Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

High West: American Whiskey

By

high west american whiskey
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Utah may not be the first state that comes to mind when you think booze, but Park City is home to a distillery you should know: High West. It was the first distillery opened in the state since the 1870s, and after taking up residence in historic buildings, it’s been taking the drinking world by storm.

David Perkins, a Southern biochemist, started the aptly-named High West after he moved to Park City in 2004. Perkins studied the process in Kentucky and Scotland– two places which know a thing or two about whiskey. The High West compound includes a Victorian home built in 1914, and the National Garage (that made the transition from livery to automobile garage) next door, carrying beautiful scars from a nearby fire in 1981 that melted and melded the decades of paint on its sign into a cool mosaic of its history. The Utah Heritage Foundation even gave High West an award for giving these buildings new life. Did we mention they have a ski-in saloon at the bottom of the Quittin’ Time slope?

Recommended Videos

Now, there’s a caveat: High West is a very young distillery, so much of what they’ve created on location in their 250-gallon copper still is aging. To keep us in hooch while we wait, they’ve created incredibly unique, drinkable blends from whiskies made back east.

So what’re they serving? A lot. Let’s narrow it down a bit: start with their Rendezvous Rye. It’s won awards and for good reason. Two straight rye whiskeys, ten years apart in age (16 years and 6 years-aged) mix and mingle gorgeously in the bottle to create a smooth, spicy-sweet concoction of deliciousness. This is as close to “authentic” whiskey as High West thinks you can get and it’s best served neat, but that certainly doesn’t mean it can’t be used in your favorite cocktail. The name pays homage to the 19th century summer tradition of trappers reentering society for a day or two to drink and swap goods. Feel free to trade your own stuff while drinking this.

Maybe you’re in the mood for something a little different. Go for the 21 Year Rocky Mountain Rye: this whiskey sits around twiddling its thumbs in used barrels, which isn’t common for the industry. The idea is that because the barrel isn’t fresh, the whiskey’s flavors aren’t disrupted or overpowered by that woody taste. High West recommends 21 Year Rocky Mountain Rye as the perfect compliment to after dinner drinks: step aside, cognac. But hurry! They’ve only got 75 barrels of the liquid gold.

High West didn’t just conquer whiskey and cool their heels. They also offer vodkas. Vodka 7000’ is named after their elevation level and uses the melted snow filtered naturally in rock aquifers as the drink’s base. Unlike a lot of vodka makers these days, High West uses oats, which can make for a more difficult distilling process, but it gives the drink a distinct, extremely unique flavor palate you won’t find in most vodkas. Note to Hollywood: this seems like the perfect the vodka of choice or some very lovable, quirky Bond villain, or maybe even Bond himself. High West recommends it ordered neat, on the rocks, or in a dry martini.

Ski on into High West for a bite, a sip, and a tour.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
The 8 best hot dog topping alternatives you need to try
Forget the mustard and sauerkraut, try these creative toppings instead
Three hot dogs with different topppings

Summer will be here before we know it, so that means grilling season has almost arrived. Whether you have backyard barbecues, like to picnic at the barbecue pit in the park, or just want to harken back to your youth with hot dogs, why not get creative with some alternative hot dog toppings?
Our best alternative toppings for your dogs
You can prepare your hot dogs by steaming, boiling, or grilling, but that doesn’t mean the toppings have to be mustard only -- and no, we don’t put ketchup on hot dogs. We’re going to take a look at some of the most creative hot dog toppings out there that are sure to up your hot dog game.
Classic Chicago dogs

These hot dog toppings always will be a staple. The Vienna Beef hot dog reached Chicago during the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, and the Chicago Dog was invented in 1929 at a stand named Fluky’s. The hot dog was originally called the Depression Sandwich. The Chicago-style dog features a poppy seed bun with an all-beef frank topped with mustard, white onions, dark green sweet pickle relish, sliced tomato, sport peppers, a dill pickle spear, and celery salt. If you don’t have the celery salt, that is passable, but you definitely can’t have a Chicago dog without the remaining ingredients.
New York dogs

Read more
How to dry fresh basil: 5 ways to preserve this essential herb
Whether you grow it at home or buy it fresh from the store, drying basil isn't a difficult task
Fresh and dried basil on a wooden surface

One of the best herb plants to grow indoors is basil. However, basil is a delicate plant and can spoil very quickly once harvested. If you grow an herb or vegetable garden or buy the basil plant at your local grocery store, you will have an overabundance of fresh basil that you need to use or store properly. That's where we come in! We'll tell you how to dry basil that is fresh from the garden or store and the best way to store it.
The best ways to dry basil

Drying herbs is just one of the ways to store your leftover basil. There are several ways to dry your basil so you can have it at your disposal any time. If you like fresh basil, then you will love dried basil. It’s much more powerful than the fresh; all that flavor is just crammed into the crunchy leaves.
How to air-dry basil
Air drying is the easiest way to preserve your basil, but it's a longer process — about two weeks in the summer. This is what you should do:

Read more
How to make the best vodka gimlet for a twist on a classic
Swap out the gin for vodka
Gim gimlet in coupe glasses

When you hear the word “gimlet,” what do you think about? If you’re not a big gin (or cocktail) drinker, you might confuse it with goblet and think about a big chalice or some other drinking receptacle. But a gimlet is actually a cocktail that has its origins in the 1800s.

The original gimlet was (and still is) simply made with gin and lime cordial (or sweetened lime juice). One of the most popular sweetened lime juices is Rose’s. First introduced in 1867, it was a popular choice by the British Navy to add sweetness and lower the proof of their high-proof gin rations. It gained in popularity in the early 20th century. And, like many classic cocktails, it has gained a new faithful following with the rise in cocktail culture of the last two decades.
A different take

Read more