High West Rendezvous Rye

High West Distillery was founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife, Jane. David, a former biochemist, was inspired to open his own distillery after seeing the parallels between the fermentation and distilling process and his own work in biochemistry during a trip to the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. In 2004, David and his family relocated to Park City, Utah to begin their new venture, where they began distilling in 2007. They chose Park City because of David’s love of the Old West and Utah’s little-known whiskey history.

The Name

Rendezvous Rye® is named after the annual summer gathering of mountain men known as the "rendezvous."

Back Label Story

Our inaugural whiskey commemorates the first recorded whiskey-fest out West. From 1825 to 1840, the “rendezvous” was the annual summer gathering of mountain men to exchange pelts for supplies. Alcohol was not one of the “supplies” at the first rendezvous. This oversight was quickly corrected with a generous supply of whiskey at the second rendezvous in Utah’s Cache Valley (and all subsequent rendezvous!). In this tradition of importing whiskey from back East, we craft Rendezvous Rye from straight rye whiskeys with high rye mashbills.

A higher proportion of malted rye gives Rendezvous a unique flavor profile with notes of spicy cinnamon, caramel, honey, molasses, dried fruit, and vanilla. Rendezvous Rye® is not chill filtered, a cosmetic step used to remove the natural oils that cause a haze when whiskey gets cold. This also removes flavor, texture, and the lingering finish we really enjoy. If you see a harmless “haze” in Rendezvous Rye®, just swirl the bottle and it will go away.

High West is Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870 and the world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery. If you find yourself in Old Town Park City, please stop (or ski) by to visit us. We’d love to share our passions with you: the American West, our contemporary western victuals, American roots music, and of course, pairing all the above with our greatest passion – superb whiskey. Better yet, you ought to come out to our distillery in the mountains of Wanship, Utah. It’s a celebration of cowboys and the American West.

Technical Details

Ratio of whiskeys: top secret!
Filtration: not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.

TTB Designation

A blend of straight rye whiskies

Age(s), Distilled by & Mashbill(s)

A blend of older Straight Rye whiskeys ranging in age from 4 to 7 years.
Straight Rye whiskeys:
95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West Distillery

Barrel Type(s)

New, charred white American oak barrels

Sensory Notes

Nose: A big nose of cinnamon stick, clove, vanilla, peppermint, caramelized sugar and dried fruit
Taste: Very spicy, with cinnamon, crisp mint and fennel, underlying sweet notes of caramel, molasses, vanilla, macaroon, cocoa, and candied fruit.
Finish: Takes hold with huge rye spice, cinnamon, orange rind, and vanilla and it lingers for ages.