Picturesque Park City, Utah, known for its slopes and cozy ski lodges just south of Salt Lake, is a winter sport lover’s favorite getaway. Beyond the excellent skiing and snowboarding to be had there, Park City is also a wonderful place to find a well-crafted cocktail or spirit.
Due to a common misconception that Utah is a dry state, it’s not the first place many think of when considering the best spots for an alcoholic beverage. While alcohol is legal and many of the state’s liquor laws mirror those of other states, there are some unique laws in Utah to consider before you order a drink.
The biggest difference is how the state views ordering a drink at restaurants and bars differently—at a restaurant, you must order a food item to go with your alcoholic drink, even if it’s something small like a side dish of fries.
For bars, no food is required to go with your drink, but there are limits on how many ounces of spirits can be added to your cocktails. For example, you can order two drinks at a time, but the two combined needs to equal two and half ounces of alcohol — which can be done by ordering a cocktail with one and a half ounces of alcohol plus a one ounce shot.
In 2019, the state of Utah passed a new law that allowed the purchase of beers on draft or at grocery or convenience stores with an alcohol percentage of five, when previously four or lower alcohol percentage was the limit.
Now, with those unique liquor laws in mind, let’s look at the superb drink options in Park City.
With an average snowfall of 355 inches each year and standing at 10,026 feet in elevation, the small Utah city is full of wintertime merriment, and it served as the original location of Sundance Film Festival, which is the United States' largest independent film festival.
Alpine Distilling
The Park City Historic Main Street encapsulates the picturesque calmness of the mountain city and is home to some excellent craft cocktail and Utah-made liquors, like Alpine Distilling.
A locally owned and operated distillery with an award-winning selection of whisky and gin, Alpine's Park City Gin was named “Gin of the Year” in London and “Best in Show” in Las Vegas, with their Utah Straight Bourbon Whiskey recently winning Platinum.
Those awards are just the beginning. Led by Sara Sergent, Alpine’s Master Distiller and the most decorated botanical distiller in America, Alpine Distilling is also the “Best Casual Eatery” and “Craft Distillery of the Year” winner, marking it a haven for spirit lovers. The distillery also offers a custom gin experience wherein each guest makes one custom-blend bottle of gin, as well as enjoy sweet treats at Alpine Pie Bar.
Also located in Park City, High West Saloon by High West Distillery boasts award-winning whiskeys and a welcoming ambiance, blending rustic charm with elevated hospitality. A favorite spot among Sundance attendees, High West uses locally sourced ingredients to create mountain-inspired cuisines served with unforgettable premium spirits.
What began as a small whisky operation, High West has grown to be an internationally recognized and award-winning brand. Beyond exceptional spirits that embody the heritage of Utah, the distillery puts an emphasis on sustainability—all the waste goes into an anaerobic digester that produces electricity to power the grid.
The success of the brand is attributed to two things—founder David Perkins’ love of the Old West and the surprisingly rich history of whisky in Utah.
When you go
Visit Park City, visitparkcity.com
Alpine Distilling, alpinedistilling.com
High West Distillery, highwest.com