Vicki Bott and her son, Joe Bott, the founders of Second Summit Hard Cider Co. have crafted more than just a drink; they’ve cultivated an ethos. With its vibrant selection of ciders and steadfast support of the local community, Second Summit is redefining what it means to “drink responsibly.”
A Passion Brewed and Bottled
Second Summit’s journey began as an ambitious experiment for mother and son after Vicki was ready for a career change from 35 years in mortgage banking—a bold leap that set the stage for remarkable growth, in more ways than one.
A driving force behind Second Summit’s success is Vicki's son, Chief Operating Officer Joe Bott. With more than a decade of experience in the service industry, Joe has worked at breweries and craft beer bars before refining his expertise at a fast-growing cidery in Minnesota.
Second Summit’s name is a nod to the founders’ shared climbing adventures. Joe has summited Kilimanjaro, and Vicki has circumnavigated one of the most sacred mountains in Tibet. That spirit of challenge and perseverance is infused in everything they do.
"Joe and I talked about the cider business for over a year before deciding to open in June of 2023," Vicki explained. "We wanted something active; we have a half-acre lot with four pickleball courts. Active Community is a big part of our persona. We wanted a place where people could go, have a drink, but then do something active, vs just drinking."
Award Winning Ciders
The team at Second Summit Cider combines tradition and innovation, blending orchard-to-bottle techniques with unexpected flavor pairings that capture attention. Brandon Baldridge, the head cider maker, enjoys creating flavor profiles that highlight seasonal flavors, such as the summer cider Blackberry Lime and, coming in fall, Spiced Peach with hints of cinnamon and allspice. Typically, there are 8-10 ciders on tap.
Their bestseller, Off-Dry, is a tart cider with a green apple-forward profile. The second fan favorite is the Ginger-Sumac, a semi-dry cider with organic ginger and sumac flavors —a unique blend, to be sure, but it works. These two ciders are now available in Utah liquor stores.
"Ciders are considered wine, so we can serve over 5% on tap," Vicki explained. "Most of our ciders are 6.5%, we just have to serve them like wine. We also have a variety of ciders ranging from 5% to 8.2% for those looking for lower or higher alcohol choices."
Their dedication to crafting exceptional ciders has earned them numerous accolades. Off-Dry received the 2024 Silver award from the North American Brewers Association and the 2025 Silver award at the Great Lakes International Cidery and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP). The unique Ginger Sumac cider was honored with a 2025 GLINT Gold award, while Cherry (with cherries sourced from Willard, Utah) also secured a 2025 GLINT Gold. Additionally, Hopped claimed a 2025 GLINT Silver award, with special limited releases of Heritage and Pommeau also receiving 2025 GLINT Silver awards, further showcasing their excellence in cider innovation and quality.
Community is at the Heart
The Second Summit’s mission extends beyond the pickleball courts and orchards it draws from. Its founders view their company as a pillar of the community, forming partnerships and supporting local initiatives wherever possible.
Every month, Second Summit supports a local nonprofit with 20% of the proceeds from the last bingo night of the month. Recently, they donated proceeds to the Rise Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to making the game of soccer accessible to all. Next, they are raising funds to sponsor US Speedskater Mia Manganello in the 2034 Olympics.
“I am very into community and active spaces where people can get together, regardless of their background or lifestyle. This is absolutely a passion project for me," Vicki said. "In seeing people smile and be happy and have a light and bright place to go, I really believe this was what I needed to do; it is important for people to have a place like this to go."
Visitors flock to the taproom for relaxed weekend afternoons filled with flavorful flights, community conversation, and interactive games of bingo or trivia or take in some live tunes from a local band.
"We raised $10,00 for RISE in our second annual Pickleball Tournament."