High West a Midwinter Nights Dram Rye Whiskey Act 13

The High West a Midwinter Nights Dram Act 13 continues the Midwinter Night’s Dram tradition by deepening the marriage of port finish and rye backbone. It’s rich, warming, and layered—ripe dried fruit and winter spice ride in concert with bold rye character. It’s a luxurious sipper, especially suited to fireside contemplation or a contemplative solo pour.

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Origins & Craftsmanship

• This annual limited-release whiskey is built off Rendezvous Rye, a blend of sourced and proprietary rye components, matured initially in new oak.

• For Act 13, that base rye is finished in ruby and/or tawny port barrels, selected to accentuate red-fruit, jammy, and oxidized notes without overwhelming the rye structure.

• It is bottled at full cask-strength (approx. 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV) to preserve intensity, aromatic complexity, and mouthfeel.

• Each “Act” is crafted by adjusting proportions of barrel finishes and blend ratios, meaning Act 13 will carry distinct character tweaks from prior Acts—likely leaning toward richer fruit and warmer spice than some earlier editions.

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Tasting Profile

Nose: Deep and inviting. Aromas of brandied cherry, fig jam, dried plum, orange zest, baking spice (clove, cinnamon), and toasted oak layers mingle with a touch of herbal rye lift and leather.

Palate: Rich and generous. The port influence brings notes of stewed berries, raisin, black cherry cordial, and dark chocolate, balanced by firm rye spice (pepper, clove) and toasted oak. The texture is luscious but grounded, delivering warmth, depth, and structural grip.

Finish: Long, warm, and resonant. Fruit lingers (plum, black cherry), followed by spice, charred oak tannins, and a closing echo of peppercorn and dried citrus. The rye backbone reasserts itself in the tail, keeping the finish from feeling overly sweet.

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Quick Overview

Notes & Context

• High West markets Midwinter Night’s Dram as a seasonal, limited-release bourbon/rye hybrid (though these are rye-based) meant to evoke winter warmth.

• With each “Act,” they retain the core concept—Rendezvous Rye plus port finishing—but experiment with small adjustments in blending, barrel inventories, and finishing proportions.

• Act 13 is described as leaning more into red-fruit notes (thanks to the ruby port influence) while preserving the familiar Christmas-spice, rye-driven character fans expect.

"Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream."
- Demetrius, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 4, Scene 1 - Wm. Shakespeare

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 is 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 notes of plum, dried fruit, and spice. Like a proper holiday plum pudding, it's brimming with lovely mulling spices, dried fruits, and crème anglaise. Sip it slowly through the coldest night.