High West Distillery Manhattan Barrel Finished Cocktail Review

Kyle George -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: MGP
  • PRODUCER: High West Distillery
  • MASH BILL:
    - Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP
    - Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
  • RECIPE: Manhattan made with Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Rye Whiskey, Vermouth, and bitters
  • AGE: Cocktail is aged for 3 months in a used rye barrel
  • YEAR: 2020
  • PROOF: 74 Proof (37% ABV)
  • MSRP: $49.99
  • BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com

KYLE'S NOTES

NOSE: Black Cherry  |  Spices  |  Vermouth

TASTE: Orange  |  Vanilla  |  Raisins  |  Spices

FINISH: Long with a nice warmth and a light sweetness.

SHARE WITH: Anyone. There may be some cocktail snobs out there that will turn their nose up at this one, but you can’t  always make everyone happy.

WORTH THE PRICE: Falls right in line with other bottled manhattan products on the market.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle, especially if you don’t have the things at home to make a manhattan or are wanting to drink a manhattan while at a gathering or party.

OVERALL: Currently there are several bottled manhattans available on the market; High West has really put this one together well. All the right flavor components are there, and are well balanced. In the past when sampling bottled manhattans something was always off or missing for me, they just felt lacking.  This was not the case with this offering from High West. If you are not able to make a manhattan at home, or are going to a gathering and don't want to spend time mixing drinks, this is a great alternative.

My father and I both love our manhattans. When he came down to visit I made us each one at my home bar. I asked him if he wanted another and poured him a High West manhattan instead.  He couldn't even tell that I hadn't mixed it myself.  Either I completely suck at mixing drinks, or High West did a great job at making a bottled mixed drink.   I prefer to think High West produced an excellent drink.

BRAND NOTES

A premium pre-batched cocktail, matured in used rye barrels—allowing the flavors to create a rich, smooth, and well-rounded product

Back Label Story: The Manhattan, which first appeared in print in O.H Byron's 'The Modern Bartenders Guide' in 1884, is a true classic. We love this drink for its harmony, balancing just the right amount of sweet, rich, bitter, and spice. Like any classic, you respect what makes it great. That's why we use the time-tested Manhattan recipe featuring sweet vermouth, a dash of aromatic bitters, and our bourbon and rye whiskeys. What isn't a classic, but adds depth and complexity, is barrel aging. For that reason, we let our Manhattan age in used rye barrels to fully marry the flavors. Worth the wait, we hope you enjoy this most intricate rendition of a true classic.

CLASS & TYPE: A time-tested recipe for a “perfect Manhattan” featuring sweet and dry vermouth, a few dashes of aromatic bitters, and our bourbon and rye whiskeys

Proof: 74 Proof (37% ABV)

BLEND

• Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP

• Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP

NOSE: Black cherry fruit leather, stewed strawberries, orange peel, molasses, cinnamon bark, sage

TASTE: Cherry turnover, spiced apples, sun-dried raisins, candied orange rind, rosemary, savory spice

FINISH: Orange pastry rolls, dark chocolate, dried fig

HOW TO DRINK: Pour it over ice and garnish with a cherry

HIGH WEST DISTILLERY DEBUTS BARREL-FINISHED COCKTAIL COLLECTION WITH BOTTLED MANHATTAN AND OLD FASHIONED

ACCLAIMED UTAH DISTILLERY’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PRE-BATCHED RELEASES NOW AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 - Park City, Utah —High West Distillery announces the launch of its first nationally available bottled whiskey cocktails with the release of a Barrel-Finished Manhattan and Barrel-Finished Old Fashioned. These new offerings are part of the distillery’s renewed focus on the premium pre-batched cocktail category, offering an exciting new sip for cocktail enthusiasts and whiskey fans alike.

Conceptualized by High West’s Master Distiller Brendan Coyle and Beverage Director Steve Walton, each barrel-finished cocktail is formulated using time-tested recipes and high-quality ingredients. Utilizing a blend of bourbon and rye for added complexity, the cocktails are masterfully crafted then matured in used rye barrels, allowing the flavors to marry for a rich, smooth and well-rounded final result.

“Our goal was to embody the essence of these classic cocktails while incorporating our distinct High West flare. With a blend of bourbon and rye as the base, each has a unique added depth that sets them apart from other bottled cocktails,” shares Coyle. “We are proud to introduce them to both whiskey fans and cocktail lovers.”

Each bottling comprises a harmonious blend of bourbon, rye and aromatic bitters, with the Barrel-Finished Old Fashioned (43% ABV, 86 Proof) featuring demerara simple syrup for a touch of sweetness while the Barrel-Finished Manhattan (37% ABV, 74 Proof) includes two types of vermouth. Both best enjoyed over ice, garnish the Old-Fashioned with a lemon and orange twist and the Manhattan with a brandied cherry.

“Our bar program has been the proving ground for these cocktail recipes. We experimented with and served variations on these cocktails from behind the bar for years, ultimately resulting in these final recipes. We developed them to be complex yet balanced, and they can be enjoyed on their own or when paired with food,” says Walton.

Having previously released versions of a Barrel-Finished Boulevardier and Manhattan, High West is already a leading brand in the premium pre-batched cocktail segment. Widely recognized for their excellence in whiskey blending and award-winning mixology programs at their Utah locations, High West’s new barrel-finished Manhattan and Old Fashioned cocktails combine both of these High West specialties, offering a premier cocktail experience.

High West barrel-finished cocktails are available for a suggested retail price of $49.99 per 750mL bottle—serving approximately 12 cocktails—and $29.99 per 375ml bottle, which serves six cocktails. The collection is currently available at select retail locations nationwide and will be available online at highwest.com this fall.

Disclaimer: High West Distilling Co. provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.