Heritage
Act 12, Scene 7 of High West’s acclaimed A Midwinter Night’s Dram continues the distillery’s tradition of crafting a richly layered, holiday-season sipper that captures the spirit of winter in a glass. Built on the foundation of High West’s Rendezvous Rye—a blend of straight rye whiskies aged in new American oak—this limited release undergoes an additional finish in a combination of Ruby and Tawny port barrels. The result is a theatrical display of spice, fruit, and oak-driven complexity, delivered with elegance and depth. Each “Scene” represents a different bottling run within the same Act, allowing for slight nuance batch to batch.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with a burst of dried cherries, ripe figs, baking spice, and dark caramel, wrapped in hints of citrus zest and toasted French oak. On the palate, this whisky shines with layers of stewed plums, poached pears, molasses, and gingerbread, followed by flavors of candied orange peel, cinnamon bark, clove, and cocoa-dusted espresso. The port influence weaves through it all, adding soft berry notes and a refined sweetness. The finish is long and warming, with lingering impressions of fruit compote, brown sugar, black tea, and holiday spice, leaving a rich, comforting trail on the palate.
Food Pairings
This dram pairs beautifully with winter and holiday fare. Serve it alongside herb-crusted lamb, roast duck with berry glaze, or glazed ham to mirror its spiced fruit and oak backbone. For cheese pairings, opt for aged Gouda, blue cheese, or a nutty alpine-style. Dessert pairings include gingerbread cake, pecan pie, chocolate truffles, or fruit tarts—anything that complements its sweet, spiced character and velvety finish.
Craftsmanship
High West Distillery is located in Park City, Utah, and has earned a reputation for masterful blending and finishing techniques, often combining sourced and in-house distilled spirits. A Midwinter Night’s Dram is one of its most sought-after annual releases, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Each edition—released as an “Act” and subdivided into “Scenes”—is a limited engagement meant to evoke the warmth, nostalgia, and indulgence of wintertime. The distillery’s high-altitude aging environment and focus on rye-based blends give this expression its distinctive depth and spice-laden charm.
