CRAFT DISTILLERY

The Hive Winery and Brandy Company

Layton,
Utah
— Brandy, Other

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🍎
Orchard Rescue
Heirloom apples saved from waste
🐝
Beekeeper Roots
Traditional mead meets modern brandy
🔥
Copper Pot Stills
Small batch fruit distillation
👥
Founder-Led
Jerry pours and tells the story
🏭
Workshop Feel
Production visible from tasting room
🍯
Honey Wine
One of Utah’s few mead makers
📞 (801) 546-1997
🌐 http://www.thehivewinery.com/
📍 1220 W 450 N #2, Layton, UT 84041, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Industrial Layton Warehouse Hiding Fruit Brandy Magic

The Hive Winery and Brandy Company sits in an industrial area of Layton, Utah, where founders Jerry and Jennifer Bailey have been crafting fruit wines and brandies since 2010. Jerry’s background in beekeeping inspired both the name and their approach—methodical, patient, and focused on extracting the best from local ingredients. The operation started as a way to use surplus fruit from local orchards, but it’s evolved into something more ambitious. Their 3,000-square-foot facility houses traditional wine-making equipment alongside copper pot stills for their brandy production, creating an interesting hybrid operation that’s uncommon in Utah’s spirits scene. You’ll find everything from traditional grape wines to fruit brandies made from Utah-grown apples, pears, and cherries. The Baileys handle most operations themselves, from sourcing fruit to bottling, which keeps things intimate but also means production stays small. What started as a retirement project has turned into a full-time passion, and you can taste the difference that personal attention makes. The tasting room feels more like visiting someone’s well-appointed garage than a polished winery, but that’s exactly the point—this is craft production at its most authentic.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

WHAT SETS THEM APART

Utah's Fruit Brandy Pioneer Using Orchard Surplus

Most Utah distilleries focus on grain spirits, but The Hive specializes in fruit brandies using locally-sourced produce from Wasatch Front orchards. Their apple brandy uses a blend of heirloom varieties that would otherwise go to waste, and they age it in used bourbon barrels to add complexity without overwhelming the fruit character. Jerry’s beekeeping background shows up in their mead production—they’re one of the few operations in Utah making traditional honey wine alongside their brandies. The facility operates more like an artisan workshop than a commercial distillery, with Jerry often manning the tasting room himself and walking visitors through his fruit selection process.

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

No Corporate Polish Just Jerry and His Stills

Jerry or Jennifer usually handle tastings personally, which means you’re getting the story straight from the founders. The tasting room is small and unpretentious—think folding tables and mismatched chairs rather than polished granite counters. But what it lacks in polish it makes up for in authenticity. You’ll taste through their wine lineup first, then move to the brandies, with Jerry explaining his distillation process and why he chose specific fruits. The whole experience takes about 30 minutes, and it feels more like visiting a neighbor who happens to make excellent spirits than a commercial operation. You can see the production area from the tasting room, so there’s no mystery about how small-scale this really is.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

For Authentic Spirits Skip the Instagram Spots

If you’re looking for polished hospitality and Instagram-worthy spaces, this isn’t your stop. But if you want to taste genuinely unique spirits and meet the people making them, The Hive delivers something you won’t find elsewhere in Utah. Their fruit brandies are legitimately interesting—complex enough for serious spirits drinkers but approachable for wine lovers. The personal attention from the founders makes it feel special, though the bare-bones setup might disappoint visitors expecting a more upscale experience. It’s perfect for people who value authenticity over amenities and want to support truly local production.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead rather than just showing up—they’re often working production and might not have the tasting room open. Jerry’s passionate about his process, so ask about fruit sourcing and barrel aging if you want to see him light up. The location can be tricky to find in the industrial complex, so use GPS and look for the small sign. Weekends tend to be better for longer conversations since they’re not rushing to get back to production work. Try the apple brandy if they have it available—it’s their most distinctive product and shows what they do best.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Hive Winery and Brandy Company — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make an appointment to visit?
Yes, definitely call ahead. Jerry and Jennifer often work production during the day and the tasting room isn’t always staffed. They’re happy to accommodate visitors but need advance notice to make sure someone’s available.
What’s the difference between their wines and brandies?
The wines are fermented fruit juices, while the brandies are distilled from those same wines, concentrating the flavors and adding alcohol. They use the same local fruit for both, so you can taste how distillation changes the character.
How small-scale is this operation really?
Very small—Jerry and Jennifer handle everything themselves from fruit selection to bottling. They produce maybe a few hundred bottles per year of each product, making this one of Utah’s smallest licensed operations.

GETTING THERE

Find The Hive Winery and Brandy Company

📍1220 W 450 N #2, Layton, UT 84041, USA

 — 

📞 (801) 546-1997

The 50 States of Whiskey

Find a Craft Distillery

Search from nearly 1,500 Distilleries
in all 50 States

Never Miss A Thing

Subscribe to our Newsletter

SMART BUYING GUIDES

The Right Gear Matters

Honest recommendations on everything around the bottle.

The best ice molds and ice makers for bourbon lovers
Best Clear Ice Makers for Bourbon (2026)

Read More →

The Best Bourbon Decanters: A No-Nonsense Guide to What’s Actually Worth Buying

Read More →

The Best Home Bar Carts and Bar Cabinets for Bourbon Lovers (2026 Guide)

Read More →

Best Bourbon Smoker Kits (2026) – Worth the Smoke?

Read More →

whiskey glasses
Best Whiskey Glasses for Bourbon: 5 Glasses Every Bourbon Drinker Should Own

Read More →

NEAT OR NOT

Whiskey Reviews

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating: 

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating: 

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating: 

KEEP EXPLORING

Distileries Near The Hive Winery and Brandy Company

Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery

Salt Lake City,
UT
Click the Distillery Details button below to lean more about this producer.
Vodka, Gin, Whiskey

Outlaw Distillery

Sandy,
UT
Click the Distillery Details button below to lean more about this producer.
Bourbon, Rye

The Nelson Cottage by High West

Park City,
UT
Click the Distillery Details button below to lean more about this producer.

Salt Flats Brewery

Salt Lake City,
UT
Click the Distillery Details button below to lean more about this producer.
Vodka, Gin, Whiskey

Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club

Park City,
UT
Click the Distillery Details button below to lean more about this producer.

Distillery 36

West Valley City,
UT
Click the Distillery Details button below to lean more about this producer.