Salt Lake City: Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery Tour

The most interesting part of the Spirits of the Wasatch tour is that it goes beyond a quick look at shiny stills. You get practical insight into how a small distillery measures, tests, and adjusts its spirits, then finish with a tasting of the full product line. The hands-on look at hydrometers and refractometers gives the hour real substance.

I like the small group limit of 10, which should make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions. I also like the tasting lineup: Gold Medal winning gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur, with the distillery reporting seven gold medals and three double gold medals in 2024.

The main consideration is time. At 45 minutes to an hour, this is a compact introduction rather than a long production visit. You will also need to stand and walk, though stools are available on request, and anyone under 21 may join the tour only with a guardian and may not take part in the tasting.

Key points about the Spirits of the Wasatch tour

• A small-group visit for up to 10 people makes this more personal than a large factory tour.
• The science is part of the fun, with practical explanations of hydrometers, refractometers, testing, and production decisions.
• The tasting covers the complete product line, including Gold Medal gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur.
• The tour takes 45 minutes to one hour, so it fits neatly into a Salt Lake City afternoon.
• Seven gold medals and three double gold medals from 2024 give you a useful reason to pay attention during the tasting.
• The meeting point is the distillery gift shop, in Building 5 of Broadbent Business Park.

Starting at Building 5 in Broadbent Business Park

Your visit begins at the Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery Gift Shop, located in Building 5 of Broadbent Business Park. Transportation is not included, so you’ll need to arrange your own way to the distillery and allow enough time to find the correct building.

That meeting point matters because a business park can be less instantly clear than a storefront on a main tourist street. Have the full address and Building 5 in hand before you set out. Once you arrive at the gift shop, the tour can begin with a short introduction to the distillery and its products.

This is a working small distillery, not a grand museum built around old equipment. That gives the visit a more direct feel. You’re there to see how spirits are produced, tested, and tasted, rather than simply to admire historic displays.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. The supplied information does not name the individual guides, but the format is designed for questions and discussion rather than a prerecorded presentation.

Seeing the copper stills and the working equipment

The first major stop takes you into the production side of the distillery. You can expect to see copper stills and oak barrels, along with the equipment used to turn raw ingredients into finished spirits.

Copper stills are not just decorative pieces. They are central to the distillation process, and seeing them in place helps connect the guide’s explanation to something tangible. Instead of hearing only about distillation as an abstract recipe, you can follow the basic path from selected ingredients to a spirit with a particular aroma, texture, and flavor.

The oak barrels add another useful part of the story. Aging changes a spirit over time, and the sight and smell of barrels help explain why production does not end when the liquid first comes off the still. The tour information does not promise a specific barrel-ageing demonstration, so think of the barrels as part of the setting and production discussion, not as a guaranteed sampling from one particular cask.

This section should appeal to curious beginners as much as to serious spirits fans. You do not need prior knowledge to follow the tour, and the small size allows you to ask for clarification when a term or process is new to you.

Learning how hydrometers and refractometers guide production

One of the tour’s strongest features is its attention to measuring and testing. You’ll learn about instruments such as hydrometers and refractometers and gain practical insight into how they are used.

A hydrometer helps measure liquid density, while a refractometer uses the way light passes through a liquid to provide a reading. The important point for you is not memorizing laboratory vocabulary. It is seeing that distilling combines craft with careful measurement.

That balance explains why two spirits made from familiar ingredients can taste quite different. A distiller has to make decisions about raw materials, timing, strength, and technique. Instruments help provide reliable information, while sensory checks help determine how the spirit is developing.

I find this part especially useful for visitors who want more than a tasting-room story. You get a clearer idea of why consistency takes work and why small adjustments can affect the finished bottle. The practical angle also gives you better questions to ask during the tasting.

The experience includes engagement with production and testing procedures, although the available details do not specify that every participant operates the equipment. Expect a guided explanation and sensory work, not a full lesson in running a commercial still yourself.

Following the sensory changes during a distilling run

The tour also includes a sensory experience focused on the different phases of a distilling run. You’ll use your senses to notice how aromas and flavors shift as the process moves along.

This is where the technical explanation becomes easier to understand. Distillation is not simply a matter of collecting one unchanging liquid. Different portions can have different qualities, and a distiller must pay attention to what is coming through.

The supplied information does not list the exact samples or terminology used for each phase, so you should not expect a fixed menu of every possible distilling fraction. Still, the point is clear: you’ll be asked to notice differences rather than treat the process as a single step.

