High West whiskies

History

High West was born in the mid-2000s at the hands of a biochemist passionate about whiskey, who opened a small distillery and a saloon in Park City, a mining town turned ski resort. While his own whiskey matured, he made a name for himself with blends of bought whiskeys, often very original, such as the combination of bourbon, rye and peated Scotch malt. Success allowed him to build a larger distillery on a nearby ranch. In 2016 it was bought by the Constellation Brands group.

House style

High West’s style is that of blending: spicy, aromatic ryes, sweet, balanced bourbons and unusual combinations such as Campfire, with peat smoke. The house works a lot with rye, with profiles of pepper, cinnamon, mint and aniseed. It bottles at 46% ABV with a very careful sense of balance. Its whiskeys are much appreciated by bartenders because they bring flavour and complexity to classic cocktails such as the Manhattan or the Old Fashioned, but they are also enjoyed neat. It is a house that shows that blending well is an art in itself, and that you don’t need to distil all your own whiskey to create something with personality.

Where to start

If you like rye, start with Double Rye!, lively and spicy, and then move up to Rendezvous Rye. If you prefer bourbon, American Prairie is the sweetest option. And if you’re after something different, Campfire blends bourbon, rye and smoky malt. All of them are enjoyed neat or in cocktails.

• High West Double Rye!Rye · 46% ABV
• High West American Prairie BourbonBourbon · 46% ABV
• High West CampfireOther American · 46% ABV