High West The Prisoner’s Share Whiskey 2025: Finished in Red Wine Barrels from The Prisoner

High West Distillery tells BourbonBlog.com they have released the newest edition of The Prisoner’s Share, a bold, limited-edition whiskey that continues their acclaimed collaboration with The Prisoner Wine Company. Originally launched in 2022, this series has earned attention for its seamless fusion of straight bourbon, rye whiskey, and red wine cask finishing.

The 2025 release rolls out nationwide this month in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $174.99.

It features a carefully curated blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskeys aged between 4 and 12 years, all finished in French oak barrels that once held The Prisoner Red Blend from The Prisoner Wine Company in in St. Helena, Napa Valley, California (pictured below).

Each barrel contributes depth and character, enriching the whiskey with bold red fruit notes, layered spice, and a long, elegant finish that makes this a standout among wine-cask-finished American whiskeys.

About the Blend

Aged between 4 and 12 years, the 2025 release of The Prisoner’s Share is a carefully constructed blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskeys from multiple origins.

The whiskey is then finished in French oak barrels that previously held The Prisoner Red Blend wine, allowing the spirit to absorb vibrant notes of fruit, spice, and oak.

Each whiskey in the blend was selected for structure and flavor compatibility with the wine barrel influence. The detailed mash bills behind this release are as follows:

• 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley — sourced from MGP (Lawrenceburg, IN)
• 60% corn, 40% rye — sourced from Barton 1792 Distillery (Bardstown, KY)
• 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley — sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery
• 95% rye, 5% malted barley — sourced from MGP
• 80% rye, 20% malted rye — distilled in-house by High West Distillery (Wanship, UT)

ABV: 51%
Filtration: Particulate filtration only (non-chill filtered)
Finish barrels: French oak casks that held The Prisoner Red Blend wine

This finishing process gives The Prisoner’s Share its signature balance—melding the spice and depth of aged American whiskey with the fruit-forward richness of premium red wine.

It’s meant to be savored—best enjoyed neat with a splash of water.

Tasting Notes from High West:

Nose: Bright and aromatic with notes of pomegranate kernels, cranberry biscotti, and pecan brittle, followed by orange zest, cinnamon bark, light roast espresso, and a gentle whiff of tanned leather from a cedar closet.

Palate: Bursting with bold red fruit and depth. Flavors of Montmorency cherries, raspberry preserves on brioche toast, cacao nibs, brown butter caramel, and roasted chestnuts develop over time, balanced by a trace of bergamot tea and the grounding influence of seasoned French oak.

Finish: Long and elegant, with a note of black currant jam fading into a subtle rye spice.