High West Distillery Wins Best Craft American Whiskey

PARK CITY, Utah –High West Distillery was awarded top honors in the AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE'S (ADI) Best Craft American Whiskey competition at their annual meeting in Louisville Kentucky. In a blind tasting, ten judges evaluated 65 artisan whiskies and selected High West’s Bourye as Best of Show naming it Best American Craft Whiskey.  High West also won top spots in 3 of the 11 categories: Rendezvous Rye won “Best Rye Whiskey”; High West Silver Whiskey, High West's newest offering, tied for “Best Un-Aged Whiskey”; and Bourye won “Best Blended Whiskey”.  ADI is the industry association of micro distillers in the U.S. and has grown in size from 50 to 250 members in just five years.
 
"To have all three spirits that we submitted win best in their respective category is truly an honor," said David Perkins, High West Distillery founder and owner. "It's very gratifying given all the hard work to date opening a distillery in the last state one would expect."
 
"I am especially proud to have our newest whiskey, High West Silver Whiskey, win an award right after its release," said Perkins. "Clear or un-aged whiskies are relatively unknown yet have become very popular because they are great in cocktails.  Our Silver is particularly cocktail friendly because its made from oats, a very soft and vanilla-ish grain."
 
High West Silver was reviewed in February 2010 by the Beverage Testing Institute, which gave the un-aged whiskey a 92 points "exceptional" rating.  Said the review: "Clear with a platinum blue cast. Delicate aromas of bison grass, granola, toasted nut and grain, and chervil follow through on a soft, satiny entry to a light-to-medium body with hints of anise, pear and apple. Finishes with delicate, lightly warming, mossy stone accented fade. Very stylish and slightly reminiscent of shochu; will make great cocktails."
 
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, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the recipient of the 2010 Utah Heritage Foundation Award for Adaptive Use.  The Saloon is a quaint, family-friendly, full-service restaurant and bar where patrons can refuel on contemporary Western comfort food next to High West's hand-hammered 250-gallon copper pot still. The historic building has several wonderfully decorated rooms ideal for private parties ranging from 10 to 180 guests.
 
Visitors are invited to try High West’s small batch, mountain-crafted spirits including the award-winning High West Rendezvous® Rye, named one of Malt Advocate's "Top 10 Whiskies of 2008," and High West Vodka 7000'®, the world's only vodka made from oats. High West offers educational tours providing visitors a first-hand opportunity to see and learn how whiskey is made.  For more information and to find where to buy High West products, visit www.highwest.com.

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