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When the High West Distillery opens its massive new distillery in mid-September, adult guests will be able to take an educational tour and — thanks to a permit issued Tuesday — sample the distilled product afterward.

"It's a giant step for us," James Dumas, High West's food and beverage director, said after the Utah Liquor Commission unanimously approved an education permit for the Park City whiskey maker's new Wanship distillery.

Last month, when High West requested an educational permit to allow sampling, state liquor commissioners were wary because state law only addresses tastings at wineries. The commission also questioned how minors would be kept from consuming samples.

After touring the facility and consulting with lawmakers, the commission felt that High West's request "met legislative intent," said new commission Chairman John T. Nielsen. "They will be offering samples in an educational setting and not just as an excuse to have a tasting."

For several years, culinary schools, restaurants and even grocery stores in Utah have been able to offer alcohol classes and tastings, thanks to an educational liquor permit offered through the state. But no distillery has ever asked for one.

By allowing tastings at the High West facility, the commission likely has set a precedent and expects other Utah distilleries and breweries to follow, Nielsen said, but "others that want to piggyback on this decision will have to meet the high standard set by High West."

As the next step, Nielsen said he hoped the Legislature "would address" the larger issue of tastings/samplings and the inconsistencies that exist among breweries, wineries and distilleries.

He may get his wish. After Tuesday's meeting, Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, told reporters that he is drafting a bill that "would bring more consistency" to the liquor-tasting issue. Stevenson is expected to lead any liquor-law changes, replacing former Sen. John Valentine, who left the Legislature last year to head the Utah Tax Commission.

Most distilleries in the U.S. and around the globe offer tours to consumers, showing them the spirit-making process from grain milling and mashing to distilling and aging. Tours usually end with samping, which allows customers to smell and taste the subtle differences of the distilled products.

Many Utah beer, wine and spirit manufacturers get around the limited tasting law by expanding their businesses and spending extra money to get a restaurant, tavern or bar license from the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC).

With the educational permit, they have another option to serve consumers.

At High West in Wanship, tastings will be ¼ to ½ ounce and one person will not be allowed to consume more than 2.5 ounces, the amount of liquor allowed in one Utah cocktail, Dumas said. (Utah law allows cocktails to have 1.5 ounces of a primary liquor such as whiskey or vodka, and 1 ounce of a flavoring with alcohol.)

Tastings also will cost between $13 and $20, with four to eight whiskeys offered, Dumas said.

Locals and tourists will be lured to the new distillery, in part, because of its location on the sprawling 3,500-acre Blue Sky Ranch. The working ranch, with 45 horses and more than 100 head of cattle, offers more than a dozen outdoor adventures for families, from fly fishing and horseback riding in the summer to dog sledding and overnight stays in a yurt in winter.