PARK CITY, Utah (July 29, 2015) —The wait for the “ultimate western whiskey distillery”will soon be over. On July 24th, Pioneer Day in Utah, High West Distillery hosted an opening event for its new 30,000-square-foot world-class western whiskey distillery and visitor center on Blue Sky Ranch just outside Park City in Wanship, UT.
“After 4 years of planning, we thought Pioneer Day was perfect for officially christening and announcing to the world that “this is the place” for a western whiskey distillery,”High West Proprietor David Perkins said. “We’re very excited to share this phenomenal space and beautiful setting with whiskey lovers, and of course, our delicious whiskey and food.”
The distillery has installed and fully commissioned one of its four copper pot stills. Each is 25 feet tall, weighs roughly 10,000 pounds, and has a capacity of 1,585 gallons –six times the size of the 264-gallon still at High West in Park City. The stills are custom designed and manufactured for High West by Forsyths of Scotland, the same manufacturer of most of the world’s great Scotch whisky stills. High West’s distillers will make rye, malt, wheat, and bourbon whiskeys.
Although the distillery began production in December 2014, the facility officially opens to the public on Miner’s Day, September 7, 2015. “We felt Miner’s Day was appropriate given the role that mining played in Utah’s history and we all know what miners drank,” said Perkins. To commemorate the opening, High West will release Rocky Mountain Rye, a very limited 16-year-old blended straight rye whiskey. Rocky Mountain Rye will only be available for sale at the new distillery.
Located on a historic cattle ranch that covers 3,500 acres of scenic mountain peaks, the distillery will be open Wednesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting September 9th. High West will offer educational tours and tastings, plus delicious high country western cuisine. The facility will also be available for private functions after hours.
For more information on High West Distillery and the grand opening of High West at Blue Sky Ranch, contact Christa Graff, of Graff Public Relations, at 435-640-7921 or christa@graffpr.com.
About High West Distillery
Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870, High West's passion is crafting delicious whiskeys and marrying them with outstanding food. High West offers an outstanding collection of highly rated whiskeys, all available in the High West General Store seven days a week and holidays, as well as, at finer liquor stores, bars, and restaurants in 42 states throughout the U.S. and internationally. High West has three must visit locations. Our High West Saloon in historic Old Town Park City is the world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery, voted “Best Park City Restaurant” the last three years by readers of City Weekly, with a James Beard nominated chef and bar program. The Saloon was recently ranked No. 10 on The Daily Meal’s list of 150 Best Bars in America. Our High West Saloon in Salt Lake International Airport offers the best drinks in any airport in the world. Finally, at the new High West Distillery and Refectory in Wanship, Utah, we will offer educational tours, tastings and a visitor center featuring High West’s unique high country cuisine. Blue Sky is an historic working cattle ranch and soon to be luxury guest resort. Both Blue Sky and High West aim to build a landmark Western destination and resort offering an authentic and premium western experience. For more information and where to buy High West products near you, visit highwest.com.
