The Details

Rating 94
Style
Whiskey
Produced In Indiana, Utah
United States
ABV 49.3%
Availability Limited
Price $149.99 
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2024-11-15

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Review

A seasonal chill brings a litany of American whiskey releases. But no bottle has staked its claim to the holidays quite like High West’s A Midwinter Night’s Dram. Now in its 12th iteration (13th if you count the one-off Encore release), “MWND” takes the brand’s Rendezvous Rye blend and finishes it for a (now unspecified) period in Ruby and Tawny Port barrels.

A hat tip to High West for disclosing the blend components, if not the exact percentage breakdown or ages. Rendezvous marries MGP’s famed 95 percent rye mashbill with High West’s own in-house distillate made from 80 percent rye and 20 percent malted rye. Some of the earlier batches contained a different, older blend of Rendezvous Rye, which then included a 16 year old component sourced from Kentucky.

Those highly aged stocks ran out years ago, and today’s Rendezvous base is younger, though still highly sought-after. The exact type and origin of the finishing port barrels can shift slightly from one release to the next, but generally, High West keeps the variables pretty consistent — including the final proof of 98.6.

Similarly, the iconic label has also undergone a few minor tweaks, but the central artwork has remained, which the distillery cheekily admits is “totally plagiarized from the first quarto edition of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ printed in 1600.”

I thought last year’s release (Act 11) was very good, following some up and down releases in the few years prior.

Let’s see how the latest A Midwinter Night’s Dram stacks up!

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 review.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12: Stats and Availability

This year, the MSRP for A Midwinter Night’s Dram remains unchanged: about $150. It was officially released at High West’s Saloon on Oct. 6 and has gradually been rolling out across the country since. In 2023, High West announced Act 11 consisted of nearly 190,000 bottles, by far the largest-ever MWND release. From my vantage point, that disclosure likely helped keep price markups in check, and I saw quite a few bottles available in various markets at or close to the suggested retail. There’s no official bottle count this year, though High West reps have suggested the brand doesn’t intend to grow the release much beyond what they disclosed in 2023.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

As soon as I pop the cork, waves of rye spice and red fruit fill the room (or at least my small section of it). It’s tempting to start scribbling down notes immediately. But we have standards, after all, and after our requisite five minutes of resting time in the glass, I go in for an “official” sniff.

A hefty dose of mint jelly kicks things off, green and slightly sweet like one might enjoy with lamb chops. The spice soon gets more pronounced, a blend of clove, cracked black peppercorns, dried saffron, fresh juniper, and cardamom pods. The early nose is a fun interplay between the herbal and spicy elements of rye, and both components of that base whiskey blend seem to be carrying their weight. Almost as soon as I identify a bit of grass and dill from the MGP 95/5, I’m drawn to the spice market character from High West’s in-house distillate. (In the latter sense, it’s reminiscent of High West’s recent bottled-in bond rye.)

I sense that rich red fruit later on via bright red cherries, plums, and cranberry compote. Compared to recent bottlings, there’s perhaps a touch more oak present.

The last few years of A Midwinter Night’s Dram have featured an interesting progression on the nose. I found Act 10 a little muted in its rye influence, and Act 11 brought noticeably more rye character. Act 12 goes a half step further, leading with the spice many longtime fans of the expression love. Those port influences layer nicely atop that base without relegating it to the margins.

Taste

Sweet fruit in syrup leads the palate, with cherries, pears, red plums, apricots, and dried strawberries and pineapple sitting thickly across the tongue. As to be expected with the expression, it’s rich in jammy holiday fruits, and it’s tough to think of much besides a brandy-soaked fruitcake. Comparing it to liqueurs, Cherry Heering is a remarkably close comparison, at least on the first couple sips.

A light, cooling menthol develops across the midpalate, which marks a shift back toward more spicy rye characteristics. This time, it’s macerated ginger, cinnamon, and more clove. Combined with some lingering pineapple, the clove especially evokes glazed holiday ham, with the lightest touch of oven smoke hitting across the middle and back of the tongue.

The back palate maintains both those rye components and a portion of cherry while introducing dark melted chocolate. By this point, that final cocoa-forward flavor has also started expressing on the nose, bringing each subsequent sip a little closer to chocolate-covered cherries.

Finish

While I enjoyed Act 11’s finish, Act 12 is a noticeable improvement, digging deeper into rich fruits (candied cherry syrup) while showcasing just enough rye spice to make it count. It’s a long, lingering, dessert-forward finale that harkens back to the early releases that made Midwinter famous. I’m specifically reminded of Act 4, one of my all time High West favorites and a high water mark for the expression.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Rating

94/100

Recap

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12 is delicious stuff, and a slight but marked improvement on last year’s version. In blending another winner, High West further cements the bottle’s legacy as one of America’s go-to cold weather pours — at least until next year, when we’ll review it anew.

