added.
In August, High West unveiled its Campfire expression, and the 2023 release marked an important milestone for the brand because it was bottled exclusively with High West’s own rye in the blend.
High West Bourye Tasting Notes, Via the Brand
Nose: Granny smith apples, drizzled with maple syrup. Herbaceous aromas of sage, balsam de Peru, and bakery aromas of toasted almond biscotti.
Taste: Dried bing cherries, grilled peaches and French vanilla mouse, candied ginger with cedar.
Finish: Warm chai tea and grated nutmeg.
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