Park City Adventures: Try the High West Distillery and Saloon

By Correspondent Marlene Greer

For those who enjoy a good whiskey, a stop at the High West Distillery and Saloon is a must in Park City, Utah. Here, visitors can take a tour and sample some of the company’s well-known whiskeys and specialty cocktails.

During a distillery tour, we learned that only locally grown grains are used. We also discovered the difference between Scotch, whiskey and bourbon and that Utah was the critical 36th state to vote against the 18th amendment and end Prohibition. The tour is offered three times daily.

I’m not a whiskey drinker, but I managed a sip of white whiskey (which a nearby taster called moonshine), as well as a sip of double rye (not for me).

But the High West Lemonade cocktail with double rye whiskey was delicious and the fried, bite-size macaroni and cheese appetizer downright addictive.

Speaking of food, Main Street is the place to go for après ski dining. There are many good restaurants to choose from. Downtown restaurants on weekends are always full. It’s best to make a reservation, especially at popular places such as Zoom, owned by Robert Redford. It’s located in the old railroad station.

We stopped in Zoom on a weeknight — with a reservation — and the place was packed. We tried the crispy calamari with lemon jalapeno aioli (too spicy for my taste, but devoured by everyone else at the table), Wagyu bavette steak, seared ahi tuna and wild mushroom risotto.

The dinner was delicious, but the service slow. I felt sorry for our harried waiter; he obviously had too many tables to manage.

Visitors to downtown can catch the free trolley or public bus from Deer Valley, Canyons and most Park City hotels. So take a day or afternoon off from skiing and spend some time exploring Park City’s historic Main Street.

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