Although gin is among Britain’s most popular and sophisticated spirits, one of the world’s best distillers hails from Park City: Alpine Distilling. In May, master distiller Sara Sergent, who co-founded Alpine in 2015 with her husband, Rob, was inducted into London’s Gin Guild, making her only the second woman from the US to be inducted into the esteemed international organization. “It’s a big honor to be an American in the mix and to be in great company of some very established female spirit makers,” she says.

This is not Sergent’s first UK accolade. In 2021, she won the prestigious Gin of the Year award in London, and last year Alpine Distilling was chosen as the official gin of the International Rolls-Royce & Bentley Enthusiasts Club. Additionally, she is the most decorated botanical distiller in the US, earning numerous awards and crafting gin for corporate businesses such as Capital One and haute hotels including Stein Eriksen Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection, and St. Regis Deer Valley.  

What makes Sergent’s distilling technique unique? She uses a 100 percent vapor-extraction method, which enhances flavor and aroma. “It’s a beautiful, delicate way to pull out botanicals,” she says, noting that less than two percent of distillers use the method. Botanicals are sourced from around the world including juniper from Croatia, coriander from Egypt, angelica root from France, and cardamom from India. 

Sergent shares her love of gin distilling via Alpine’s popular custom Gin Experiences and at the Park City Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a cocktail bar with light bites and live music.