High West Distillery, Utah’s award winning whiskey maker and the first legal distillery in Utah since 1870, held a ceremony on Friday to signal the official opening of its new distillery that is the culmination of 3 years of planning to create the world’s only whiskey distillery and luxury guest ranch. The joint project between High West and Blue Sky Ranch is located in Wanship Utah, 20 minutes from historic Old Town Park City and 40 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. December 5th is significant for this ceremony because it is the 81st anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition when the Utah State Legislature cast the 36th and deciding vote to end Prohibition on December 5th 1933.
“Blue Sky Ranch was the perfect partner and home for expanding our production,” High West proprietor David Perkins said. “We couldn’t think of a more natural fit with the High West brand than an authentic cattle ranch. We both wanted to create a unique destination that celebrates three enduring symbols of the American West that we are passionate about: its natural beauty, cowboys, and whiskey. Our partnership will allow us to provide guests a range of experiences that are unique in the world and will give visitors a truly memorable Western cultural experience.” The 20,000-square-foot facility, flanked by a 10,000-square-foot reception building, will allow for increased in whiskey making capacity with storage for aging whiskey barrels. The Distillery will be officially open to visitors in the Summer of 2015 when its visitor center and restaurant opens allowing High West to offer educational tours of the whiskey making process, a cutting edge culinary kitchen featuring High West’s “Best of Utah” high country cuisine and whiskey pairings.
Blue Sky Ranch is an historic working cattle ranch on 3,500 acres ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 feet of mountain peaks, rolling hills and deep canyons. Blue Sky is building a luxury guest ranch to open the spring of 2016 with a 30-room lodge and eight mountain villas, a world-class wellness center, an executive conferencing capability, and several dining venues featuring High West’s cuisine. Blue Sky currently offers custom western adventures including professionally guided horseback riding, Buck Brannaman inspired horsemanship clinics, trap shooting, yurt overnights, snow shoe tours, cross country skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, and a “Cowboy for a Day” experience. Blue Sky Ranch currently hosts weddings, corporate events and concerts in the 10,000 square foot Blue Sky Arena.
High West Distillery and Saloon is Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870. Located at exactly 7,000 feet above sea level in Old Town Park City, it is the world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery. High West’s passion is crafting unique and exceptional whiskeys and marrying them with outstanding food. High West whiskeys have received numerous awards and accolades, and Malt Advocate Magazine named the distillery its 2011 “Whiskey Pioneer of the Year.” The High West Saloon, located adjacent to the distillery, is a family-friendly, full-service, Zagat-rated restaurant and bar that was voted “Best Park City Restaurant” in 2011 and 2012 by readers of City Weekly. Visitors can enjoy contemporary Western comfort food next to a hand hammered copper pot still in a renovated 100-year-old livery stable and Victorian mining-era home, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. High West products are available in 39 states throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada, China and the United Kingdom. They are available for retail purchase in the High West General Store seven days a week and on holidays.
