High West Bourye “Limited Sighting” Review

Kyle George -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: MGP product then bottled by High West
  • MASH BILL: Component whiskeys:
  • Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP & 53% rye, 37% corn, 10% barley malt from MGP
  • Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP
  • AGE: Blend of straight Bourbon and Rye whiskeys aged from 10 to 14 years.
  • YEAR: 2017; Batch #17A09
  • PROOF: 92 (46% ABV)
  • MSRP: $79.00
  • BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com

KYLE'S NOTES

NOSE: Vanilla | Caramel | Spice

TASTE: Heavy Oak | Caramel | Honey | Pepper

FINISH: A Great mingling of the two here. Nice sweetness of the bourbon but still pulls out the spiciness of the rye. A touch of heat on the back of the palate with a smooth finish.

SHARE WITH: Anyone really, but I think those that will love it most are people who enjoy rye whiskeys.

WORTH THE PRICE: Little on the high side of the Bourbon/Rye blends.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I have been hit or miss with Bourye in years past and because of this I am cautious of it; so bottle after the bar. After sampling this batch, I will strongly consider buying a bottle for my bar.

OVERALL: Bourye is a beautiful whiskey with a great dark amber color. With a slight twirl of the glass, it gives off some nice thick legs. Past renditions of this blend I have not enjoyed, however, I have been very happy with this “Limited Sighting,” as High West is calling it. The nose, while having a little alcohol on it, gives off a beautiful bouquet. The more I sit and nose the glass; the more different notes keep presenting themselves. Would have to say my only real complaint with this pour would be the finish. Wish there was just a little bit more there; while the warmth stays with you, it just doesn’t coat your palate as some other whiskeys do. Overall this is a great product and would encourage everyone to try out.

BRAND NOTES

Distillery’s Sensory Notes:

  • Nose: Vanilla, Spiced Marzipan, Roasted Nuts, Dried Dates
  • Taste: Sweet Honey Nougat, Rich Caramel, Dark Ginger Cake, Mulling Spices, Cherries
  • Finish: Long & Rich with Roasted Pecan and Molasses

A unique and premium blend of rich bourbon and rye whiskeys, making for a premier sipping whiskey and one of High West’s all time favorites.

How to Enjoy
Bourye is best enjoyed around a campfire while looking at the Milky Way. Sip straight or with a little water. Not recommended with ice

The Name
Bourye is a combination of “Bou” for bourbon and “rye” for..well, rye whiskey. Because combining bourbon and rye is a bit unusual, we couldn’t help thinking of the jackalope. Honestly, we didn’t think anyone would like the name!

Back Label Story
The jackalope, also called an antelabbit, is an antlered species of rabbit, a cross between a jack rabbit and an antelope. It is rumored that pockets of jackalope populations continue to persist in the American West, its native home. In the old West, when cowboys would gather by their campfires to sing at night, jackalopes would frequently be heard singing back, mimicking the voices of the cowboys. When chased, the jackalope will use its vocal abilities to elude capture.

For instance, when chased by people it will call out phrases such as, “There he goes, over there,” in order to throw pursuers off its track. Legend suggests the best way to catch a jackalope is to lure it with whiskey, as they have a particular fondness for this drink. Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower and easier to hunt (believe it or not, all this mythology is true, we didn’t make any of this up). That’s why High West created Bourye®, our proprietary blend of mature Bourbon and Rye, both favorites of real cowboys and sure to attract even the most finicky of jackalopes.

All whiskeys in this carefully crafted blend are a minimum of 10 years old and sourced from multiple distilleries. See highwest.com for technical details and sourcing, that’s not a secret. However, the proportions are! Bourye® is best enjoyed around a campfire while looking at the Milky Way. Important! Jackalopes will attack if cornered or provoked. To avoid injury, quickly fall to the ground, remain calm and still, while humming the Roy Rogers song, “Happy Trails to You” (we did make this up!).

HIGH WEST BOURYE “LIMITED SIGHTING” WHISKEY BACKGROUND INFO

Disclaimer: High West Distillery 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.