High West Rendezvous 750ml

High West Rendezvous blends several straight rye whiskeys from High West in Park City, Utah, and the distillery’s flagship whiskey. It is made with a high share of rye grain and bottled at 46% ABV in the US 750ml size.

Buy High West Rendezvous Online in New Zealand

High West points out that most straight ryes use only 51 to 53% rye in the mash, the legal minimum or close to it. Rendezvous goes much further, which gives it a fuller, spicier rye character. The blend marries two very different straight ryes: one with a mash of 95% rye plus 5% malted barley, and High West’s own pot still rye, whose mash is 80% rye plus 20% malted rye. The distillery says the current recipe uses more of that pot still rye than before. Blending ryes of different grain recipes and ages gives layers of spice, sweetness and fruit that a single rye rarely shows on its own. The name nods to the mountain man rendezvous gatherings of the old American West.

Pour it neat or with a few drops of water in a Glencairn or tumbler, and give it a minute to open up. It is a strong base for a Manhattan, a Sazerac or a rye Old Fashioned, where the high rye spice stands up to vermouth, absinthe and bitters. Serve at room temperature, or over a single large cube if you like it cooler. Pair it with smoked brisket, salami or a pecan pie. A good pick for rye fans who find standard ryes too soft, or for anyone curious about whiskey from outside Kentucky.