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Spirit of Support: Alpine Distilling Proves Flexibility is the Secret Ingredient

Organizational Snapshot

Alpine Distilling’s mission is to craft exceptional, award-winning spirits while building a workplace that honors the whole person. Founded in 2016, the company believes great products are made by people who feel supported, trusted, and inspired both at work and at home. As a woman-led company, equal opportunity across the country is deeply important to them. They treat their lounge as an extension of a family living room – serving everything with a slice of pie and a sense of belonging. Alpine Distilling’s culture is built on the idea that when they invest in employees who invest in the company, they build a resilient, inspired community.

Policy

Flexibility

Region

Park City, UT

Industry

Hospitality & Manufacturing

Size

Small

20 Employees

Male/Female

40% / 60%

Founded

2016

"Family-friendly policies are not a cost. They are an investment. When leaders trust their teams and build systems around them, performance improves. Culture is not a perk. It is infrastructure. Supporting working parents strengthens businesses, communities, and the next generation of leaders."

Sara Sergent

CEO & Master Botanical Distiller

Family Friendly Policy Overview

Alpine Distilling was built with humanity at its core. By intentionally designing work around the “whole person,” the company invests in its people, recognizing that supporting life events, caregiving, and personal wellbeing isn’t just the right thing to do – it strengthens the team and drives long-term success.

Flexibility in Manufacturing and Beyond: Alpine breaks the mold of rigid production schedules. The manufacturing team decided on its own cadence, with some employees preferring four-day weeks while others chose five. Operations run leaner on Mondays and Fridays to allow for life’s demands, with the full team working Tuesday through Thursday. Advanced scheduling allows staff to balance creative pursuits, school schedules, and family needs without friction.

Employee-Centric Scheduling: Alpine designs schedules around people’s lives while maintaining high standards of excellence. This includes adjustable start and end times, shared coverage models, proactive time-off planning, and an open-door approach to life changes. This has had a profound impact, with employees sharing that the company culture makes them feel supported as people.

Investing in the Whole Person: Support at Alpine goes beyond the paycheck. The company offers 401(k) plans and health memberships, including discounts on gym memberships and ski passes. To foster their team culture, the team participates in quarterly experiences ranging from glass blowing and jiu-jitsu training to escape rooms, ensuring that work is a place of growth and connection.

Intentional Boundaries: To protect family time, the lounge is closed on Mondays and major holidays, and it never stays open past 10:00 PM. This ensures that even in the demanding hospitality industry, team members have predictable, quality time to spend with their loved ones.

Community Stewardship: Alpine doesn’t just support its internal team – the company is intentional about their support for the entire Park City community. The company opens its lounge for free to nonprofits for fundraisers and crafts spirits tied to local preservation efforts. Whether it’s hosting yoga events or donating to avalanche search and rescue, employees are empowered to give back to their community.

Policy Implementation Overview

Retention and Engagement: Flexibility has been the single most impactful policy, significantly boosting employee engagement and retention. Since its founding in 2016, the company has built its workplace around the belief that strong businesses and great products are made by people who feel supported, trusted, and inspired. This philosophy has resulted in strong retention, with team members citing the culture of trust and flexibility as key reasons they stay and grow with the company. Employees note that family and self come first at Alpine, and they are never penalized for taking time off for themselves or for family emergencies.

Community Influence: Through close collaborations with local nonprofits and frequent support of small businesses, Alpine’s team has become an extension of the community they serve. They partner with local businesses, building strong connections within their team and strengthening ties with the Park City community. This commitment creates a ripple effect, impacting families and businesses across the area while embodying the company’s belief in honoring the whole person and building a stronger community together.

The Impact

Alpine Distilling’s focus on flexibility and employee well-being demonstrates its commitment to creating a people-first workplace where team members thrive both personally and professionally. This supportive culture has fostered incredible loyalty, with many employees choosing to grow their careers here for years, which is a sharp contrast to the bar industry’s high turnover rate. With benefits like flexible scheduling and community engagement initiatives, the team is empowered to stay and evolve in meaningful ways. This long-term stability and high retention directly contribute to the company’s success and the quality of its award-winning spirits. When employees are valued and stay for the long haul, the business thrives, forming the foundation of the distillery’s achievements.