We recently had the opportunity to try a new offering from High West called The Prisoner’s Share. The Prisoner’s Share is a blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskeys that are finished in The Prisoner Red Wine Barrels for 4-12 years. It is 51% ABV (102 Proof).
When we first put eyes on the bottle the first thing that stood out was just how dark the whiskey was. It was a deep dark brown with a reddish tint to it. In the bottle it almost reminded me of a rich burgundy. The juice itself has a suggested price of $174.99; however, it is fetching a much steeper price tag online currently. Being that this is a limited release, if you want to get your hands on a bottle I would not wait too long.
On the nose, I was greeted with warm notes of cinnamon, coffee, and nutmeg. Very straight forward aroma and reminded me of the cozy scents of winter. At first sip, I was greeted with a burst of cherries and chocolate similar to the Queen Anne candies which was followed quickly by a more mellow flavor of caramel. The finish was where this whiskey truly shined for me, flavors of black cherry, coffee, and pecans. There was a slight spice to the whiskey and good mouthfeel overall. I have not tried The Prisoner wine so I won’t be able to have a solid feel for what flavors if any were left behind from the barrel but with this unique profile I would imagine so.
This bottle was provided for us in mid-June and would have been emptied much sooner if we didn’t have some travel mixed in. During my travels I contemplated returning and trying this in cocktails but this is a neat sipper all day, add a splash if that is your preference but certainly not needed to bring out these flavors, and I wouldn’t venture past that. This is a dark, complex, and full-flavored whiskey and one of the most enjoyable offerings I’ve had in recent years. As I mentioned above, if you are interested in getting a bottle this is a limited release and from what I’m seeing already fetching prices online far above the suggested price. The suggested price is priced right in my opinion for what you get. It’s unique and not your everyday whiskey and one that would feel most at home on a collector’s shelf for the special occasion pour. I enjoyed this whiskey overall and I would recommend it. I am certainly going to try and get my hands on another bottle before they are gone.
