The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: High West Rolls Out 11th Edition of Wildly Popular ‘A Midwinter Night’s Dram’ Whiskey

High West unveiled its annual A Midwinter Night’s Dram expression. This is Act 11. (Photo: High West)

The Park City, Utah, distillery High West announced the annual release of A Midwinter Night’s Dram on Wednesday. The culty, cold weather-centric expression will arrive just in time for Autumn imbibing and is set to hit shelves on Oct. 8 in the U.S.

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 11 is meant to encapsulate winter’s flavors. The whiskey will be available at High West’s distillery and Saloon locations as well as stores across the U.S. This year’s expression clocks in at 98.6 proof and hosts a suggested retail price of $150.

This expression is made from High West’s Rendezvous Rye whisky and is finished in ruby and tawny port barrels. Last year, the brand released A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 10, which was described by our in-house spirits critic, Jay West as “one of the better Midwinter Night’s Drams I’ve had in recent years,” and earned a score of 7. Interested parties can read the review here.

In August, the brand released the latest edition of its Campfire expression. The 2023 edition was the first to include High West’s rye in the mashbill.

High West made media headlines later that month for tapping Olympian Shaun White to spread awareness and protect the West from climate change.

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 11 Tasting Notes, Via High West

Nose: Poached pears with dried cherry, and warming spices like nutmeg, and star anise. Christmas cookies, dark chocolate mocha and cinnamon ginger cake are also present, coupled with leaves on a forest floor.

Taste: Dark fruits like fig and plum jam on rye toast are plentiful in this expression, coupled with cranberry, gingerbread, hot chocolate, brandied cherries and peppermint mocha.

Finish: Luxardo cherries at the bottom of a Manhattan cocktail.

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