Capturing the spirit of High West in Chamonix
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, some of Europe’s most talented bartenders brought their A-game to the final of the High West Mountain Experience Cocktail Championship.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” says Joeri D’Heuvaert (pictured left), co-owner of Little Red Rooster in Gent, Belgium, moments after being crowned the 2026 champion of the High West Mountain Experience Cocktail Championship. His reward is an all-expenses-paid trip to the High West Distillery in Utah, US, to experience all the brand has to offer first hand. “I’ve known High West for 10 or so years; it’s the whiskey I got to know as a young bartender and a brand I’ve really admired. I’m so happy to have this opportunity and to be here in Chamonix, and now to also go to Utah to visit the distillery – it’s my dream to go to America.”
D’Heuvaert faced fierce competition from nine international competitors to clinch the winning title. The European final took place over three days in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France, chosen to emulate the mountainous environment that is home to High West Distillery in Utah, in the US. A trio of challenges were set for the contestants: a cocktail and food pairing round, a knowledge test, and a presentation of their bespoke cocktail made with at least one of High West’s flagship whiskeys: Double Rye, Bourbon, Rendezvous, and Campfire. All of this was interjected with two days on the slopes (or a second day at a spa), skiing or snowboarding just like they do near the High West Distillery.
“I really got to know the brand better; the theory test was so broad,” D’Heuvaert recalls about the three tasks he faced. “I didn’t know what everyone was going to do for their presentations. Then I found out I was last to present, and I did feel quite anxious. But once I settled behind the bar, I relaxed, and it was a great experience.”
His winning cocktail, Forest Walk, combined High West Double Rye, and a homemade forest liqueur infused with porcini and morel mushrooms, thyme, rosemary, and juniper berries, along with chocolate bitters and a touch of umami solution.
“Creating Forest Walk was about translating the alpine landscape into the cocktail,” D’Heuvaert explains. “I started by thinking about the aromas I enjoy when walking my dog through the forest, and from there, the cocktail took shape. To bring that landscape to life here in Chamonix, surrounded by mountains and such inspiring bartenders made this win truly special.”
The judging team comprised High West master blender Tara Lindley, managing director of West & Dry UK Russell Burgess, and editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business Melita Kiely.
“The 2026 High West Mountain Experience showcased the very best of European bartending talent. What stood out this year was the creativity and confidence with which competitors worked with our whiskeys,” Lindley notes. “Joeri’s winning cocktail was a brilliant expression of High West Double Rye, capturing both the spirit of the mountains and the craft at the heart of our distillery.”
Second place in the competition was bestowed upon Callum Berney from Dr Jekyll’s Pub in Oslo, Norway, and third place was awarded to Markku Lohmus from Barify in Tallinn, Estonia.
The seven other finalists were: Dennis Sadovyak of The Wolseley, London, UK; Olga Hesse of Le Stoefer, Ixelles, Belgium; Dawid Stoch of Art Katowice, Katowice, Poland; Matas Botyrius of Knygnešys, Kaunas, Lithuania; Morten Skipper of MUMMA, Chamonix; Beatrice Ceccarelli of Carnale Roma, Rome, Italy; and Ilze Kate Gest of Pavāru, Līgatne, Latvia.
David and Jane Perkins founded High West in 2006, when it became Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870. Situated 7,000 feet above sea level in the Wasatch Mountains, the distillery was acquired by Constellation Brands in 2016.
The High West Mountain Experience Cocktail Championship is now in its fourth year, and is a testament to the important relationship between bartenders and brands.
Importance of community
“With High West, our goal is to build real communities,” says Paolo Pozzi, EMEA spirits business lead at Constellation Brands. “While samples and brand touchpoints matter, what truly defines us is our commitment to fostering a genuine community around High West, which is why we created this competition. We want to bring people together through meaningful connections and shared experiences that last beyond a single serve. Of course, we want High West to reach new people and places, but we hope this is through genuine enthusiasm and real engagement.”
“A good word to use for it is authenticity,” adds Jess Bell, trade marketing manager EMEA at Constellation Brands. “We want to be authentic to High West, what it is, and how it was founded in the US, and bring that to Europe. We don’t change the ethos. We keep it as classic as possible.”
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