Like the rest of the country, the whiskey trails in the Western part of the United States are vast and full of options to explore. The area’s rugged and varied terrain reflects the do-it-yourself attitude of distillers who’ve set up shop in all manner of places, be it small remote towns, large urban centers, or far-out places in the wilderness. Drawing from local ingredients and influenced by local microclimates, the distilleries — and the whiskeys they make — reflect a relaxed and creative attitude common in this part of the country.
Whether it’s the stunningly beautiful Pacific Northwest, influenced by its single malts, or the wide open flats of Colorado and its varied whiskey styles, there’s much to explore. (Even Canada plays a role in this journey, so have those passports handy to explore the whiskeys on the left side of the continent.)
Northwest Whiskey Trail
In the northwest part of the United States and up into Canada, a distiller breed exists that focuses on making North American single malts. This part of the world plays a huge role in producing barley, so it’s no wonder this style of whiskey dominates the region. From here, one can jump on the aptly named Northwest Whiskey Trail, bringing travelers to whiskey makers with a heavy emphasis on local grain use in their spirits.
Starting one’s journey in Canada, a stop-off on this trail should be British Columbia’s Shelter Point. Nestled near the Pacific Ocean and sitting among acres and acres of farmland,
