I do not reside in the land of Hallmark Holiday Cheer. Those in the industry like myself are always “on,” so the most pleasant parts of the holidays usually involve post-shift late-night indulgence with our work family as we bolster our spirits with spirits for extended family time. Fortunately, Utah is laden with talented distillers partnering with Utah farmers for truly … [Read more...]
Walmart-Style Inventory System at Utah Liquor Stores Squashing Local Distilleries
Under the pretense of the commerce clause, the Utah DABC is intentionally using a system that is designed to suppress the sales of local distilleries and spirits. Why? According to James Fowler, the owner of Sugar House Distillery, the system is designed to “produce the highest amount of bottle turns” for inventory maximization. This elicits the question of why is the bottle … [Read more...]
A Whole New World
From School teacher to Distiller, The Story of Ashley Cross In 2013, after teaching High School English for 23 years, Ashely Cross told her husband Chris she didn’t want to go back for year 24. Her plan was to turn their hobby into a business, and New World Distillery was born. Ashley and Chris both enjoyed traveling, and their trips often involved experiencing the local … [Read more...]
Eight Settlers Distillery Release Party
Eight Settlers Distillery in Cottonwood Heights is a sprawling, eye-popping distillery and restaurant where spirits such as Eight Settlers Green Ditch Gin, Butler Vodka, Ragtown American Whiskey, and Devil’s Gate Bourbon Whiskey are produced and also where they can be enjoyed. This week, Eight Settlers announced the launch of its first ever Green Ditch Barrel Aged Gin, … [Read more...]
Distillery 36 Celebrate Utah’s Deciding Vote to Repeal Prohibition
In a fitting tribute to a state known to be difficult to drink in, Distillery 36 was named by owners and operators Jensen Dobbs and Creed Law to celebrate Utah’s deciding vote as the 36th state to repeal Prohibition. In 2016, the long-time friends raised a glass and launched Distillery 36’s flagship product — 100% cane Brigham Rum. They followed it with the Spiced Brigham … [Read more...]
Waterpocket Distillery Introduces Utah to Exotic Flavors of Botanical Spirits
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 rusbank, 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 … [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...]
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...]
WATERPOCKET ® SPIRIT RELEASE: TEMPLE OF THE MOON GIN
Waterpocket ® Distillery is proud to announce the release of Temple of the Moon gin, the latest addition to the Waterpocket® House Spirit line. Affectionately named for the iconic monolith formation in Capitol Reef National Park’s Cathedral Valley, this juniper-forward, London dry style gin offers an impeccable blend of botanicals with uniquely complex aromatic qualities … [Read more...]