High West Campfire is one of the more curious bottles on our shelf, and that is exactly why we keep it pouring at Camp West in West Seattle. It is a blend of straight bourbon, straight rye, and peated blended malt Scotch whisky, which makes it the rare American whiskey that tastes like a bonfire on a cold night. For a cabin-inspired bar built around the idea of gathering around warmth, a whiskey literally named Campfire feels like it was made for our back bar.
About the Distillery
High West was founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife Jane in Park City, Utah, making it the state’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. A former biochemist, Perkins saw the parallels between fermentation and his old lab work and built a brand celebrated for thoughtful blending of its own distillate with carefully sourced whiskeys. Campfire grew out of a trip Perkins took to the Scottish island of Islay, where a dessert made with peated syrup convinced him that smoke and sweetness belonged together.
Style & Mash Bill
Campfire is unusual because it combines three whiskey traditions in one bottle. The bourbon and rye components lean on classic American mash bills built around corn and high-rye grain recipes, while the Scotch component is a peated blended malt made from barley. The blend is bottled at 92 proof. Marrying these styles is what gives Campfire its split personality of grain-forward American spice wrapped in gentle peat smoke.
Tasting Notes
Expect a wave of campfire smoke up front that settles into vanilla, honey, and cherry. From there it moves through chai spice, orange zest, English toffee, leather, and dark chocolate, with baking spice carrying the finish. It is smoky without being heavy-handed, sweet without being cloying.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
Campfire shines neat, where the smoke and sweetness have room to unfold, and it is excellent over a single large rock if you want to open it up a touch. It also makes a memorable smoky twist on a whiskey sour or an Old Fashioned. Our pour is listed at $18. If you are new to peated whiskey, this is a friendly, sweeter way in.
FAQ
Is High West Campfire a Scotch or a bourbon?
Neither on its own. It is a blend of straight bourbon, straight rye, and peated blended malt Scotch, which is what makes it so distinctive.
How smoky is it?
Noticeably smoky but balanced. The peat reads more like a smoldering campfire than a heavy Islay bruiser, and the bourbon and rye keep it sweet and spiced.
Ready to try it? Book a table, browse our full whiskey list, or see the complete beverage menu.