High West Yippee Ki-Yay

High West Yippee Ki-Yay — a blended straight rye whiskey finished in French oak vermouth casks and Syrah wine barrels, the only commercially available American rye finished in vermouth casks, producing a ruby-tinted whiskey that sits at the intersection of American rye and European wine cask influence.

Yippee Ki-Yay was High West's answer to a question the whiskey world hadn't thought to ask: what happens when rye — already the most botanical of American whiskey styles — is finished in vermouth casks? The French vermouth barrels introduce wormwood, dried herbs, and a fortified wine dryness; the Syrah barrels layer in dark fruit, blackberry, and tannin. The rye base, already spice-forward, weaves through both influences to produce a whiskey that shifts between American and European profiles with each sip. The result: a beautiful ruby red color and a nose filled with cassis, herbs, and cinnamon.

Released annually in limited quantities, each batch varies slightly based on blend ratios and cask selection — making it a sought-after collector expression as well as a distinctive sipper.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Cinnamon, crème de cassis, and herbs including rosemary and sage
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, and blackberries
• Finish: Orange peel, mint chocolate, and clover honey

Specs

• Distillery: High West Distillery, Park City, Utah
• Style: Blended Straight Rye Whiskey, Wine Cask Finished
• Finish: French vermouth casks + Syrah wine barrels
• ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

Browse all rye whiskey at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes Yippee Ki-Yay unique? It is the only commercially available American rye finished in French vermouth casks — adding botanical herbal complexity and a cassis-forward character unavailable in any standard rye expression.
• Is Yippee Ki-Yay the same every year? No — each batch varies based on blend ratios and cask selection, making earlier batches collectible as distinct expressions in the series.
• How should I drink Yippee Ki-Yay? Neat or with a single large ice cube — the vermouth and Syrah finish complexity deserves space to open up. Also exceptional in a Manhattan.