High West Whiskey

High West did something almost no one else was doing when it opened in 2006: it built a craft whiskey distillery in the middle of a Utah ski town. Founded by biochemist-turned-distiller David Perkins in Park City — the first legal distillery in Utah since the 1870s — High West made its name as a master blender, sourcing and marrying exceptional whiskeys before its own distillate came of age, and finishing them with a Western sense of adventure. The result is a lineup of bold, characterful ryes and whiskeys that have become modern cult favorites.

The flagship is High West Double Rye ($39.99), a blend of a young, spicy rye and an older, rounder one. That marriage gives it a bold but balanced profile — peppery cinnamon and mint up front, mellow caramel and butterscotch underneath — that makes it a brilliant mixing whiskey. It's a star in a Kentucky Mule or a Boulevardier, where its spice cuts cleanly through ginger or Campari. For something to savor neat, High West High Country American Single Malt ($99.99) showcases the distillery's own malt at high elevation — rich, malty and lightly fruited, an excellent introduction to the fast-growing American single malt category.

Because High West whiskeys lean spicy and structured, they shine in stirred and built cocktails alike — and the High Country single malt makes a memorable, gift-worthy pour for a special occasion like Father's Day. New to rye? Our explainer on bourbon vs. rye breaks down the difference, and the best rye whiskeys roundup goes deeper.

Explore more of the category in our whiskey collection, dig into bold ryes and bourbons in our bourbon collection, or see what's trending in our best sellers.