ACCOLADES

94 Points - Beverage Testing Institute

A- drinkhacker.com

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Clear.

NOSE: Big and complex starting with plums, strawberries, green apple, ripe banana and pomelos followed by rye grain, clove spice, mint, and herbs.

PALATE: Citrus fruit resounds leading to rosemary herbal spiciness.

FINISH: Very long indeed, herbal with a lingering note of meyer lemon.

COMMENTS: We like our OMG neat at room temp - this allows us to taste every bit of goodness in this delicious whiskey! However, OMG is also really good as the base in a mixed drink. Here are a few of our favourites: The 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion, OMG Manhattan, OMG Whiskey Cocktail (an old fashioned "Old Fashioned"). 

THE STORY

OMG had a different meaning in the 1800's - Old MononGahela rye. The Monongahela is a river in western Pennsylvania named after a Latinized version of the Native American word Mechmenawungihilla. The word means "falling banks" in reference to the geological instability of the river's banks, which are high, get washed out and therefore collapse. This region was the site of America's first civil war, the Whiskey rebellion of 1794. It later became the epicenter of American distilling when whiskey production boomed in the 1800's. Monongahela whiskey was considered so marvelous that it became the standard spirit of the young nation. Of the 2500 known stills in American, most were in this area; in 1810, Kentucky produced 2.2 million gallons of whiskey from primarily corn, Pennsylvania produced 6.5 million gallons of mostly Monongahela rye. Historians think the world began expect that whiskey should be barrel aged because it took longer for Monongahela rye to get to its markets on the East coast - and it tasted darn good. OMG was considered world class, even earning a shout out in Melville's Moby Dick ("unspeakable old Monongahela") in 1851. OMG's dynasty grew even more after the Civil War destroyed nearly all transportation from Kentucky south. But Prohibition changed all this. The distilleries in Pennsylvania all went out of business and the industry there never recovered to the extent the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky did. Rye whiskey had faded away...until now. High West is proud to be part of bringing back a true American product. We have painstakingly researched the recipe for our OMG Pure Rye, made from 80% rye and 20% malted rye. While it patiently ages to become true OMG, we thought you might like the un-aged version because its, OMG! Pretty good!

DISTILLING

Batch size: 250 gallons

Mash bill: 80% Rye, 20% Malted Rye

Distilled to: 134 Proof

Filtration: Not chill filtered, not carbon treated

Barrel type: Used Quercus Alba Dilution water: TDS 259ppm Distilled in Park City, Utah

DISTILLERY

A PASSION FOR GREAT SPIRITS, A LOVE OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Utah’s first distillery since the 1870’s, High West Distillery and Saloon offers a truly unique experience as the world’s only ski-in distillery and gastro-saloon. We are located at exactly 7000 feet in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Old Town Park City, Utah.

Founded by prospectors in the late 1860’s, Park City became one of the richest silver mining towns in the West, and the best watering hole in Utah. Our aim is for the High West Distillery and Saloon to contribute to that reputation. We invite you to share in our passion for great spirits, and our love for the American West.

High West Distillery and Saloon started with one man’s passion to make a great Rocky Mountain Whiskey. Proprietor and distiller David Perkins married his background as a biochemist, his love of bourbon and cooking, and his passion for the American West to bring the craft of small-batch distilling back to Utah, of all places.

"We wanted to call High West a "saloon,'" says David Perkins, High West's founder, "because we wanted to pay homage to the history of saloons in the old West and the important role they played in each and every town that had one. The saloon was the main meeting place where town hall was held, important announcements were made, and people went to eat and drink. We want people to share that sense of community and friendship over High West."

RESOURCES

For more information on High West Silver Whiskey - OMG Pure Rye click here