If you like learning by seeing, this tour hits the spot. You’ll walk through distillation in real life and get a guided tasting that makes the flavors make sense fast. I like that the pace stays tight and the guide keeps connecting the science to what’s in the glass.

Two things really stand out for me: the focus on the hidden corners of the distillery (not just the postcard views) and the way you use your senses during the process, not only at the end. One heads-up: you’ll be walking/standing for the full hour, so if that’s an issue, ask for a stool when you arrive.

Key Highlights You Should Not Miss

• Small group, max 10 people so questions don’t get lost
• Refractometers and hydrometers explained in practical terms you can actually use
• Sensory experience across distilling phases so you notice what changes as runs progress
• Guided tasting of the full product line with a strong focus on aromatics and flavor balance
• Award-winning spirits you can sample, including gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur

Spirits of the Wasatch Tour: A Straightforward Way to Understand Distilling

Salt Lake City has plenty of ways to spend an afternoon, but this one is built for people who want more than a quick peek behind a door. For about $20 per person and around 45 to 60 minutes, you get a tour that focuses on how a distillery actually works and why the final spirit tastes the way it does.

I like experiences where you don’t have to already be an expert. This one sets you up with the basics using simple, concrete points: how raw materials get transformed, how the distilling run is monitored, and how testing ties into consistency. If you’re a spirits fan, you’ll appreciate the specificity. If you’re just curious, you’ll come away with a clearer sense of what you’re drinking and why.

And because it’s a small group (limited to 10) with a live English-speaking guide, it doesn’t feel like you’re being herded through. You can ask questions, and the guide can slow down when something matters to the group.

Where You Start: Broadbent Business Park and the Gift Shop Check-In

The tour meets at the Spirits of the Wasatch Gift Shop, in Building 5 of Broadbent Business Park. That matters more than it sounds. Checking in at the shop usually means you’ll get your bearings quickly, plus it’s an easy place for staff to route you to the right spot inside the facility.

Also, don’t show up barefoot. Bare feet aren’t allowed, and the tour involves walking/standing. If you want this to feel comfortable, wear closed-toe shoes and plan to stay on your feet. If you need help, stools are available on request, which can make the experience much easier to enjoy without turning it into a sore-foot marathon.

One more practical note: unaccompanied minors aren’t allowed, and the tour has an age rule tied to tasting. If you’re traveling with family, it’s worth aligning expectations early so nobody is surprised at the end.

Inside the Distillery: Hidden Corners, Copper Still, and Aging Details

This is a tour built around seeing process steps up close. Instead of only taking you past the most photogenic areas, the experience highlights the lesser-seen parts of the distillery where the work actually happens. You’ll get the chance to look at the equipment and materials that affect flavor: the copper stills and oak barrels that play a role in aging.

Why I like this approach: you can read about distillation all day, but you can’t feel the logic until you watch how the setup forces the run to behave. Copper stills and aging barrels aren’t just “cool visuals.” They influence aroma and texture, and that shows up when you finally taste.

You’ll also notice the tour isn’t only about the end product. The guide frames what you’re looking at as part of a chain: ingredients go in, the distillation run shapes what comes out, and then aging and testing help lock in the character. The result is that the tasting at the end feels less like random sampling and more like a conclusion to what you saw earlier.

The pacing is also short enough to keep momentum. You’re not stuck in a half-day program. For many people, that’s the sweet spot: enough time to learn and taste, without turning the rest of your Salt Lake City day into a waiting game.

The Science That Matters: Refractometers and Hydrometers

One of the strongest reasons to book this tour is the hands-on style explanations of distillation instruments. You’ll learn how tools like refractometers and hydrometers support precision during production and testing.

If you’ve ever wondered why one batch tastes a little different, this is where the mystery gets practical. These instruments help measure characteristics that affect the spirit’s outcome. Instead of treating distilling as a mystical craft, the guide connects the equipment to controllable variables—how close you are to targets, how you verify what’s happening, and how you maintain consistency.

I especially like that the science isn’t presented as math homework. The tour’s focus is more like: here’s what the tool does, here’s what they’re checking, and here’s how the results guide the next step. It turns vague curiosity into concrete understanding.

You’ll also hear about the selection of raw materials and how distillation techniques get fine-tuned. Even if you don’t remember every term, you’ll leave with a working idea of why spirit-making is both craft and process control.

Sensing the Run: Aromatics Through Distillation Phases

After the equipment and testing, the experience shifts to something your senses can understand instantly. You’ll have a guided sensory experience that distinguishes different phases of the distilling run.

