High West Whiskey

While boasting the area's most extensive liquor selection, we must keep up with what is trending in the spirits industry. It can be difficult keeping up with what will be the next "in" drink. Plus, staying on trend is often a gamble. Some "hot" new spirits sell well while others sit for months because they never catch on.

Luckily, bourbon and American whiskey have seen some staying power in terms of consumer interest in recent years. This past week we were introduced to one of the most popular brands selling in Chicago.

A whiskey distillery out of Utah - named High West - is making waves in the industry. We gave them a taste and quickly brought in a few of their products to share. 

Here are a few of their spirits you will be able to enjoy next time you stop in:

American Prairie
This bourbon mashbill contains 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% barley. Aged at least 2 years old in white American oak barrels, it pours at a 46% ABV.

Double Rye
The name is basically from the fact that this is a marriage of two different rye whiskeys. The 2 year old is made from 95% rye and 5% barley. The elder is from 53% rye and 37% corn. This spirit is best served neat allowing the mint, clove, cinnamon and chocolate nose to come through.

Campfire
Smoky, Spicy and Sweet. Their campfire is a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch whiskey with a 5 year minimum age. Aromas of light smoke or smoldering wood from a campfire the night before accompany its long, sweet and spicy finish. This would be my favorite of the three. You also get the taste of vanilla, honey and toffee. 

A longtime American tradition, whiskey production in the West dates back to the early 1800s. In Utah, distilling was a way of life because alcohol was a primary medicine as well as a way to turn food that would have spoiled into something of great value. Distilleries in Utah thrived up until they all ceased operations by 1870.

It was a long 100+ years before another legal distillery in Utah would appear. The first distillery since then to open was High West in 2007. 

High West is dedicated to preserving and promoting the American West. That’s why they want to raise awareness to one of the most fantastic projects of our time: the American Prairie Reserve in northeastern Montana.This Reserve is a 5,000 square mile land tract the size of Connecticut, restored to what Lewis and Clark hundreds of years ago would have seen. High West will donate 10% of after tax profits from each bottle to the American Prairie Foundation.

No need to travel West for a taste of this pioneer distillery. Give one of our three options a try today!