High West American Prairie Bourbon Review

I’ve been a fan of the High West American Prairie Bourbon for a while now – all the way back to when it was the High West American Prairie Reserve and I reviewed batch 4. It’s an excellent showing of what the team at High West can blend up when they get their hands on some good bourbons to play with.

I have a batch 1 in the closet from and someday I’ll crack it open to compare to what I’m writing today and what I’ve written in the past… and possibly the future. But today we’re looking at something more contemporary. Something that’s fairly fresh off the shelf and more representative of what you’ll find out there on your own whiskey journey.

High West American Prarie Reserve – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Region: USA

Distiller: MGP + Undisclosed (KY – likely Barton)
Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley (MGP) | 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley (Other)
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 2+ Years
ABV: 46%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: 18612

Price: $30*

Tasting Notes

EYE
Dark caramel

NOSE
Oak, caramel, baking spice, vanilla and some nuts.

PALATE
Oak, dried dark fruit, spice, leather, nuts and some vegetable oil.

FINISH
Med-long -> Oak, caramel, spice

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Good, medium, soft

High West American Prairie Bourbon – Overall
Aroma is not super expressive, but standard and true for what’s there – this is a simple oaky and sweet aroma with a good bit of spice that shows why people like bourbon; Palate carries the same from the aroma with an odd, but not unpleasant, earthy vegetable oil note I sometimes get in these releases; Finish is soft and warm with an oaky spicy fade that makes the next sip all the more easy.

A versatile bourbon that’s perfect for the beginner and the old hat alike.

High West American Prairie Bourbon – Final Thoughts and Score

I’ve been a fan of this since batch 4 and still think it’s a good sipper but an even better mixer. It’s a delightful bourbon that displays the bare minimum of what any bourbon should be. A perfect “new drinker” bourbon if you will but always a great cocktail bourbon, that’s inviting, tasty and isn’t challenging. But neither is it weak or light.

High West American Prairie Bourbon is a solid whiskey I’m always drawn to on those nights when I just want a good bourbon that fits that perfect middle area between aggressive and soft. It’s something every whiskey drinker should try, if not own, at least once.

SCORE: 3/5

*Disclosure: The bottle for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

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