Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How you can help “Protect the West” with High West Campfire Whiskey

Conservation efforts help wildlands and wildland firefighters

The National Interagency Fire Center cites 41 large fires and complexes that have burned 289,515 acres across seven states in the U.S. West so far in 2022. More than 10,100 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to these incidents. While the federal Office of Wildland Fire budgeted $1.5 billion to prevent and suppress fires, and state agencies contribute millions more, it’s the nearby towns and cities that are most affected by these infernos. That’s why the Park City, Utah-based High West Whiskey is one of many local firms that contributes to preserving and uplifting its Western home.

The brand just released its seasonal, nationally acclaimed Campfire not only to satisfy loyal imbibers, but to help preserve the place where it was born through the Protect the West initiative. With Campfire’s 2022 release, High West is elevating its devotion to the people and organizations keeping the Western environment healthy and its protectors safe. Over the next three years, the spirits maker will fortify this commitment with a pledge to give over $1 million in whiskey revenue to fighting wildfires, wildland preservation, and protecting winters from climate change.

A wildland firefighter works on putting out flames.
Public Domain

“Now is not the time for us to sit on the sidelines. Our home in the West and everything we love about it is in more and more danger every year,” High West general manager Daniel Schear said in a statement.

Recommended Videos

A $150,000 inaugural donation will be split between three organizations critical to Protect(ing) the West: the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, dedicated to helping the families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assisting injured firefighters and their families; Protect Our Winters, a community of athletes, scientists, creatives, and business leaders advancing non-partisan policies to protect outdoor playgrounds from a warming climate; and American Prairie, creating the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States by purchasing critical habitat that connects a vast network of existing public lands for wildlife conservation and public access.

“The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is honored to receive such a substantial donation from a local brand, rooted in protecting its community. High West has always been a strong supporter of our mission, and now they’re stepping up even more when it’s needed most,” WFF executive director Burk Minor said in an email.

Not only is High West forging bonds with these communal pillars, the limited release also offers a distinct whiskey style that crosses international borders. One of the distiller’s most iconic expressions, Campfire is an unusual blend that mixes peated Scotch whisky with spicy rye and sweet American corn bourbon.

Founders David and Jane Perkins conceived of this alchemical concoction on an inspiring journey to the Bruichladdich distillery on the isle of Islay in Scotland. Stirred by the combination of a syrup-drizzled melon appetizer and peaty whisky smoke, the pair began working on the distillation that would become Campfire.

Campfire usually drops during the beginning of the fall season, a time when wildfires have grown more and destructive in the Western U.S. Since opening its doors in 2007, High West has witnessed the impact of a rapidly changing climate, higher temperatures, severe droughts, drier forests, and reduced snowpack in the West. In that time, the brand has donated more than $1 million to nonprofits with the majority of those funds going toward organizations protecting the West and its inhabitants. Now, High West is reaffirming and strengthening this commitment to its own backyard.

“We’re building on our past work with this $1 million commitment to protect the West,” Schear said. “We are excited to work with those who are also passionate about saving this beautiful part of the world we call home.”

Whiskey lovers can be a part of this and enjoy the one-a-kind blend of bourbon, rye, and Scotch. Campfire bottles are available online and in national liquor stores, retailing for $79.99.

Learn More

Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
Can you heat up cold brew coffee? Here’s how to make your coffee last
Don't throw away that cold brew just yet
Pouring cream in cold brew coffee

Made by steeping coffee grounds in cool water, cold brew coffee is a refreshing go-to cold coffee of choice for many coffee drinkers. Though typically enjoyed as a cold beverage, you may wonder: Can you heat up cold brew coffee? This unique coffee drink's appeal comes from its low acidity and high caffeine content -- all of which results from its long, cold-water steeping process that lasts between 12 and 24 hours.

But what if you prefer to enjoy it as a warm beverage? Surprisingly, when heated correctly, cold brew can be heated to enjoy as warm coffee. Here's how to make your cold brew coffee taste delicious when warmed.
Can you heat up cold brew coffee?

Read more
How to strain a cocktail (and why you should)
Learn this important technique for both shaken and stirred drinks
Bartender pouring drink through strainer

When you start out making cocktails, you'll find that many cocktail recipes are quite minimal. They tell you what ingredients you need, in what quantity, and give you basic instructions -- and that's it. They tend to assume you know all the key skills of cocktail making, and unlike many food recipes, they don't explain the necessary techniques. That can be frustrating if you're new to the hobby! But don't worry. The skills are generally pretty easy to learn as long as you have some guidance.

One instruction you'll often see in cocktail recipes is to strain the drink once you have shaken or stirred it. If you're not sure what that means or how to do it then this guide should help.
How to strain a cocktail
One of the key pieces of equipment you need to make cocktails is a hawthorne strainer. This is a round, flat piece of metal with a handle and a large spring curved around its edge. It should be just the right size to fit on top of your shaker tin.

Read more
How to make a French 75, a great cocktail you’re (probably) overlooking
The French 75 sounds cool, is cool, and tastes wonderful
Boozy bubbly lemon French 75 cocktail

When it comes to the cocktails that give a feeling of celebration, there's one iconic drink that doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Even among cocktail enthusiasts, the French 75 has been too often overlooked in favor of more punchy, spirit-forward drinks. And while there is absolutely a place for a bracing martini, there's also a time for something sparkling, refreshing, and just downright delicious that's easy for anyone to drink and enjoy. This classic drink is worthy of your attention, especially if you're in a celebratory mood.

In the simplest terms, the French 75 ingredients are gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. That's it. The sparkling wine is the main ingredient, making it an effervescent, delicious, sweet, citrus-filled experience. What's not to love?
The French 75 recipe

Read more