November 16, 2022 - High West Distillery and The Prisoner Wine Company have unveiled their first ever partnership with the release of two limited-edition offerings – The Prisoner’s Share, a blend of High West bourbon and rye whiskeys finished in The Prisoner wine barrels and Complicit, a red blend aged for 12 months in a mix of new, neutral and High West barrels. High West, the Park City-based distillery, is known for its meticulously sourced and innovatively blended whiskeys. Recognized as one of the most innovative wine brands on the market, The Prisoner led the resurgence of California luxury red blends and quickly achieved cult status upon its first release in 2000.

“At a glance, the collaboration between The Prisoner and High West might feel unexpected, when in reality it couldn’t make more sense,” said Daniel Schear, General Manager of High West. “Both of these brands have essentially done what they aren’t supposed to do, whether that’s setting up a whiskey Distillery out West or proudly sourcing and blending innovative wines to create the most robust, flavorful offerings. When someone said, ‘what if we did a barrel swap,’ it was a lightbulb moment.”

  • Bottled at 102 proof, The Prisoner’s Share ($174.99) is a meticulous blend of High West’s straight bourbon and rye whiskeys aged between four and 15 years and finished in French Oak barrels used to age The Prisoner Red Blend, the brand’s flagship wine. Finishing this expression in The Prisoner red wine barrels enhanced complexity and allowed the distilling team to highlight their favorite elements of both bourbon and rye in a new setting. The Prisoner’s Share is available in limited quantities nationwide and at the High West General Store in Park City, Utah, reopening for the season December 1st.
  • Complicit, ($100.00) The Prisoner Wine Company’s interpretation of a whiskey barrel-aged wine, is made with Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Viogner that is partially aged in a mix of High West bourbon and rye barrels for 12 months. This is a true Prisoner wine, showcasing a phenomenal blend of wines with a slight influence from the barrels that twist the oak and spice profile. Complicit is available for purchase at The Prisoner Wine Company Tasting Room in St. Helena, California or online at com.

“The Prisoner Wine Company’s ethos is rooted in collaboration, and we’re excited to showcase our interpretation of whiskey barrel-aged wine in partnership with our friends at High West,” says Chrissy Wittmann, Senior Director of Winemaking at The Prisoner. “It’s a true Prisoner wine with a kiss of influence from the bourbon and rye barrels that twist the oak and spice profile while showcasing our phenomenal Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah.”

“While finishing whiskey in red wine barrels has grown in popularity in recent years, our team knew we could still create something special in collaboration with The Prisoner,” said Brendan Coyle, Master Distiller at High West. “We dove into our whiskey inventory to determine what unique lots exceeded our sensory expectations and could be used in this blend. True to High West’s nature, those lots were blended until we found the most balanced and complex expression. Blending, discovering, and innovating is in High West’s DNA, and this collaboration with The Prisoner allowed us the opportunity to create a perfect, synergistic flavor pairing.”

For more information on The Prisoner’s Share and Complicit, visit highwest.com and theprisonerwinecompany.com.

###

ABOUT HIGH WEST DISTILLERY

Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870, High West’s passion is crafting delicious and distinctive whiskeys and helping people appreciate whiskey all in the context of our home, the American West. High West offers an outstanding collection of highly rated whiskeys in finer liquor stores, bars, and restaurants in all 50 U.S. states and internationally.

High West was honored to receive Whisky Advocate’s prestigious Distiller of the Year award in 2016. The ultimate authority on whisky said, “High West delivers innovative and delicious whiskeys, expands the definition of what it is to be a distiller, and pioneered a successful new paradigm for craft distilling.”

High West’s must-visit locations include our High West Distillery in Wanship, Utah, a 30,000 square foot world-class distillery and visitor center featuring educational tours and High West’s unique country-western cuisine; and our High West Distillery & Saloon in historic Old Town Park City, the world’s only ski-in gastro distillery that was voted “Best Park City Restaurant” by readers of City Weekly. It has received multiple accolades including earning Best Après Ski Bar in Utah by USA TODAY’s 10Best being named a finalist in the 2020 Park City’s Best Awards for Best Après Ski, a nomination for Best Bar by the James Beard Foundation, and a top-10 ranking on The Daily Meal’s list of 150 Best Bars in America.

ABOUT THE PRISONER AND THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY

When The Prisoner was released two decades ago as a complex blend of some of California’s best and most unusual grape varieties, it swiftly and permanently changed the American perception of what a red blend wine could be. As a result, The Prisoner has become one of the most iconic luxury wine brands, growing to include a range of rule-bending blends with provocative label designs. It was also the inspiration for the portfolio of brands. Today, Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann and her team work with over 100 growers in northern California, bringing together exceptional fruit to produce a family of bold and intriguing wines. The Prisoner Wine Company is located on Highway 29 in Napa Valley and welcomes visitors year-round for an unexpected, immersive experience. https://theprisonerwinecompany.com