Julia and Alan Scott opened the doors of Waterpocket Distillery in 2017 in West Valley. While the distillery makes award-winning gin, rum, and some whiskey under the Robbers Roost label, professional bartenders and home mixologists know and appreciate Waterpocket most for their Toadstool amaros, Long Lost botanical spirits lines. and the Snow Angel Kümmel — sold selectively at … [Read more...]
The Great Story of Dented Brick Distillery
Dented Brick Distillery started with a great story — long before it even began. The distillery is named in honor of the well driller who tapped the artesian well on the property which is now the source of the water for the distillery’s spirits. He was killed in a blazing gunfight that left impressions on the bricks of the little house that once stood on the distillery property … [Read more...]
Outlaw Distillery Distilling One of the Best Rums in America
Founder and master distiller Kirk Sedgwick and his wife Denise opened Outlaw Distillery in January 2015. The name is an ode to Butch Cassidy (born in Beaver, Utah) and Utah’s rich history surrounding the Outlaw Trail. Kirk’s prowess as a diesel mechanic allowed him to design and build all of the distillery’s equipment in Midvale by hand. Just as meticulously, they source the … [Read more...]
Hammer Spring Distillers: Utah’s First Distillery to Make Potato Vodka
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 … [Read more...]
Holystone Distilling Creating One-Of-A-Kind Spirits
One of Utah’s newest distilleries is Holystone Distilling, which, since 2019, has quickly made a name for itself with distinctive, small-batch spirits. Everything at Holystone Distillery bears a naval reference — from the name of the company to the products themselves. CEO Mike DeShazo is a former career Navy man and runs a tight ship based on the principles of persistence, … [Read more...]
Local Libations: Park City’s Alpine Distilling
When we think of American whiskey, the mind tends toward places like Tennessee and Kentucky, right? Well, you might be surprised to learn that award-winning whiskey and other spirits are also distilled right here in Utah — and in a ski town, to boot. That is the case with Park City-based Alpine Distilling. The distillery is owned and operated by a talented and creative … [Read more...]
Spirits of Ogden: Ogden’s Distilleries Welcome You
Ogden didn’t start out like most other towns in Utah. In fact, it was once a little rough around the edges. Okay, maybe a lot rough. It’s rumored that Al Capone once said he wouldn't dare walk the streets of Ogden, Utah for fear of his life. While Ogden is not that town anymore, the gritty and innovative spirit that built this town is still present. You can find it at Union … [Read more...]
New World Distillery in Eden Restarting their Distillery Tours
After 23 years as a public school teacher, Ashley Cross was burned out. She told her husband, Chris, “I don’t want to go back for year 24. I want a new world.” He suggested they start a distillery, playing into their love of agave and other base products in spirits, using New World sourced ingredients. And that’s how New World Distillery was born. When they … [Read more...]
Solstice Malt: When a Hobby Turns into a Career in Beer
James Weed was working 12-hour days in finance when his wife told him he needed to get a hobby. “She got me into homebrewing,” recalls Weed with a laugh. “I’m the type of guy that likes to do things himself, so I started growing my own hops and malting my own barley.” But finding small-scale equipment to malt the grain proved to be difficult. Online research led him to … [Read more...]
A Beer Barrel of Laughs: Local Brewers Combine Humor and Hops
Amid COVID-related shutdowns and shifting regulations, Salt Lake City breweries had to adapt over the last year — and creativity plus a healthy dose of humor went a long way in achieving that. Several breweries used the opportunity to release limited edition brews that alluded to the craziness of the pandemic. They found that the timeliness of these … [Read more...]