For a first-time visitor, this is a good reason to slow down. Smell is often just as important as taste, especially with gin and coffee liqueur. You may find that the guided approach helps you identify aromas you would miss if you simply took a sip and moved on.

Ending with a full tasting of medal-winning spirits

The final part is a guided tasting of the entire product line. The lineup includes Gold Medal winning gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur, and the distillery received seven gold medals and three double gold medals at spirit competitions in 2024.

That list gives the tasting a clear purpose. You’re not sampling one signature bottle and leaving. You can compare different styles and consider how the production choices discussed earlier show up in the glass.

Gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur also give you a varied set of flavors. Gin can highlight botanical and aromatic notes. Whiskey offers a chance to consider grain, distillation, and barrel influence. Coffee liqueur brings a sweeter, more dessert-like direction. The supplied information does not state the exact number of pours or serving sizes, so pacing and selection may depend on the product line and the guide.

I would pay attention to the connection between aroma and flavor here. Try to recall the earlier discussion about raw materials, testing, and distilling phases. That makes the tasting more useful than simply deciding which bottle you like best.

The tasting is for participants aged 21 and over. A person under 21 can join the tour with a guardian, but cannot be present during the tasting according to the activity information. Since the experience is not suitable for people under 21, families should confirm the arrangements before booking.

How much value do you get for $20?

At $20 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a private or very small group experience that includes a guided tasting. You’re paying for more than access to a shop. The fee covers the tour, explanations of production and testing, practical discussion of measuring tools, and a tasting of the full product line.

The value is strongest if you’re curious about how spirits are made. Someone who only wants a quick drink may find the hour more detailed than necessary, while a gin, whiskey, or liqueur fan is likely to appreciate the added context.

The small group cap of 10 also helps justify the price. You should have a better chance to hear the guide and ask questions than you would in a crowded production hall. The information describes the tour as exclusive and private, while also listing a small group limit of 10. In practical terms, expect a limited-size experience rather than a large public crowd.

You should also consider what is not included. Transportation to and from the distillery is your responsibility, and the activity does not mention a bottle, souvenir, or food pairing included in the price. The main benefit is the visit itself and the tasting.

Who will enjoy this Salt Lake City stop?

I’d recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys learning how a product is made, especially if you already like spirits or want a better introduction to them. The guide’s focus on production science makes it suitable for a curious beginner, while the award-winning bottles give experienced drinkers something specific to assess.

It also suits visitors who prefer a short activity with a local focus. A one-hour appointment is easy to fit between other Salt Lake City plans, and the small setting feels more direct than a major industrial attraction.

The tour may be less suitable if you want a broad food-and-drink outing. There is no stated meal, cocktail class, transportation service, or extended social program. You are visiting for distillation, testing, sensory analysis, and tasting.

Anyone who has difficulty walking or standing should request a stool. The experience is wheelchair accessible, but it still involves movement through the distillery. Smoking, bare feet, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

Practical timing and booking advice

Plan on 45 minutes to one hour, with some walking and standing. Since the tasting comes at the end, avoid treating the visit as a rushed stop between tightly timed activities. Check the available starting times when you book.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your Salt Lake City schedule is still changing.

Book this when you can give the guide your attention. The value comes from the explanations and comparisons, not just from holding a tasting glass. If you arrive ready to ask about ingredients, measurements, barrels, or flavor changes, you’ll get more from the hour.

My call: a compact, worthwhile distillery visit

I would book the Spirits of the Wasatch tour if you want a short, local spirits experience with real technical detail. The combination of a small group, production equipment, scientific instruments, sensory work, and a full tasting gives the $20 price solid value.

The main limitation is its compact length. You won’t get a long production-day experience, and under-21 visitors cannot join the tasting. But for adults who enjoy gin, whiskey, coffee liqueur, or the craft behind them, this is an easy Salt Lake City addition with enough substance to make the hour count.

FAQ

How long does the Spirits of the Wasatch tour last?

The tour lasts between 45 minutes and one hour.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $20 per person.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery Gift Shop in Building 5 of Broadbent Business Park.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the distillery is not included.

What does the tour include?

It includes an exclusive private tour, a guided tasting of the entire product line, practical information about scientific instruments used in distillation, and participation in production and testing procedures.

Which spirits are included in the tasting?

The tasting includes the distillery’s product line, including Gold Medal winning gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur.

Can people under 21 take the tour?

People under 21 may join the tour with a guardian, but they may not be present during the tasting. The activity is not suitable for people under 21.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible. It involves walking and standing, and stools are available on request.