High Plains Rye by Jim Rutledge93 Points Wine Enthusiast: This is the inaugural bottling for High Plains, a blend of five straight rye whiskies from four distilleries in four states (Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, New York). The end result is complex, opening with cayenne and clove sizzle, rounding into vanilla and caramel. Adding water softens the effect to mocha, oatmeal cookie and pecan pie, finishing with baking spice and a buttery, toasty exhale.