Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge Distillery makes one of the best bourbons in the world. The distillery, which is only 4,000 square feet itself, is situated 9,600 feet above sea level, making it the highest distillery in the world. There, Jordan Via — Breckenridge's master distiller — ferments a mash of 56% corn, 38% rye and 6% malted barley in an open-top Scottish fermenter before distilling it twice through a $140,000, 550-gallon, Vendome copper-pot still originally made in Kentucky.

After distillation, the bourbon is aged in American white oak casks with a number 3 char for approximately three years and isthen brought to proof using pure Rocky Mountain snowmelt from atop Mount Quandry, which has a 14,000 foot peak. "In Breckenridge, we have fresh snowmelt water that's full of minerals and has its own flavor," says Bryan Nolt, Breckenridge Distillery's founder and CEO. "The pH is perfect and the minerals add taste to our spirits just as salt adds flavor to foods," he says.

This Distillers High Proof Blend preserves the essence of the raw Breckenridge barrel character, bottled at a solid 105 proof. “The whiskey as our master blenders experience it (for the true experience sip 20 samples at 8:00 AM before coffee)” (producer). This whiskey features aromas of rich butter caramel and toasted almond paste, followed by a medium bodied, luscious palate of vanilla sugar flavor, and a long balanced finish.