This is one of those parts where the tour earns its keep. Flavor isn’t only about what hits your tongue. Smell does a lot of heavy lifting in spirit appreciation. By guiding you through how aromas shift as the run progresses, the tasting at the end becomes easier to interpret. You’re not just tasting; you’re comparing.

Also, this sensory component works for beginners. You don’t need a sommelier vocabulary. The guide steers you toward what to notice and how to connect those observations back to the process you saw earlier.

One consideration: since the tour involves standing and walking, you’ll want to pace yourself and take the sensory guidance seriously at the same time. If you need a stool, ask. It’s better to be comfortable during the aromatics portion than to push through and end up rushing.

Guided Tasting and Award-Winning Spirits: Gin, Whiskey, Coffee Liqueur

The tour ends with a guided tasting of the entire product line. This is where the experience shifts from education to enjoyment, and it’s also where you’ll notice whether the distillery’s style matches your tastes.

You can sample gold medal winning gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur. The tour also references competitive success in 2024, including 7 gold medals and 3 double gold medals. That doesn’t automatically mean every bottle is your favorite—but it tells you the quality is being recognized by people judging spirits under consistent rules.

What I think makes the tasting especially good value is that it’s guided, not just a free-for-all pour. Because you learned about instruments, phases, and the balance of aromatics, you’ll taste with context. You’ll likely pick up on differences you’d miss if you only compared labels or alcohol strength.

If you’re a coffee drinker, the coffee liqueur is the one that surprises people most. It’s not the same experience as straight gin or whiskey, so it gives your taste buds a nice contrast. And if you prefer classic styles, the gin and whiskey sampling gives you a chance to compare how botanical notes or barrel influence show up.

One more timing note: the tour is about 1 hour, so the tasting portion won’t sprawl. That can be a plus if you want a focused activity before dinner.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Might Want to Skip It)

This is best for you if you want a compact, friendly learning experience. The format works for:

• People who enjoy structured explanation without being overwhelmed
• Spirits fans who want a behind-the-scenes look at process and testing
• Curious travelers who want to understand what makes one bottle different from another
• Anyone who likes short tours that still include tasting

It’s less ideal if you:

• Need a fully seated experience (stools are available on request, but the tour still involves walking/standing)
• Are traveling with someone under 21, since people under 21 may attend only with a guardian and may not be allowed to participate in the tasting
• Prefer activities that don’t involve alcohol tasting at all

Also, small groups are a real part of the appeal. With up to 10 participants, the guide can address questions and keep the flow moving. If you’re someone who hates large crowds and long lines, this size is a big plus.

Practical Tips for Making the Most of Your Hour

Here’s how I’d make sure you get the best experience out of the limited time:

• Wear comfortable shoes. The tour includes walking/standing.
• Bring your curiosity, not your flash cards. The tour’s strength is clarity and connecting process to aroma and flavor.
• Pay attention during the sensory phase. That guided aromatics moment is what turns tasting into understanding.
• Come with a basic idea of what you like (gin botanicals, whiskey barrel notes, or coffee liqueur sweetness). It helps you evaluate what you’re tasting.

And keep in mind the site rules: no smoking, and bare feet aren’t allowed. Those aren’t just rules for show—they help keep the tasting and facility experience comfortable for everyone.

Should You Book Spirits of the Wasatch?

If you’re in Salt Lake City and you want one high-value, short activity that combines learning with tasting, I’d say yes. At $20 for about an hour, you’re getting a private-style small group tour with a guided look at the distilling process plus a tasting of the full product line. The tour also stands out because it explains why the spirits taste the way they do, not just what’s being made.

Skip it only if standing time would ruin your comfort, or if alcohol tasting doesn’t fit your group. If you fall into the middle—curious, craft-minded, or simply food-and-drink interested—this is the kind of tour that leaves you with better instincts for what you’ll enjoy at your next bar or bottle shop.

FAQ

How long is the Spirits of the Wasatch distillery tour?

The tour lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $20 per person.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at the Spirits of the Wasatch Gift Shop, located in Building 5 of Broadbent Business Park.

Is the tour a small group?

Yes. It’s limited to 10 participants.

What’s included in the tour?

You get an exclusive, private tour, a guided tasting of the entire product line, practical insights into scientific instruments used in distillation, and engagement in production and testing procedures.

What can I taste during the guided tasting?

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

Is the tour suitable for minors?

People under 21 are allowed with a guardian, but they may not be preset during tasting. The tour is listed as not suitable for people under 21.

What’s the age limit for smoking or bare feet?

Smoking isn’t allowed, and bare feet aren’t allowed.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance is offered for a full refund.

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