After Dark

The folks at Kemo Sabe don’t mess around when it comes to high-end Western luxury. Their Main Street shop in Park City is a magnet for those seeking custom-fitted felt hats, top-tier cowboy boots and a trove of Americana accessories. And to elevate the retail experience even further, the boot shop has a hidden speakeasy where you can sip while you shop.

“We’re the hat store in town,” says General Manager Lindsay Perez of the Kemo Sabe location, which began as a family-owned shop in Aspen and has now expanded to six locations in the American West. “But each location also goes the extra mile to give shoppers a one-of-a-kind experience that you can’t find at other retailers: a secret speakeasy.” 

Kemo Sabe PC, which opened in 2023, fills its shop with family-owned vendors and artisan ware. But tucked away within the curated floor is an unassuming display shelf that, when touched just right, reveals the entrance to the hidden bar. You can thrill in the hunt by kicking around for it, or avoid damaging a pair of $1,800 python boots by simply telling the staff you’re looking for a drink. It’s your call. 

Complete with cowhide rugs, long-horn mounts and natural wood finishes, guests are greeted with old-world saloon vibes. The full-service bar can pour up any number of classic cocktails, or a few fingers of a high-end local bourbon. With a glass in hand, step over to Kemo Sabe’s hat-steaming or boot-fitting stations, where stylists can help you find the perfect fit. 

Kemo Sabe’s speakeasy is open to the public seven days a week during regular 
tore hours and is also available for private rentals. Grab your gals and spend an afternoon customizing hats with feathers, pins, beaded chains, brands and all the other bells and whistles your little cowgirl heart desires. And hell, why not pair the experience with a bottle of bubbles and a round of espresso martinis? A little shopping under the influence never hurt anyone.   

If You Go

Kemo Sabe
268 Main St., Park City
Check their website for seasonal store hours | kemosabe.com

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Just about every spirit company claims to have the “Best.” “Best Triple Distilled Vodka,” “Best Single Barrel Bourbon,” how about “Best Tequila That Definitely Won’t Give You a Hangover, We Promise.” But how many of those brands can back up their claim with a panel of impartial industry experts who have tasted and rated their products on a rigid rubric? One such spirit vanguard that can proudly proclaim its “Bestness” with conviction is Alpine Distilling, whose Triple Oak Whiskey recently received a stellar 98 Platinum rating in the Enthusiast Reports International Spirit Competition. 

“In my 15-year career in the spirits industry, we’ve only had three other instances of a 98 rating that came in from our panelists,” says Enthusiast Report CEO and publisher Lincoln Salazar. The rating is derived from a group of expert panelists with a combined over 100 years of industry experience. And they take their judging roles extremely seriously. During the blind tasting, judges appraise thousands of spirits submitted from across the globe. To ensure an unbiased rating, judges are restricted from eating or drinking hours prior, and roaming proctors ensure they keep from conferring with each other. It’s like an SAT, but with booze.  

Alpine is no stranger to international accolades. Master Distiller Sara Sergent was recently inducted into the London Gin Guild as “Warden Rectifier”—only the second woman in U.S. history to do so. Their Elevated Gin was named “Gin of the Year” in 2021 and continues to shine in local and national competitions. While Alpine’s botanical brilliance is derived from Sara, founder and husband Rob Sergent leans into his roots—Kentucky roots to be exact. The Bluegrass State native comes from generations of distillers and has honed his process to perfect award-winning whiskey in Utah, a locale known for its elevational challenges and stringent spirit laws. 

Alpine’s Triple Oak is a feat of distilling ingenuity, starting with locally sourced mountain water fed from a subterranean aquifer and grain imported from Rob’s home state. Each production stage is tedious and hyper-monitored, from the open-fermentation stage to secondary aging in double-toasted oak barrels. The latter process, artisanal aging in hand-crafted barrels, is in itself a signal to Alpine’s pursuit of perfection. The distiller tapped Chris Hansen to craft barrels with wood that could counteract Utah’s low humidity with faster lignin extraction, allowing hemicellulose to release from the oak and dissolve into the spirit. For all you non-master distillers: these are the yummy sugars that create caramel, toffee, and honey-like notes in your bourbon. The additional year spent aging in hand-crafted barrels of quarter-sawn American Oak with hand-split French Oak heads results in a sophisticated flavor profile. 

All of that painstaking labor pays off in a whiskey that is rich and creamy on the palate, with a luxurious finish of roasted nuts and molasses. It’s a delightfully smooth sipper, and we can attest, Triple Oak is truly greatness in a glass.  

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Temperatures are finally warming up in Salt Lake City, which can only mean one thing: It’s spritzer season baby. Although, we never stopped enjoying our Aperol Spritz and tall pours of prosecco because we know that spritz season isn’t confined to a calendar; it’s a state of mind. The folks at Spritz! understand this and the bubbles flow year round at this adorable bar inside The Peery Hotel.

