Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Utah
Plan a distillery tour in Utah: 7 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Gin, Bourbon and more. Highlights include Sugar House Distillery, High West Distillery, Clear Water Distilling Co..
7distilleries
Clear Water Distilling Co.
Prohibition-themed tours of small-batch spirits
About distillery tours in Utah
Utah is not the first place most people picture when they think of American whiskey, which is exactly what makes its distilling scene so intriguing. The Beehive State has a reputation for tight liquor laws, yet it also gave rise to High West Distillery, the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since the end of Prohibition and one of the most celebrated names in modern American whiskey. Founded in Park City in 2007, High West set the tone for a small but ambitious community that now stretches from the ski towns of the Wasatch to the Salt Lake valley and beyond. A Utah trail rewards the curious. You can sip flights at High West's Park City Saloon, often described as the world's only ski-in distillery, then explore grain-to-glass whiskey at Sugar House Distillery and Holladay Distillery in the Salt Lake area, mountain spirits at Alpine Distilling, and more experimental work at Waterpocket Distillery and New World Distillery. With seven distilleries to choose from and a stunning landscape as backdrop, Utah pairs serious spirits with serious scenery.
Following the Utah trail
A Utah distillery trail threads neatly between the mountains and the valley. Park City, the famous ski town, is the headline stop thanks to High West Distillery, whose downtown Saloon doubles as a gastro-distillery at the base of a ski run and whose larger production site sits about twenty-five minutes away in Wanship. From there it is a short hop down to the Salt Lake area, where the scene concentrates: Sugar House Distillery and Holladay Distillery offer grain-to-glass whiskey, while nearby Clear Water Distilling Co. and Alpine Distilling (which keeps a Salt Lake presence alongside its Park City roots) broaden the range. Venture a little further and you will find New World Distillery and Waterpocket Distillery, the latter known for more unusual, exploratory spirits. The whole circuit is compact enough to enjoy over a long weekend, ideally combined with hiking or skiing depending on the season.
Distilleries worth prioritising
High West Distillery is the anchor and the one not to miss; its Park City Saloon lets you taste whiskey flights alongside hearty mountain food, and its story as Utah's first post-Prohibition distillery underpins everything that followed. For grain-to-glass whiskey made closer to the city, Sugar House Distillery and Holladay Distillery are both excellent, dependable stops in the Salt Lake area. Alpine Distilling brings a mountain-town sensibility and a polished range of spirits, while Waterpocket Distillery is the choice for anyone after something more experimental and off the beaten path. New World Distillery and Clear Water Distilling Co. fill out the trail with their own takes on whiskey and other spirits. Two or three well-chosen stops give a good feel for the state; the full seven make a genuinely satisfying weekend for the dedicated.
Where to stay & eat nearby
Park City is the most scenic base, a resort town with strong restaurants and the High West Saloon right in the thick of it, though prices climb in ski season. Salt Lake City is the practical alternative, with the largest concentration of distilleries within easy reach, more accommodation options and a lively food scene. The two are about forty minutes apart, so staying in either keeps the whole trail within comfortable range. It is worth knowing Utah's liquor rules before you go: the state runs its own liquor stores, bar pours are precisely measured, and the DUI limit is the strictest in the country at 0.05 per cent, so plan a designated driver or use rideshares between stops.
Frequently asked
- Is High West really Utah's first distillery since Prohibition?
- Yes. High West Distillery, founded in Park City in 2007, was the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since the end of Prohibition, and it helped open the door for the state's wider craft scene.
- What are Utah's liquor laws like for visitors?
- Utah runs its own liquor stores and requires precisely measured bar pours. The DUI limit is the strictest in the country at 0.05 per cent, so it is wise to use a designated driver or rideshares when touring distilleries.
- Can I visit a distillery while skiing?
- You can. High West's Park City Saloon sits at the base of a ski run and is often called the world's only ski-in distillery, making it easy to combine a whiskey flight with a day on the slopes.
- Should I stay in Park City or Salt Lake City?
- Both work and are about forty minutes apart. Park City offers mountain scenery and the High West Saloon, while Salt Lake City has the largest cluster of distilleries, more lodging and a strong food scene at generally lower prices.
- Which distilleries are best for grain-to-glass whiskey?
- Sugar House Distillery and Holladay Distillery, both in the Salt Lake area, are well regarded for grain-to-glass whiskey, while High West remains the headline name. Waterpocket is the pick for more experimental releases.
- How many distilleries can I visit in a weekend?
- Comfortably two or three for a relaxed pace, or up to all seven if you are keen, since the trail between Park City and the Salt Lake valley is compact. Combining tastings with hiking or skiing makes for a well-rounded trip.