The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced its list of semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards. The awards, which span 25 food and beverage categories, recognize chefs, restaurateurs and other industry professionals across the United States. For 2026, only one nomination comes f rom Park City: Sara Sergent, co-founder and master distiller of Alpine Distilling. Sergent, along with the Alpine Distilling Social Aid Pleasure Club on Main Street, is a semifinalist in the category for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. “This recognition means so much,” Sergent wrote in a LinkedIn post. “Grateful for our team, our community and every person who has shared a glass with us.” Sergent, a highly decorated gin distiller, received a diploma in gin after studying in Scotland and in 2024 was inducted into The Gin Guild, a London-based group committed to the development of the juniper-prevalent spirit, as the second woman from the U.S. With the James Beard semifinalist, Sergent becomes the first gin distiller nominated in the category. Finalists for each category will be announced on March 31, with the winners awarded at their ceremony in Chicago on June 15. The post Sara Sergent gets Park City’s only 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less