*Image retrieved from Dan Campbell for High West Distillery

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94
POINTS
A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12
A seasonal chill brings a litany of American whiskey releases. But no bottle has staked its claim to the holidays quite like High West’s A Midwinter Night’s Dram. Now in its 12th iteration (13th if you count the one-off Encore release), “MWND” takes the brand’s Rendezvous Rye blend and finishes it for a (now unspecified) period in Ruby and Tawny Port barrels. A hat tip to High West for disclosing the blend components, if not the exact percentage breakdown or ages. Rendezvous marries MGP’s famed 95 percent rye mashbill with High West’s own in-house distillate made from 80 percent rye and 20 percent malted rye. Some of the earlier batches contained a different, older blend of Rendezvous Rye, which then included a 16 year old component sourced from Kentucky. Those highly aged stocks ran out years ago, and today’s Rendezvous base is younger, though still highly sought-after. The exact type and origin of the finishing port barrels can shift slightly from one release to the next, but generally, High West keeps the variables pretty consistent — including the final proof of 98.6. Similarly, the iconic label has also undergone a few minor tweaks, but the central artwork has remained, which the distillery cheekily admits is “totally plagiarized from the first quarto edition of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ printed in 1600.” I thought last year’s release (Act 11) was very good, following some up and down releases in the few years prior. Let’s see how the latest A Midwinter Night’s Dram stacks up! A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 review.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12: Stats and Availability

This year, the MSRP for A Midwinter Night’s Dram remains unchanged: about $150. It was officially released at High West’s Saloon on Oct. 6 and has gradually been rolling out across the country since. In 2023, High West announced Act 11 consisted of nearly 190,000 bottles, by far the largest-ever MWND release. From my vantage point, that disclosure likely helped keep price markups in check, and I saw quite a few bottles available in various markets at or close to the suggested retail. There’s no official bottle count this year, though High West reps have suggested the brand doesn’t intend to grow the release much beyond what they disclosed in 2023.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

As soon as I pop the cork, waves of rye spice and red fruit fill the room (or at least my small section of it). It’s tempting to start scribbling down notes immediately. But we have standards, after all, and after our requisite five minutes of resting time in the glass, I go in for an “official” sniff. A hefty dose of mint jelly kicks things off, green and slightly sweet like one might enjoy with lamb chops. The spice soon gets more pronounced, a blend of clove, cracked black peppercorns, dried saffron, fresh juniper, and cardamom pods. The early nose is a fun interplay between the herbal and spicy elements of rye, and both components of that base whiskey blend seem to be carrying their weight. Almost as soon as I identify a bit of grass and dill from the MGP 95/5, I’m drawn to the spice market character from High West’s in-house distillate. (In the latter sense, it’s reminiscent of High West’s recent bottled-in bond rye.) I sense that rich red fruit later on via bright red cherries, plums, and cranberry compote. Compared to recent bottlings, there’s perhaps a touch more oak present. The last few years of A Midwinter Night’s Dram have featured an interesting progression on the nose. I found Act 10 a little muted in its rye influence, and Act 11 brought noticeably more rye character. Act 12 goes a half step further, leading with the spice many longtime fans of the expression love. Those port influences layer nicely atop that base without relegating it to the margins.

Taste

Sweet fruit in syrup leads the palate, with cherries, pears, red plums, apricots, and dried strawberries and pineapple sitting thickly across the tongue. As to be expected with the expression, it’s rich in jammy holiday fruits, and it’s tough to think of much besides a brandy-soaked fruitcake. Comparing it to liqueurs, Cherry Heering is a remarkably close comparison, at least on the first couple sips. A light, cooling menthol develops across the midpalate, which marks a shift back toward more spicy rye characteristics. This time, it’s macerated ginger, cinnamon, and more clove. Combined with some lingering pineapple, the clove especially evokes glazed holiday ham, with the lightest touch of oven smoke hitting across the middle and back of the tongue. The back palate maintains both those rye components and a portion of cherry while introducing dark melted chocolate. By this point, that final cocoa-forward flavor has also started expressing on the nose, bringing each subsequent sip a little closer to chocolate-covered cherries.

