While American whiskey might be most closely associated with Tennessee and Kentucky, the spirit is distilled and bottled throughout the country using a wide variety of grains. USA Today’s 2016 Reader’s Choice is on a quest to find the best American craft distilleries in the nation, and as no surprise to us, High West Distillery was nominated to be on their list.
They asked a panel of whiskey experts to help them find the best craft whiskey distilleries. You can see all of the nominees here. Many of the distilleries work in small batches using locally sourced grains, many are family owned, some specialize in traditional American styles, while others focus on the Old World. But all of the distilleries, including our very own High West, take pride in crafting unique whiskeys worthy of any connoisseur’s collection.
High West began with humble roots, opening a small, 250-gallon still and saloon in an historic livery stable and garage in 2009 by biochemist David Perkins and his wife, Jane. What was once a small operation in downtown Park City has grown to be an internationally recognized brand with four unique locations.
Park City’s High West Distillery celebrates the American West with its line of whiskeys and bourbons. High West pot distills their Silver Whiskey Western Oat – an unaged oat whiskey made from oats and malted barley – in house. But they are perhaps better known for their blended whiskeys, sourced from distilleries around the nation. One of the more singular offerings is Campfire, a blend of Scotch, bourbon and rye whiskeys.
We know High West is the best, but lets share the love. High West is currently at No. 10, let’s get High West to the top of the leaderboard! Vote here! You can vote once per day until voting ends at noon Eastern time on Sept. 12.
And for your Miner’s Day festivities (and to celebrate High West), here’s High West’s recipe for their Whiskey Smash!
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces Rendezvous Rye
- 1 Lemon wedge
- 3-4 mint leaves
- 1.4 ounce Simple Syrup
- Mint sprig
- Lemon wheel
Instructions
- In a shaker, muddle 1 lemon wedge, 3-4 mint leaves and 0.25 oz of simple syrup together. Add 1.5 oz Rendezvous Rye and ice. Shake and strain over a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and lemon wheel.
