High West Campfire Tasting Notes and Ratings.

High West Campfire

Added on Thursday, Jul 5, 2012 at 10:35 AM

Bottler:

High West

Age:	N/A	Type:	Other
Vintage:	N/A	Subtype:	Blend
ABV:	46.00 %	Region:	N/A
Price:	$55	Availability:	Specialty Stores

Campfire is a blend of bourbon, rye and peated Scotch. The bourbon and rye are both made at Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana; the bourbon is made from 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% barley mash; the rye is the high rye LDI mash of 95% rye and 5% barley. The Scotch is a blended malt whisky, likely a "teaspooned" malt, from the Scottish mainland.

Member Ratings and Notes

Tim

N: Nice sweetness, very smooth corn notes, mellow toffee, a touch of maple syrup. Light rye floral notes and a nice but not overwhelming dose of smoke. Slightly organic with a wooden tone to it. Traces of black cherry.

P: Warming initially, with some weight to the mouthfeel but not oily. Slightly earthy early, then showing a nice corn and maple syrup presence, a bit of cinnamon and black pepper to heat things up. Lightly earthy notes continue, a fint trace of wood at moments, and a bit of black cherry and vanilla. There's a bit of smoke on the roof of the mouth.

F: Sweet with caramel and some lingering black cherry and vanilla creaminess. A nice dose of smoke on the exhale, slightly organic and earthy.

The name might suggest a smoke bomb, but it's not. It's got enough to add a very unexpected dimension, but it's not immediately identifiable as peated scotch, and I think it works in this. It's a nice mix of sweet and smoky, but with enough rye in the mix to keep it interesting.

Sku

On the nose I first get a whiff of chimney smoke, then a generous dose of rye spice. The smoke and spice go back and forth making for a nice combination that's somewhat reminiscent of cigar smoke. On the palate that same interplay takes place. Smoke and spice are definitely the most prominent notes but late palate a sweetness comes in as well, as if the bourbon is fighting for its place in the blend. In subsequent sips I'm getting something different each time. There will be a sip with more prominent rye, one with more prominent smoke, all with the underlying sweetness. The finish has some dry smoke (like...a campfire) on the nose and some smoky spice on the palate.

This is a fascinating and totally unique whiskey.

Fuji

Tasted blind:

Big rye spice with warm bourbony sweetness and whiffs of smoke. Nice damp woody notes on the palate. Sweetness come from corn and cherry licorice. Finishes with some beeswax and vanilla.

Andy

n: New pencils

p: Fresh cut wood

Leave Talkback