High West Distillery
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Rye Whiskey Vodka |
| Website | www.highwest.com |
High West Distillery is a manufacturer of distilled spirits located in Park City, Utah, United States. It is the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since the end of the American Prohibition.[1]
Distillery, restaurant, and saloon
The distillery operates, along with a saloon and restaurant, in an old livery stable dubbed "The National Garage", and in the adjacent historic Ellsworth J Beggs house, a two-story box house that was built in 1907.[2][3] The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Distillation
High West makes its spirits in small batches in a 250 gallon copper pot still.[4] High West uses a combination still, which allows for both use as either a continuous/reflux still or separately a pot still; this allows for a variety of unique distillates to be produced. In a July 28, 2014 article, it was revealed that many High West products, sold as "craft whiskeys" or "artisanal spirits", are actually modified from products purchased from MGP Distillery of Lawrenceburg, Indiana.[5]
Products
Rendezvous Rye Whiskey was the first commercial offering from High West Distillery. Rendezvous Rye is not distilled in Utah, but is a 92 Proof, non-chill filtered blend of a 6-year-old 95% rye whiskey and 16-year-old 80% rye whiskey. The whiskey is blended in Utah by High West using water from local sources. High West does distill and age its own whiskey, though none of it has aged long enough to be ready for commercial distribution.
Rendezvous Rye was a 2008 Winner of a Double Gold Medal at San Francisco Spirits competition. It received a Malt Advocate Rating of 95 in the September 2008 issue, Batch #10, and was one of Malt Advocate Magazine's "Top 10 New Whiskies of 2008."[6]
Vodka 7000 is the distillery's second offering. Vodka 7000' gets its name from the altitude of the distillery, which is 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. The vodka is unique as it is distilled from oats instead of potatoes or usual Vodka grains.[4]
Rocky Mountain Rye is a 21 Yr. Old, 92 Proof, 53% Rye, aged in used American Oak Barrels and non-chill filtered.
See also
References
- ^ Bennett, Andrea (13 December 2010). "At play in Park City". New York Post.
- ^ "Board of State History Meeting notes" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ "High West Distillery "Our Home"". Retrieved 26 December 2010.
- ^ a b Kulander, Charles (1 December 2010). "Warm Welcome in Park City". National Geographic Traveler.
- ^ Eric Felton (July 28, 2014). "Your 'Craft' Rye Whiskey Is Probably From a Factory Distillery in Indiana". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
- ^ Koppel, Louis (7 October 2009). "High West Distillery: Can Utah's rye, vodka and liqueur become the next Kentucky bourbon?". Salt Lake City Weekly.