Tasted at High West Distillery. Valley Tan is the historic name of the whiskey that the Mormons made from 1850 to about 1870. The name Valley Tan originally referred to leather “tanned” by Mormon pioneers. Eventually it applied to anything not imported, in other words “homemade.” Homemade whiskey was also called Valley Tan. The High West Valley Tan mash bill is comprised of wheat aged in new and used barrels for a minimum of 1 year and blended with oat whiskey. On the front label is Porter Rockwell, one of Utah Territory’s earliest lawmen and reputed Mormon “Destroying Angel.”