WORLD CLASS SPIRITS

Dented Brick® Distillery offers special spirits from Utah

By Debbie Hall

Photos by Austen Diamond Photography

Itstarted with a simple idea by the founders of Dented Brick® Distillery to create a worldclass distillery in one of the driest states in the nation. A lifelong love for spirits united this group of passionate friends who undertook this challenge together.

Dented Brick® Distillery offers small batches of handmade spirits controlling the raw materials, including regionally sourced grains, house-selected yeasts, and the source of water used as the foundation of all distilled spirits. Its water source is its own artesian well, located on-premise in the distillery outside Salt Lake City. The water flows clean and pure from the snow melt of the Rocky Mountains (Wasatch Mountains), forming the perfect foundation for their products. Dented Brick Distillery strives to create unique spirits that tell world class spirits: dented brick® distillery authentic tales about the land and the history of its beloved home. This background is part of the 13 products the distillery offers, including rum, rye whiskey, vodka, gin, and craft whiskey.

Harley Norwood, head distiller, began his career in the distilling industry in 2008 and joined Dented Brick Distillery in 2020, bringing his experience in all phases of distilling. Norwood is certified by the Institute of Brewing & Distilling as well as by other organizations.

“The climate is great where the distillery is located,” says Harley. “We gain alcohol concentration in our barrels, losing about 7 percent over the year. Our distillery was specifically built as a distillery, and we also age the spirits here. The temperature fluctuations really aid in the maturation process.”

He is also on the team to create and develop new Dented Brick products. “It all starts with a concept, and we have developed eight products since I joined the distillery.”

One product he helped develop was Disco-Nut Coconut Flavored Rum, a coconut rum with edible glitter. Disco-Nut Coconut Flavored Rum began collaborating with the Utah Pride Center in 2020. Crafted using sugar cane molasses from the U.S Virgin Islands, the resulting rum is vibrant in flavor and silky smooth. It is blended with coconut syrup and brought to proof with Dented Brick’s artesian well water before the most distinctive ingredient is added to the mix—a shimmery edible glitter, giving world class spirits: dented brick® distillery

Disco-Nut its unique pearlescent silver coloring. This striking spirit is perfectly enjoyed in the cocktail, sipped straight or on the rocks.

The team is working on the rye whiskey program, opening up its secondary finishing.

“We are developing beautiful rye whiskey in cabernet, chardonnay, port, and gin barrels. We are taking on more wine barrels regularly,” explains Harley. “These rye whiskeys will be limited in production, so we want to bring people to our distillery and offer them a great experience with limited releases. We are also growing our regular straight rye whiskey.”

They are also working on importing tequila and offering it under Dented Brick’s Value label. It has become a process of obtaining approvals from the governments of Mexico, the United States, and the state of Utah. Labels are being finalized, and Dented Brick will distribute the tequila as its importer.

Utah’s distilling history runs even deep, goes back as far as Kentucky’s, and has iconic figures like Hugh Moon. In May 1840, Hugh and his family departed Liverpool and sailed for the New York harbor, finally arriving on April 16, 1841. Hugh purchased a large farm in 1856, grew sugar cane, likely rye, and other fermentable ingredients, and had pigs to which he fed his spent grain. The founders would discover that Hugh owned the property where Dented Brick Distillery is located.

For more info, find distributors and order, visit dentedbrick.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram @DentedBrickDistillery and Twitter @Dentedbrick.