High West Distillery

The horseshoe in the company logo honours the 100-year-old livery stable that the company is restoring as High West's distillery home.

Located at exactly 7000 feet in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Old Town Park City. With the winters snows the distillery can lay claim to being the only ski-in distillery in the world.

Park City Utah
Founded by prospectors in the late 1860's, Park City became one of the richest silver mining towns in the West and has long been regarded with justification as the best watering hole in Utah.

From 1825 to 1840, the "rendezvous" was the annual summer gathering of mountain men to exchange pelts for supplies. Alcohol was not one of the "supplies" at the first rendezvous. This oversight was corrected with a generous supply of whiskey at the second rendezvous in Utah's Cache Valley (and all subsequent rendezvous!).

The distillery aim is for the High West Distillery and Saloon to contribute to that reputation and the company invite you to share in their passion for good whiskey, love for the American West, and their gumption to bring spirits back to Utah.

The distilleries own whiskey will be available in a few years. They would like to age it as long as they can wait to let it get older.

They have distilled several batches already and they are now aging. The oldest is 1 year. (NOV 2009)

They are making several styles of whiskey made from different grains, The rye whiskey will have high rye content (85%)

the distillery in Park City will open to the public on November 28th (2009) It is a newly renovated set of buildings from the local mining era that are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It will be the world's only ski-in gastro-distillery!

There is a restaurant accompanying the distillery that will serve nouveau western fare.

High West Distillery crafts spirits for people who want great taste and appreciate quality ingredients, small batches, and the owner's personal touch.

Untill their own whiskies are ready they are bottling some from Kentukey

The inaugural whiskey commemorates the first recorded whiskey-fest out West. - Rendezvous Rye Whiskey-

In this tradition of importing whiskey from back East (while High West age their own distilled whiskey), they have crafted “Rendezvous” from two exotic straight rye whiskies: a 6-year-old 95% rye and an 16-year-old 80% rye.

Almost every other straight rye whiskey you can buy today is barely legal, with 51-53% rye

Rendezvous Rye Whiskey
A higher proportion of un-malted rye gives Rendezvous a unique flavour profile with notes of spicy cinnamon, caramel, honey, mint, and vanilla.

High West does not chill filter its whiskies because they prefer to retain the natural oils that contribute flavour, texture, and a lingering finish that you can really enjoy in a sipping whiskey. Bottled at 92 proof, the minimum proof where chill haze is less likely to form.

San Francisco, March 2008 – The most influential spirits industry professionals in the United States gathered at San Francisco's Mandarin Oriental Hotel March 15th and 16th to swirl, sniff, sip, spit and rank the world's best spirits at the 8th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the only competition of its kind in the United States.

High West Distillery Rendezvous Rye Whisky
Winner of the Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2008.

Two very rare and unusual rye whiskies
Tasting notes supplied by The High West Distillery.

“At High West Distillery, we think rye makes one of the world’s greatest styles
of whiskey because of its distinctive spicy flavour. We also like that rye whiskey is considered America’s original spirit and that it has a rich history. We were fortunate to find some very rare and unique rye expressions quietly aging in a Kentucky warehouse. These incredible whiskeys were destined for blending into Canadian Whiskey… until we sampled them.

We knew we had to rescue these beauties from being “watered-down” and offer them in their full-flavoured natural state.
We named these “Rocky Mountain Rye” for the whiskey that saloons imported to quench the thirst of the mining boomtowns in the Mountain West.

As a modern day saloon, High West is doing the same while patiently waiting for High West’s own whiskey to age.

“Rocky Mountain Rye” 21 year old
(Dangerously smooth)
This rye whiskey is highly unusual because it was aged in used oak barrels. Almost all American whiskey is aged in new oak and sold as a “straight” whiskey.
Used barrels result in a taste profile less influenced by the wood, allowing the moredelicate flavours of the rye distillate to prevail. Only 75 barrels.

“Rocky Mountain Rye” 16 year old
intense rye spiciness
This is one of the most intensely “ryed” rye whiskeys we’ve ever had the chance to taste. That’s because of its very unusual mash bill, which boasts 80% rye, 10% corn, and 10% barley malt.

Almost all rye whiskeys on the market today contain just over 51% rye because that’s the minimum the U.S. government requires for the label to say “rye whiskey”. Distilleries today tend to use more corn because corn costs less and they think consumers don’t like rye’s spiciness.

We disagree. With its high rye content, this 16-Year-Old gem is one of the most intensely flavoured sipping whiskies out there. Only 173 barrels.”