Interview with Rob Sergent, managing director of Alpine Distilling
This article is part of a series featuring business executives who choose to live and work in Utah. If you know of an executive we should interview, please contact us.
Located in Park City, Utah is a premier locally owned and operated craft distillery — Alpine Distilling. The business crafts delicious, award-winning spirits that capture the true essence of life in its mountain town using grains, botanicals, fruits, teas and woods.
The distillery uses two hand-made stills: a classic copper pot still for whiskeys and a column still with vapor baskets for the botanical spirits and vodka. All its spirits passed the Orthodox Union Kosher certification and are cut using pure aquifer water.
Alpine Distilling operates the Alpine Pie Bar on Main Street, a speakeasy establishment that serves locally made pies and Alpine spirits in classic cocktails.
Their certified craft products have earned press accolades including, NBC, Forbes, Food & Wine, and placed highly in competitions such as World Spirits and the London Spirits competitions, to name a few.
Seeking to take his Kentucky ancestors’ affinity for moonshining to the next level, Rob and Sara Sergent founded Alpine Distilling. The duo strives to pay homage to the flavorful European spirits he enjoyed while living in Europe. Since moving to Park City, they developed a passion for the world-class resort town while nurturing a successful business.
Before establishing his business, Sergent held senior-level positions with Johnson & Johnson and the National Football League.
What top two recent professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
The numerous Double-Gold medals for our Preserve Liqueur, which are named after and a fund-raiser for the Swaner Nature Preserve.
Our multiple Double-Gold medals for our gin, including my wife’s recent Double-Gold at London’s Women, Wine & Spirit Awards.
What drew you to Utah?
I wanted to create a successful business from scratch that I am passionate about and teach my kids the value of hard work. The incredible lifestyle and access to the wilderness are icing on the cake.
What do you like most about living in Utah?
Summit County attracts people with a passion for the outdoors and who value spending time with family and friends.
I believe we are at our best in nature — a walk in the park, a hike with friends, skiing, biking — adventures big or small.
What is most important to you?
Watching our kids grow up with a strong sense of environmental awareness and love for adventure.
What do you like most about doing business in Utah?
The sense that everything is in front of us. Utah has enormous potential and is forward-looking.
What advice do you have for individuals considering starting a business, or relocating their business, to Utah?
Exercise the resources available at the state, county and local levels. They are second to none.
What is your primary challenge of doing business in Utah?
Shipping costs are very high, and there is some confusion about the role alcohol can play in a responsible community.
What is your business philosophy?
We operate our business on the tenents of community stewardship as well as the importance of family, integrity and honesty.
Tell me a fun fact about yourself.
I went to high school in London, England and college in Munich, Germany.
I was the director of game-day operations for the New Orleans Saints and worked multiple Super Bowls, including as a liaison for President George H.W. Bush.
Would you like to understand better how award-winning spirits are made?
We offer gin and whiskey making classes in Park City, and schedules are available on our website. Additionally, we offer free tours on Saturdays of our distillery in the Silver Creek area.