High West Campfire Bourbon Whiskey
The High West Campfire is a blend of a straight bourbon whiskey, a straight rye whiskey, and a blended malt Scotch whiskey. The peated Scotch whiskey imparts a smoky taste to the blend, reminiscent of a campfire, and that’s how the drink got its name. Each of the three whiskeys has been aged between five and eight years. The Campfire whiskey is bottled at the High West Distillery in Park City, Utah.
History
After visiting the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky in 2001, former biochemist David Perkins founded the High West Distillery in 2006 along with his wife Jane. At the age of 40, David left behind a successful career as a chemist and Jane and he moved from Silicon Valley, California to Park City, Utah in 2004 and began distilling in 2007. High West Distillery became Utah’s first legal distillery since the abolishment of the US Prohibition Act after the last known legal still in Utah shut down in 1870. Like many other small distilleries, the High West Distillery blends and bottles whiskeys from other distillers.
David and his wife were visiting the Bruichladdich Distillery in Scotland when he noticed women simmering a bottle of peated whiskey and sugar. Later that night, David and Jane also enjoyed a dessert of ripe honeydew drizzled with peated syrup, and this is how the idea of a new blend was born. David decided to experiment and mixed sweet bourbon with peat and this combination is what resulted in the High West Campfire.
Making Process of High West Campfire
The High West Campfire combines a straight bourbon made from a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley and a straight rye made from rye and malted barley. Both of these whiskeys are distilled at the MGP distillery in Indiana. The third whiskey in the High West Campfire is a blended malt Scotch whiskey that is imported from an undisclosed location. The ratio of these three whiskeys is also kept a secret.
After blending, the whiskey is aged in new, charred white American oak barrels as well as second use Bourbon barrels.
Alcohol Percentage in High West Campfire
The High West Campfire contains 46% ABV (92 US Proof), which is slightly higher than the standard permissible limit for bourbons.
Awards
Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2018.
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High West Campfire Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes
Nose
Sweet scent of honey, peach, and spices with just a hint of peat smoke.
Finish
Dry and long with sweet and spicy notes coming through.
Palate
Rich notes of rye and cinnamon followed by honey and toffee.
