High West Distillery & Saloon

High West holds the fine distinction of being one of the only ski-in distilleries and gastro-saloons in the world — you really can finish a run down Quittin’ Time and step straight up to the bar. It sits in a restored 1914 livery stable and Victorian home just off Main Street, and the setting does a lot of the work. The whiskey is the reason to come: Rendezvous Rye and Double Rye are the ones to try if you’re new to the range, and the staff are good about pointing you toward something you’ll actually like rather than the most expensive pour. The kitchen is a cut above typical ski-town fare, leaning into Western ingredients — bison, trout, game — with a short menu that changes with the season. They take a limited number of reservations and the wait for a walk-in table can be long in peak season, so go early or plan on a drink at the bar first. If you want the full production tour, the larger distillery at Blue Sky Ranch in Wanship is about 25 minutes out of town and worth the trip for anyone serious about whiskey.