JP and Vita Bernier opened Hammer Spring Distillers in April of 2017. The family-owned business is the only Utah distillery to make vodka from potatoes, says JP. “We use whole, fresh Utah potatoes for a 100% farm-to-glass product.”
Alongside their signature potato vodka, Hammer Spring produces a bourbon, two gins, a coffee liqueur, and two specialty vodkas — habanero and Hidden Vodka. A percentage of all sales of Hidden Vodka are donated to local and national organizations that fight human trafficking as well as offer assistance to survivors.
While Bernier counts the grain-to-glass bourbon and award-winning gin as his personal favorites, he explains that Hammer Spring customers are particularly loyal to the Perky Cowgirl Coffee Liqueur — featuring Millcreek Coffee Roasters’ beans.
To purchase all of Hammer Spring products, customers will need to head directly to the distillery.
“Many of our local products are not purchased by DABC at all,” Bernier notes. “In our case, 50% of our products. It’s therefore 100% illegal for us to sell half of our legally licensed and produced products anywhere except our tiny retail walk-in, which is absurd.”
Bernier would like to see a locally produced sales category put in place instead of making local small-batch distillers compete with national and international brands for shelf placement. “There’s no way we can, so our products get delisted or discontinued when our sales volumes don’t match the national brands.”
Hammer Spring Distillers is located at 697 West 1987 South, Building 5 , Salt Lake City, UT
801-599-4704
Open Wednesday through Friday 1-6pm and Saturday noon to 5pm
