High West Campfire
High West Distillery in Colorado is an unusual beast - they started by sourcing their product from MGP in Indiana (while distilling and laying down their own) and slowly transitioned to their own distillate as more and more of it came of age. I’d consider them larger than a typical “craft” distiller based on their distribution and their range of products, and while not all are a hit, each is certainly unique.
High West’s Campfire is a blend of bourbon, rye, and peated Scotch. The aim was to create a dram that evoked the campfire spirit - burnt wood, sweet bourbon, spicy rye - all in a single pour. It’s an interesting idea….but not my favorite. The peat - undoubtedly Islay-style - was too medicinal and overpowering, relegating the bourbon to the background and the rye to another planet. Now, if they try this again using a different peat (Orkney or Highland, perhaps?) I’d be curious to try it. Campfires don’t make me think of Band-Aids and salinity, they make me think of charred wood. TL;DR: great idea, wrong execution.
High west Campfire: Specs
Classification: Blended Whiskey (Blend of 4-8 year-old peated Scotch, MGP 75/21/4 Bourbon, MGP 95/5 Rye, and 80/20 High West Rye)
Origin: MGP and High West Distillery
Mashbill: Blended
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Colorado
High West Campfire Price: $63
High West Campfire Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Hay, slightly golden.
Nose: Smoky and salty - definitely an Islay-style peat in there.
Palate: Stings right away - odd for the proof (a 92-proofer shouldn’t be stinging this badly). Tons of smoke and peat and salt. I’m not sure I’d know there was bourbon OR rye in there blinded. Mouthfeel is coating - objectively good - but the Scotch overpowers everything else flavor-wise.
Finish: More of the same - a little smoked meat sneaks in.
Overall: Again - like the idea, but the execution could’ve been more thought out.
Final Rating: 5.3
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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