Right in line with the 5-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, this blend from High N’ Wicked is a bona fide QPR star. Crafted from three- and four-year-old ryes and a four-year-old sweet-mash bourbon, the style is unbelievably charming for the price and the age of the components. Pretty, approachable aromas of apple fritter, apple butter, and woody herbs give a nice indication of both components in the blend. Soft, minty rye notes quickly emerge, along with pie crust, raw cinnamon, and sandalwood, with a top note of wild, brambly forest fruit. The round, easy-going texture is lifted by a touch of heat, which makes a great foundation for solid red fruit, cookie dough, and light milk chocolate flavors. Like on the nose, it takes a minute for the rye spice to kick into gear, but it’s undeniably present once it does. That forest berry note balances the minty lift nicely, as the whiskey’s solid weight carries through a finish of leaf litter, light tobacco, and dried pine. If it weren’t a limited edition, it would definitely warrant a prominent place in your go-to rotation. That said, get it while you can.
92 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Aug 2026)
Top Quality Store
