2018 High West Distillery Bourye Limited Sighting Blended Straight Rye & Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

The 2018 High West Distillery Bourye Limited Sighting Blended Straight Rye & Bourbon Whiskey represents an exceptionally rare treasure in the whiskey community, serving as a masterclass in unconventional blending and historical maturation curation. Universally celebrated for its highly innovative, cross-category architecture, this 2018 limited release stands as an annual hallmark allocation from the scenic High West Distillery campus in Park City, Utah. Crafted by the expert blending team who pioneered the premium American blend revival, the Bourye expression is specifically engineered to elevate the ultra-premium sipping experience, offering a rich profile capable of pairing seamlessly with fine culinary indulgences. Following intense anticipation from enthusiasts tracking each distinct vintage variation, this highly heralded small-batch bottling dramatically raises the stakes for craft blending, transforming highly mature heritage stocks into a historic document of artisanal wood interaction innovation.

This expression showcases a meticulous marriage of straight Kentucky-style whiskeys, balancing deep oak dynamics with intense wood sugars. The architecture of the liquid relies on a highly complex and sought-after multi-mashbill construction, masterfully joining straight rye whiskeys and straight bourbon whiskeys ranging from a minimum of 10 to 14 years of age. The core components include a remarkably mature 14-year-old high-rye bourbon recipe alongside complex 11-year and 10-year straight rye mash bills, sourced from both legendary Indiana stocks and historical Kentucky distilleries. These rare barrels underwent an intricate maturation journey high above sea level in the mountain air of Utah, allowing the distinct grain properties to elegantly weave into a unified profile. Unlike common mass-market expressions that dilute their profile for mass appeal, this non-chill filtered small batch release is bottled at a highly intentional 92 proof, delivering a significantly heavier and more viscous mouthfeel that blankets the tongue.

Inside the bottle is an unblended, small-batch finished premium whiskey with an opulent flavor profile that layers deep antique oak accents with sweet confectionary notes. The bouquet is remarkably expressive and aromatic, opening with a bold core of warm sweet molasses, rich brown caramel, and vanilla bean, accented by top notes of dark figs, plum, clove, and a faint hint of sweet honeycomb. On the palate, the whiskey feels remarkably smooth, oily, and full-bodied, balancing its heat with complex layers of rich butterscotch, cinnamon baking spices, and a delicate dark chocolate warmth. The mid-palate reveals deeper nuances of stewed dark cherries, roasted nuts, and a subtle herbal mint freshness that keeps the rich wood sugars perfectly in check. The tasting journey closes out with an exceptionally long, warming, and composed finish, leaving a sophisticated trail of luscious oak tannins, leather, and lingering spice.

Editions like High West Bourye sit at the absolute intersection of everyday luxury and extreme spirits collecting, combining elite multi-distillery sourcing with pioneering formulation milestones. The choice to step up to a sturdy 92-proof threshold ensures that the pour maintains enough punch and structural clarity to be thoroughly enjoyed neat or on the rocks without being overshadowed by its intense rye spice and sweet corn dynamics. For collectors and enthusiasts who obsessively track the evolution of limited annual releases, this striking bottle—instantly recognizable by its classic hand-blown glass aesthetic and signature jackalope label layout—stands as one of the most flavor-forward and texturally complete bottles ever released. It remains a definitive benchmark for what a blended American whiskey can achieve when historic heritage stocks are permitted to interact under the careful stewardship of a legendary high-altitude blending house.

• Size: 750ml
• Proof: 92 Proof (46% ABV)
• Age: Multi-Age Blend — Composed of exceptional mature straight whiskeys aged between 10 and 14 years old
• Origin: Sourced from Indiana (MGP) and Kentucky; Blended and Bottled in Wanship, Utah by High West Distillery
• Distillery: High West Distillery
• Style/Class: Blended Whiskey (A Masterful Blend of Straight Bourbon and Straight Rye Whiskeys) — Limited Annual Sighting Edition
• Composition: 100% Straight American Whiskey Blend (Non-Chill Filtered)
• Mash Bill: Multi-Mashbill Selection combining 14-Year Bourbon (75% Corn/21% Rye/4% Malt), 11-Year Rye (95% Rye/5% Malt), and 10-Year Rye (53% Rye/37% Corn/10% Malt)
• Cask/Aging: Matured for a minimum of 10 to 14 years in charred new American white oak barrels across Indiana, Kentucky, and high-altitude Utah rickhouses
• Series/Edition: Limited Sighting Series — 2018 Annual Release
• Tasting Notes: Sweet molasses, rich caramel, vanilla bean, dark figs, plum, clove, honeycomb, butterscotch, cinnamon, dark chocolate, cherry, roasted nuts, mint; long finish with rich oak tannins, leather, and lingering spice