It’s the holiday season again, and what does that mean? It’s bourbon and whiskey allocation season! Most people associate this time of the year with BTAC and Pappy releases from Buffalo Trace. However, I have always thought that today’s bottle better represents the holiday and winter season. Today’s review comes from the High West Distillery and is their annual holiday release of High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram (Act 13 Scene 7).

Bottle Information

From the bottle label: Like the works of our favorite playwright, William Shakespeare, a glass of A Midwinter Night’s Dram is made to be savored, and over all too quickly. This limited-release whiskey us a sumptuous marriage of rye whiskeys finished in Port barrels. The rye forms a beautiful base of vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon while the port barrels provide noes of plum, dried fruit, and spice. Like a proper holiday plum pudding, it’s brimming with lovely mulling spices, dried fruits, and creme anglaise. Sip it slowly through the coldest night.

• Distiller: Bottled by High West Distillery
• Mash Bill: Undisclosed
• Proof: 98.6
• Age: NAS
• Year: 2025
• MSRP: $149
• 2024 National Average: $200
• Official Website

In past years, this bottle has been nearly impossible to find in the NoCo area. However, as the price has crept up, many 2024 bottles are still on the shelf, yet many stores in the area still choose to keep them allocated and release them only in end-of-year raffles. We searched high and low all across NoCo for months; well, not really, as I was a bit skeptical and truly debated about whether I should purchase this bottle, but this sounds better for a dramatic effect. We did finally come across two stores that placed a few bottles on the shelf at MSRP.

Thankfully, I am not disappointed with this year’s release, and this is a damn fine pour, perhaps the best in several years! Overall, A Midwinter Night’s Dram is back and finally once again offers those Christmas flavors of sweet port, raisin, fig, rye spices, and vanilla throughout. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Rich Red Dark Fruit, Raisin/Fig, Vanilla, All and Rye Spice, and Orange Zest
• Palate: Rye Spice, Vanilla, Raisin/Fig, Oak, Dark Fruit, Port Wine, and Dark Chocolate
• Finish: Medium to Long with Notes Sweet Port/Raisin/Fig and Rye Spice
• My Rating: Drink It!/Save It! (I am not disappointed with this year’s release, and this is a damn fine pour, perhaps the best in several years!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman®