High West Distillery was founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife, Jane. David, a former biochemist, was inspired to open his own distillery after seeing the parallels between the fermentation and distilling process and his own work in biochemistry during a trip to the Makers Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. In 2004, David and his family relocated to Park City, Utah to begin their new venture, where they began distilling in 2007. They chose Park City because of Davids love of the Old West and Utahs little-known whiskey history (see Utahs Distilling History for more).

High West began with humble roots, opening a small, 250-gallon still and Saloon in an historic livery stable and garage. What was once a small operation in downtown Park City has grown to be an internationally-recognized brand with four unique locations. In 2015, High West opened their distillery in Wanship, Utah, which acts as a space for educational whiskey tasting, pairings and tours, and houses a 1600-gallon copper pot still. Meanwhile, the Saloon continues to operate as a must-visit gastro-distillery, featuring alpine-inspired western fare alongside the original still, the Nelson Cottage offers unique whiskey-paired dinners, and the Saloon at the Salt Lake City airport allows for some last tastes of High West on the way out of town.

Double Rye

High West Double Rye! is made by blending two very distinct rye whiskies together, a lively 2-year-old and a sweeter 16-year-old that was made with a higher proportion of corn. It’s the kind of idea that makes everyone in the saloon stop and stare, including the old fella playing piano in the corner.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Mint, clove, cinnamon, liquorice root, pine nuts, and dark chocolate, with a surprising dose of gin botanicals throughout.

Palate: Rye spices up front, then menthol, mint, eucalyptus, herbal tea with wildflower honey and all spice.

Finish: Cinnamon and mint, gradually sweetening through the finish, with a hint of anise.