Wife duo Lizzie and Cailee Jacobs were inspired by their international travels when they constructed a splashy European lounge in the heart of Salt Lake. “I knew I wanted it to be small, super cozy and girly,” says Lizzie. “I wanted people to walk in and feel that someone took time to design the space, not just slap 10 TVs on the walls and call it a day.” Drawn to bold patterns, mid-century maximalism and intimate atmospheres, the couple was elated to discover an open space inside the historic Peery Hotel downtown. Lizzie wasted no time dressing the compact space in a swath of eclectic furnishings and striking patterns, including a hot pink hallway, a wall of mirrors and a personal gallery collage. While others might view the small square footage as a detriment, Lizzie saw it as an opportunity for serendipitous connections—between single travelers or locals looking to share a spritz. “There’s something so exciting about strangers sitting side by side and sparking up a conversation,” she says. “That’s the magic of a hotel bar.”

The drinks at Spritz! match the interior’s sunny disposition, focusing on bubbly cocktails that are as crushable as they are cute. “We want to keep up with the trends, so our menu will include rotating spritz options and fan favorites like espresso and matcha martinis.” The bar’s mix-and-match Spritz options include the foundational Aperol Spritz, along with other bright variations like the Midori and Limoncello Spritz. Inclusivity is key at Spritz!, which is why the menu also boasts an array of mocktails, all served in elegant wine glasses and adorned with garnishes that are as visually appealing as they are refreshing.

Having been open for just over a year, Lizzie has been elated with the response from the community. “It’s been so rewarding, it’s so fulfilling to have found our people.” And, having dialed in the bar’s cocktail approach, the Spritz! team is excited to work in more weekly events and special gatherings. Hosted each Friday, Spritz! screens an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race and invites local drag queens for commentary. The camp-meets-Campari viewing party is a perfect weekend activity to add to your summer lineup, follow their socials to stay up-to-date with themed parties and meet-ups. 

With their playful approach to summer sipping and interiors brimming with personality, Spritz! is a welcome addition to Salt Lake’s nightlife scene. So, the next time you’re craving an Aperol Spritz (which, let’s be honest, is always), make your wya to Spritz!—where every season feels like spritz season.

When You Go

110 W. 300 South (located inside the Peery Hotel)
spritz.com | @spritzslc

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Where to sip and celebrate the entire month of June. 

For Post Parade Festivities

Bar X & Beer Bar 

The Utah Pride Parade, taking place on June 8 this year, will be a shorter procession than previous years. Beginning on 100 S and West Temple, onlookers will pack seven blocks downtown in a sea of rainbow and glitter. After cheering and snapping to your heart’s content (please, no fan clacking this year), pop over to Bar X and Beer Bar for some post-parade libations. The brew-focused pub decorates its spaces with flags and fanfare the entire month of June and has hosted its own Pride parties in years past.

When you go: 
Beer Bar: 161 E. 200 South  |  beerbarslc.com 
Bar X: 155 E. 200 South  |  barxslc.com 

For Clubbing 

MILK+ 

The folks at MILK+ know how to throw a party. Their annual Pride block parties have brought in world-renowned performers like Violet Chachki, Gottmik and Latrice Royale, alongside local legends and DJs. Opening weekend revelry is typically packed with club kids, fashionistas and Swifties so prepare for a crowd and cover fee— though MILK does make full use of their two indoor dancefloors and outdoor space with additional stages. The celebrations continue all June long with special burlesque performances, gogo dancers and drag artists. Check their site for the latest schedule. 

When you go: 
MILK+: 49 E. 900 South  |  milkslc.com

For Drag Brunch 

HK Brewing & Why Kiki

Queer and woman-owned HK Brewing specializes in kombucha-based bevvys, crushable cocktails, N/A beverages and vibes. Their desert-chic taproom holds a monthly Sip & Slay Drag Brunch featuring host Ivy Dior Stephens and a rotating cast of stunning kings and queens. Order up a Basic B*tch Spritz or HK Mule and practice how you’ll respectfully tip performers after a death drop. 

Downtown tiki bar Why Kiki has become a hot commodity for its weekend silent disco and fishbowl concoctions, but they pull out all the stops come Pride month. The Sunday drag brunch brings in a large colorful crowd who snap and shout for a lineup of queens, and snack on an explicitly-shaped waffle—naturally. The bar hosts a variety of women-only comedy shows, national drag acts, and themed events paying homage to queer icons throughout the summer; the full schedule is on their site. 

When you go: 
HK Brewing:  370 Aspen Ave. | hkbrewing.com
Why Kiki: 69 W. 100 South  |  whykikibar.com

For Themed Nights and Shows 

Metro Music Hall & Try-Angles

You aren’t regarded as a classic gay bar without putting in the work. Metro Music Hall and Try-Angles have earned their stripes through consistently great programming and community-focused events. More of a live music venue than a nightlife hub, Metro offers its stage to a range of local and touring drag artists throughout the year. Expect to see some 

RuPaul legends and talented Salt Lake queens grace their halls through Pride month. 

In the central ninth district, Try-Angles puts on themed events throughout the week catering to niche queer subcultures. The late-night spot also boasts the “cheapest and biggest drinks in town,” so you won’t break the bank in your efforts to celebrate the most prideful month of the year. 

When you go: 
Metro Music Hall: 615 W. 100 South metromusichall.com
Try-Angles: 251 W. Harvey Milk Blvd. clubtryangles.com

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