2025 Day 7 - Whiskey War Single Barrel Cigar - “Would you like fries with that?”
- Paul Mora
- Dec 18, 2025
- 1 min read
Today's selection comes from High Bank Distillery out of Westerville Ohio.
This is a single barrel whiskey that comes in at 116.88 proof. The undisclosed mashbill states it's a rye heavy blend.
First off, the nose is a combination of tropical and holiday. That speaks to coconut cream, pineapple and apple bread with all the spices that go it. It’s like apple bread meets a pina colada…
The palette starts with that apple and spice, I get a bit of banana, woody spice and pepper. The finish is lingering with notes of vanilla and coconut.
This would make an interesting Old-Fashioned cocktail. Although peppery, I would not consider this a rye. However, it is quite tasty and considering its high alcohol content, drinks smooth. I have no hesitation in recommending this as a mixed drink or as a holiday sip.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
We are halfway though and we hope you are enjoying this year’s selections.
This one was a surprise--coconut, yesindeedy! Matter of fact, I think I'd drink this with a handful of those mini Mounds candy bars in the other hand. Now, I think Paul's onto something, here, with the Old Fashioned nod: looks like Whiskey War actually bottles their own Old Fashioned, too, so that makes me think I'm gonna need to own that bottle, too. Do I expect my bars to stock Whiskey War? No. My bars all seem to stock the same photo of a certain Hells Angel above the bar over the usual suspects when it comes to their whiskey selects, but that doesn't mean I don't need this one in the home bar when ALL of you are invited over…
I will take "Tastes like coconut" for $200 Alex....What are Things You Don't Expect When Drinking Whisky? CORRECT!
There is so much to unpack with this one. Like where does the cigar come into the name, and how is a distillery in Ohio getting locally grown coconuts? Our first smell we could tell this would be a sweater sip. It didn't put off vapors like it was going to be firewater, so color me surprised when I read it was pushing 117 proof.
Then there is the taste. We both noted spice right off the bat, but as it settled (warming me from the inside out), I was left was something I really couldn't describe other a "sweet cream, almos…
Really enjoy this unique flavor profile. I even get a bit of black licorice at the end of the mid before the peppery finale.
Ooo, I like this one. It's light, slightly sweet, and a little fruity. It's very drinkable. I like the idea of this in an Old Fashioned. That would be really nice!