Craft Spirits · Utah
Craft Spirits Distilleries in Utah
Tour 7 craft spirits distilleries in Utah. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Alpine Distilling, Clear Water Distilling Co., High West Distillery.
7distilleries
Clear Water Distilling Co.
Prohibition-themed tours of small-batch spirits
About craft spirits distilleries in Utah
For a state long associated with strict liquor laws, Utah has built a genuinely interesting craft-spirits scene. The modern industry traces back to the mid-2000s, when High West Distillery secured the first distilling permit in Utah since 1870, and others soon followed. Today the range is broad: High West's mountain whiskies in Park City, grain-to-glass work at Sugar House Distillery in South Salt Lake, the historic Holladay Distillery, and a clutch of versatile producers, Alpine Distilling, Clear Water Distilling Co., New World Distillery and the landscape-inspired Waterpocket Distillery, turning out gin, whiskey, agave spirits, liqueurs and more. The setting is part of the appeal: distilleries are concentrated between Salt Lake City and Park City, framed by mountains and close to skiing, hiking and good restaurants. Utah's liquor rules add their own character to a visit, with measured tastings and closed-container takeaway, but the upshot for travellers is a compact, high-quality scene where you can taste several styles of spirit across a single, scenic day.
What makes Craft Spirits here special
Utah's craft-spirits identity is mountain-shaped and recent enough to feel fresh. High West Distillery, the state's first legal distillery since 1870, set the tone with whiskies tied to its Park City and mountain setting, and remains a flagship draw. Around it, the scene has diversified: Sugar House Distillery works grain to glass with local grain in South Salt Lake; Waterpocket Distillery takes inspiration from the geology of Capitol Reef across gins and other spirits; New World Distillery in the Ogden Valley and Clear Water Distilling Co. add agave spirits, gin and vodka; Alpine Distilling brings award-winning botanical work; and Holladay Distillery carries an established name. Clean mountain water and high altitude run through all of it. The result is a small but unusually varied scene where whiskey, gin and agave spirits sit within easy reach of one another.
What to expect on a tour
A Utah distillery visit typically combines a walk through the still house with a regulated tasting. Tastings only became legal at Utah distilleries relatively recently, and sample sizes are capped, the total spirits served at one time can't exceed 2.5 ounces, so flights are small and curated rather than sprawling. That format works well for comparing styles thoughtfully. High West runs tours on set days and times in its Park City setting, while Sugar House, Alpine, New World and Waterpocket offer their own tasting-room experiences, some more hands-on than others. Tasting rooms can sell bottles to take away, but containers must stay sealed on the premises. Distilleries can sell every day of the week, which makes scheduling easier, though booking tours ahead is still recommended.
Best for and planning your visit
Utah craft spirits suit travellers who want variety and scenery in equal measure, and who like pairing a tasting with the outdoors. With distilleries clustered between Salt Lake City and Park City, you can base yourself in the city, taste whiskey at High West and Sugar House, gin at Alpine or Waterpocket, and agave or other spirits at New World, all without long drives. It's a strong fit for groups, couples and ski or hiking trips. Plan around the rules: capped tastings mean two or three considered stops beat a long crawl, and you'll want a designated driver or rideshare. Confirm tour times in advance, and if you're buying bottles, remember they must stay closed until you leave.
Frequently asked
- When did craft distilling return to Utah?
- In the mid-2000s. High West Distillery secured the first distilling permit in Utah since 1870, and other producers followed, building today's varied craft-spirits scene around Salt Lake City and Park City.
- What kinds of craft spirits does Utah make?
- A broad range, including whiskey from High West and Sugar House Distillery, gin from Alpine Distilling and Waterpocket Distillery, plus agave spirits, vodka and liqueurs from producers like New World Distillery and Clear Water Distilling Co.
- Can you taste spirits at Utah distilleries?
- Yes, though tastings were only legalised relatively recently and are regulated. The total amount of spirits served at one time is capped at 2.5 ounces, so flights are small and curated.
- Where are most Utah distilleries located?
- Most are concentrated between Salt Lake City and Park City, with New World Distillery out in the Ogden Valley. The cluster makes it easy to visit several in a single day from a city base.
- Can I buy bottles to take home?
- Often yes, tasting rooms can sell to-go bottles, but containers must remain closed while you are on the premises. Confirm retail availability with each distillery before visiting.
- Which Utah distillery should I visit first?
- High West in Park City is the flagship and a natural starting point, especially for whiskey. Pair it with Sugar House for grain-to-glass whiskey or Alpine and Waterpocket for gin, depending on your interests.
- Do I need to plan around Utah's liquor laws?
- It helps. Capped tasting sizes mean two or three thoughtful stops work better than a long crawl, takeaway bottles must stay sealed on the premises, and arranging a designated driver or rideshare is essential.