Sara & Rob Sergent

1. As co-owners and founders of Alpine Distilling, a local distillery in Park City, tell us about the trends in distilling around Park City/Summit County? Do these differ from broader regional or national trends?  

It is exciting to live in a community that values craftsmanship so highly and who have responded so favorably to our spirit portfolio. Running two distilleries under one roof, a Pot Still for the whiskies and a Column Still for the botanicals and Vodka, allows us to tap into most people’s palettes and connect with folks around the world. It also ensures that no sacrifices are made in our production processes and that we can responsibly manage and control our impact on natural resources.  

2. You get a date night together – where do you go in Park City/Summit County? What events would you attend? What are your favorite hidden gems or local watering holes? Why are these places/events your favorites?

Aren’t we all so grateful to have numerous locally owned businesses to choose from? We seek out those with a passion for sharing regional ingredients and who also run their businesses with an understanding of the impact of their efforts. We’re a town that rewards a good time, whether on the mountain (skiing, biking, hiking), on Main Street at the Park City Museum or the Egyptian Theatre, or late night out at the No Name Saloon, or just enjoying one of our many resorts. If you’re in Park City and you’re not having a good time, it’s not our fault. 

3. You both are invested in this community by donating a portion of your proceeds to non-profit organizations. Which local organizations do you both hold close to your heart and why?

Our journey started with Nell Larson and the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, our backyard, and the inspiration for considering the upstream and downstream impact efforts on our community. That led to a great relationship and education from the team a Recycle Utah, who are incredibly smart and great people to have as local business leaders. Summit Community Gardens & EATS, Park City Education Foundation, Utah Olympic Park, and the Youth Sports Alliance are some of the companies that inspire us to be our best. The Arts Council Park City/Summit County is another – we always enjoy the CREATE PC holiday makers pop-up. And the Egyptian Theatre is a family favorite, and we bring all our family & friends to the Park City Museum. We are a town filled with incredible people doing incredible work.

4.  How do you get creative in the distillery? What part of your business allows you to be the most creative?

Once you have a formula locked in, the creative process for altering that method is limited. We spend most of our creative energies thinking of new ways to delight people at our Main Street bar or finding new ways to reduce waste and improve the efficiency of our operations. We understand that it is a privilege to work with young professionals seeking an opportunity to learn a new skill(s), find some work/life balance, and interact with our customers. They are all given the opportunity to make a custom Gin and help at the distillery and at private events that we hope builds value for their time with us.  

5. Who are your favorite creative makers or craftsmen/women in Park City/Summit County? Where do you find their works?  

We promote local artists in our lounge to include Mark Maziarz and Karen Miller Kendall artwork on display, local musicians for our live music on Thursday nights, and we partner with local chefs to create custom bites. We crafted a delightful Barrel Aged gin chocolate bar with Ritual Chocolate. Also, as parents to two teenage boys, we would like to bring some attention to the athletic coaches who craft and execute plans to shape our younger residents into resilient, hard-working, and supportive men and women. The Park City Schools Mountain Bike and Park City Ski & Snowboard teams are well coached by volunteers and staff and have a tremendous positive impact on our community.    

6. You both are from New Orleans. What brought you to Park City and what is it about Park City/Summit County that led you to open a distillery in this location?

We met and married in New Orleans, but Sara is from Michigan, and Rob is from Kentucky. Both are states that value farming and small businesses. Hurricane Katrina took our home and all our possessions, which gave us an opportunity to build a life somewhere new and carry forth both the lessons of our youth and from Katrina, that being the importance of community and awareness that it can all go away much faster than you could ever imagine. This is why we care so deeply about the core values of Summit County, as outlined by our excellent Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, and strive to promote locally owned, responsible entities whenever and wherever possible. Fortunately, there are numerous examples of lighthouses at every turn, large and small.  

7. Why is Park City/Summit County’s art and culture scene (i.e. culinary, film, visual art, music, history/lore, and performance, scenes) important?  

Art drives perspective, and culture drives experience. We need artists of all types to make sure that we don’t fall into the of trap thinking, “I know what an Aspen/Mountain/Person/Animal looks like”. We are hungry to see that mountain through the lens of a gifted photographer or an Aspen grove through the brushstrokes of a painter. As a vacation destination, we see families reconnecting and trying new experiences. The laughter of friends biking a new trail or skiing on a powder day should continue to influence our responsibility to maintain the type of culture that shapes joy and memories...  

We don’t do prescribed tastings for this exact reason. “You’re going to taste old leather and wet grass” - we don’t know what you’ll taste, how your limbic system is wired, or what you ate earlier. We only know that we care that you are open to new things. Rob tried for years to explain hemicellulose (a wood sugar) to people and how the Krebs cycle impacts wort fermentation in an area with less available oxygen. That was not a fun cultural exercise, and I made fun of him for a couple of weeks. Now, we explain just a little about aroma, taste, and the chemosensory impact of alcohol and let people share their experiences. We’d like to be seen as contributors to our community and look forward to more connections and opportunities.  

• Distillery @ 7132 Silver Creek Rd

• Park City Social Aid & Pleasure Club @ 364 Main Street

• State liquor stores