High West Distillery Names ‘Pioneer of the Year’ in Malt Advocate Magazine’s Whisky Awards

PARK CITY, Utah (March 21, 2011) –High West Distillery was just named “Pioneer of the Year” in Malt Advocate Magazine’s annual Whiskey Awards. As America’s leading whiskey publication, Malt Advocate’s award recognizes High West’s innovative approach to developing unique and highly rated whiskies.

John Hansell, the editor of Malt Advocate, said High West “…has made my American whiskey drinking A LOT more fun and exciting.”  Hansell also said of David Perkins, High West’s Proprietor, “Perkins is blending American straight whiskeys, something that distillers had largely stopped doing decades ago…no one else in America is doing this, and [Perkins is] doing it well, pioneering in new territory.”  Hansell went on to say “…he’s bringing whiskeys to light that might otherwise have died a woody death, and making something great out of them, by blending them together…really, really well. These are killer whiskeys, just check their ratings in our Buyers Guide.”

In addition to the incredible Malt Advocate award, High West received two other distinguished awards last week. In its annual dining awards, Salt Lake Magazine awarded High West Distillery and Saloon with “Best Design,” recognizing the exceptional design and ambiance that High West created when it renovated the historic National Garage.  Finally, High West’s Executive Chef James Dumas won the top honor, called “Judge’s Choice”, at the 7^th annual Arts-Kids culinary cook-off and fundraising campaign for the local youth development non-profit. Dumas used all local ingredients in his Whiskey Barbeque Pulled Pork Parmesan Biscuit appetizer.

These three awards recognize High West’s passionate and creative approach to not only its whiskey, but also to its comfortable atmosphere and high quality food.  “We like to celebrate the entire experience of enjoying fine whiskey combining it with excellent locally sourced food in a casual and comfortable historic Old West setting,” said Perkins. “I’m so proud of all the High West employees.  They are all so passionate and love to share what High West is all about.  None of these awards would be possible without them.”  For more information on High West, please visit www.highwest.com or contact Christa Graff at christa@graffpr.com or 435.640.7921.

About High West Distillery & Saloon

High West Distillery & Saloon is Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870 and the World’s only Ski-in Gastro-distillery. Located at exactly 7000' in the heart of Old Town Park City, High West’s home is a renovated 100-year-old livery stable and Victorian mining-era home. The renovation earned the 2010 Utah Heritage Foundation Award for Adaptive Use and both buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  High West's passion is crafting unique and exceptional whiskies.   At the American Distilling Institute’s 2010 Craft American Whiskey Competition, High West's Bourye won the top accolade “Best Craft American Whiskey”.  In addition, High West also won Best Rye Whiskey, Best Blended Whiskey, and tied for Best Un-aged Whiskey. High West’s Saloon is a Zagat rated, family friendly, full-service restaurant and bar where visitors can refuel on contemporary western comfort food next to High West’s hand hammered 250-gallon copper pot still. High West products are available in 18 states throughout the U.S. For more information and to find where to buy High West products near you, please visit highwest.com.

Christa Graff
Graff Public Relations, LLC
435.640.7921 christa@graffpr.com