Finish

While I enjoyed Act 11’s finish, Act 12 is a noticeable improvement, digging deeper into rich fruits (candied cherry syrup) while showcasing just enough rye spice to make it count. It’s a long, lingering, dessert-forward finale that harkens back to the early releases that made Midwinter famous. I’m specifically reminded of Act 4, one of my all time High West favorites and a high water mark for the expression.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Rating

94/100

Recap

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12 is delicious stuff, and a slight but marked improvement on last year’s version. In blending another winner, High West further cements the bottle’s legacy as one of America’s go-to cold weather pours — at least until next year, when we’ll review it anew. *Image retrieved from Dan Campbell for High West Distillery

Reviewed On: 11-14-2024
94
POINTS
A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12
A seasonal chill brings a litany of American whiskey releases. But no bottle has staked its claim to the holidays quite like High West’s A Midwinter Night’s Dram. Now in its 12th iteration (13th if you count the one-off Encore release), “MWND” takes the brand’s Rendezvous Rye blend and finishes it for a (now unspecified) period in Ruby and Tawny Port barrels. A hat tip to High West for disclosing the blend components, if not the exact percentage breakdown or ages. Rendezvous marries MGP’s famed 95 percent rye mashbill with High West’s own in-house distillate made from 80 percent rye and 20 percent malted rye. Some of the earlier batches contained a different, older blend of Rendezvous Rye, which then included a 16 year old component sourced from Kentucky. Those highly aged stocks ran out years ago, and today’s Rendezvous base is younger, though still highly sought-after. The exact type and origin of the finishing port barrels can shift slightly from one release to the next, but generally, High West keeps the variables pretty consistent — including the final proof of 98.6. Similarly, the iconic label has also undergone a few minor tweaks, but the central artwork has remained, which the distillery cheekily admits is “totally plagiarized from the first quarto edition of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ printed in 1600.” I thought last year’s release (Act 11) was very good, following some up and down releases in the few years prior. Let’s see how the latest A Midwinter Night’s Dram stacks up! A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 review.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12: Stats and Availability

This year, the MSRP for A Midwinter Night’s Dram remains unchanged: about $150. It was officially released at High West’s Saloon on Oct. 6 and has gradually been rolling out across the country since. In 2023, High West announced Act 11 consisted of nearly 190,000 bottles, by far the largest-ever MWND release. From my vantage point, that disclosure likely helped keep price markups in check, and I saw quite a few bottles available in various markets at or close to the suggested retail. There’s no official bottle count this year, though High West reps have suggested the brand doesn’t intend to grow the release much beyond what they disclosed in 2023.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

As soon as I pop the cork, waves of rye spice and red fruit fill the room (or at least my small section of it). It’s tempting to start scribbling down notes immediately. But we have standards, after all, and after our requisite five minutes of resting time in the glass, I go in for an “official” sniff. A hefty dose of mint jelly kicks things off, green and slightly sweet like one might enjoy with lamb chops. The spice soon gets more pronounced, a blend of clove, cracked black peppercorns, dried saffron, fresh juniper, and cardamom pods. The early nose is a fun interplay between the herbal and spicy elements of rye, and both components of that base whiskey blend seem to be carrying their weight. Almost as soon as I identify a bit of grass and dill from the MGP 95/5, I’m drawn to the spice market character from High West’s in-house distillate. (In the latter sense, it’s reminiscent of High West’s recent bottled-in bond rye.) I sense that rich red fruit later on via bright red cherries, plums, and cranberry compote. Compared to recent bottlings, there’s perhaps a touch more oak present. The last few years of A Midwinter Night’s Dram have featured an interesting progression on the nose. I found Act 10 a little muted in its rye influence, and Act 11 brought noticeably more rye character. Act 12 goes a half step further, leading with the spice many longtime fans of the expression love. Those port influences layer nicely atop that base without relegating it to the margins.

Taste

Sweet fruit in syrup leads the palate, with cherries, pears, red plums, apricots, and dried strawberries and pineapple sitting thickly across the tongue. As to be expected with the expression, it’s rich in jammy holiday fruits, and it’s tough to think of much besides a brandy-soaked fruitcake. Comparing it to liqueurs, Cherry Heering is a remarkably close comparison, at least on the first couple sips. A light, cooling menthol develops across the midpalate, which marks a shift back toward more spicy rye characteristics. This time, it’s macerated ginger, cinnamon, and more clove. Combined with some lingering pineapple, the clove especially evokes glazed holiday ham, with the lightest touch of oven smoke hitting across the middle and back of the tongue. The back palate maintains both those rye components and a portion of cherry while introducing dark melted chocolate. By this point, that final cocoa-forward flavor has also started expressing on the nose, bringing each subsequent sip a little closer to chocolate-covered cherries.

Finish

While I enjoyed Act 11’s finish, Act 12 is a noticeable improvement, digging deeper into rich fruits (candied cherry syrup) while showcasing just enough rye spice to make it count. It’s a long, lingering, dessert-forward finale that harkens back to the early releases that made Midwinter famous. I’m specifically reminded of Act 4, one of my all time High West favorites and a high water mark for the expression.

A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 12 Rating

94/100

Recap

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12 is delicious stuff, and a slight but marked improvement on last year’s version. In blending another winner, High West further cements the bottle’s legacy as one of America’s go-to cold weather pours — at least until next year, when we’ll review it anew. *Image retrieved from Dan Campbell for High West Distillery

Reviewed On: 11-14-2024