Whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder, or a laidback lodge dweller, there’s something that unites all of us: the après ski experience. While there are après ski spots aplenty that tout strong beer lists, finding one with a standout whisky selection is more of a challenge. But rest assured that such bars do exist, livening up major resorts across the country.
Whiskey All The Way
High West Saloon—Park City, Utah
Located at the base of the Quit’n Time ski run at Park City Resort, High West Saloon bills itself as the world’s first and only ski-in/ski-out gastro-distillery.
While beer and wine are available, the focus here is on whiskey—even the food is made to pair with High West drams and cocktails. The distillery’s four core whiskeys are available as individual pours or in a flight, and the cocktail menu is well worth exploring—kick back and enjoy some of the many drinks on offer, which include such specialized winter warmers as twists on the hot toddy, like the Glorietta Pass ($15) that blends High West Double Rye! with Jamaican rum, apple brandy, cardamaro, and earl grey tea, and riffs on Irish coffee.
Upscale Aprés
The Handle Bar—Jackson Hole, Wyo.
The Handle Bar—run by chef Michael Mina’s restaurant group—is located by the base of the slopes of Four Seasons Jackson Hole in Teton Village; the bar overlooks the Teton Mountains.
A list of over 50 whiskies, with pours like Yamazaki 12 year old ($32/2 oz.), WhistlePig 15 year old ($8/2 oz.), or Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 year old ($95/2 oz.), includes wintry cocktails too. Warm up with the Honey Drip ($18), which mixes Wyoming Whiskey’s Small Batch bourbon with honey, ginger, and lemon.
Western Lore and Bourbon Galore
Silver City Mountain Saloon—Aspen, Colo.
Not quite ski-in, but Silver City touts an enviable easy-access location, being practically at the base of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort and its Little Nell lift.
Unbuckle your ski boots and sip on one of Silver City’s many bourbons, which range from familiar favorites like Buffalo Trace and Basil Hayden’s (both $13/2 oz.) to more esoteric names like Garrison Bros. Balmorhea ($29) and even rarefied finds like Van Winkle 12 year old Special Reserve ($85). While cocktails are available upon request, the real treat here is exploring whisky neat or on the rocks.
The Local Watering Hole
Clocktower Cellar—Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
Clocktower Cellar is located in the basement of the Alpenhof Lodge, which itself sits at the base of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Warm up and enjoy the dive-bar vibe, bar games, the original décor, and Bavarian-style menu.
With over 170 whiskies to choose from, there’s something for everyone. When you’re fresh off the trails at Mammoth, warm up with a barrel-aged Manhattan ($9). Clocktower Cellar also offers a “whiskey of the week,” where the featured whiskey is only $5/2 oz. pour.
An East Coast Experience
The Whiskey Room—Burlington, Vt.
There are dozens of ski areas near Burlington, which makes the city an ideal central resting spot if you’re looking to hit more than one resort in a single trip. The Whiskey Room, situated right off Burlington’s famed Church Street, is a great place to end a day on the slopes.
Its menu includes signature cocktails and plenty of whisky. Splurge with a pour of A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 year old bourbon ($300/2 oz.), cross the pond with Glenmorangie Pride ($700/2 oz.), or stay in-state with locally made drams.
