Item Details

How to Enjoy

Great neat, with a little water, or on the rocks. The high rye mash bill also makes Rendezvous Rye® perfect in one of the classic cocktails made with rye, like a Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, or a Sazerac.

The Name

Rendezvous Rye® is named after the annual summer gathering of mountain men known as the "rendezvous."

Back Label Story

Our inaugural whiskey commemorates the first recorded whiskey-fest out West. From 1825 to 1840, the “rendezvous” was the annual summer gathering of mountain men to exchange pelts for supplies. Alcohol was not one of the “supplies” at the first rendezvous. This oversight was quickly corrected with a generous supply of whiskey at the second rendezvous in Utah’s Cache Valley (and all subsequent rendezvous!). In this tradition of importing whiskey from back East, we craft Rendezvous Rye® from straight rye whiskeys with high rye mashbills (see highwest.com for technical details and sourcing.). A higher proportion of malted rye gives Rendezvous a unique flavor profile with notes of spicy cinnamon, caramel, honey, molasses, dried fruit, and vanilla. Rendezvous Rye® is not chill filtered, a cosmetic step used to remove the natural oils that cause a haze when whiskey gets cold. This also removes flavor, texture, and the lingering finish we really enjoy. If you see a harmless “haze” in Rendezvous Rye®, just swirl the bottle and it will go away.

High West is Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870 and the world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery. If you find yourself in Old Town Park City, please stop (or ski) by to visit us. We’d love to share our passions with you: the American West, our contemporary western victuals, American roots music, and of course, pairing all the above with our greatest passion – superb whiskey. Better yet, you ought to come out to our distillery in the mountains of Wanship, Utah. It’s a celebration of cowboys and the American West.

Technical Details

Ratio of whiskeys: top secret!
Filtration: not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.

TTB Designation

A blend of straight rye whiskies

Proof & ABV

ABV: 46%
92 Proof

Age(s), Distilled by & Mashbill(s)

A blend of older Straight Rye whiskeys ranging in age from 4 to 7 years.
Straight Rye whiskeys:
95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West Distillery

Barrel Type(s)

New, charred white American oak barrels

Sensory Notes

Nose: A big nose of cinnamon stick, clove, vanilla, peppermint, caramelized sugar and dried fruit
Taste: Very spicy, with cinnamon, crisp mint and fennel, underlying sweet notes of caramel, molasses, vanilla, macaroon, cocoa, and candied fruit.
Finish: Takes hold with huge rye spice, cinnamon, orange rind, and vanilla and it lingers for ages.

Product Reviews & Awards

94 Points- Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
95 Points- Malt Advocate Magazine
95 Points - Whiskey Advocate
96 Points (Exceptional)-Wine Enthusiast
Best Rye Whiskey- 2010 American Distilling Institute Craft Whiskey Competition