What’s better than a secluded campsite, a campfire and roasting marshmallows? A secluded campsite, a campfire, roasting marshmallows and whiskey. But not just any whiskey or bourbon will do. You’ve been out enjoying nature all day, escaping the trappings of everyday urban life. You deserve something a little more premium than Fireball (no judgment here), something that compliments the smells and experience of unwinding next to the campfire under the stars. Sure a heavily peated Scotch whiskey would do the trick, but campers of today are less Teddy Roosevelt at the Explorers Club and more #vanlife millennials. For that, an American-distilled, and in some cases smoked, spirit is in order. These four whiskeys are worthy of the valuable space in your flask, or on your bar cart.
The Whiskeys
Balcones Brimstone
Balcones Brimstone is distilled in Waco, TX and lives up to its namesake. It’s smoked with Texas scrub oak using the distiller’s “secret process,” and according to Balcones, offers flavors of “candied oak smoke, English pipe tobacco, butter, orange marmalade, fruit cocktail, sweet tea and chili peppers.” Others have noted a distinct taste of barbeque. Brimstone was notably honored with the Liquid Gold in 2014 by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
High West Campfire
Coalville, Utah-based High West Distillery is known for crafting blended whiskeys that bring interesting flavor profiles to the table, and the brand’s Campfire whiskey is no exception. The blend starts with a straight rye whiskey, which is then layered with a 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt bourbon and finished off with a peated scotch whiskey to add the smokey characteristic. The spirit is then aged in new American charred oak barrels as well as second use bourbon barrels. Legendary whiskey critic Jim Murray gives Campfire a well-deserved 93 points.
