Calwise Spirits
Our Story
Calwise Spirits Co. is a craft distillery in Paso Robles, California, built around founder Aaron's obsession with distilling, which started as a college dorm-room hobby and grew into a full production house. The lineup spans Big Sur Gin, Axe Hole whiskey, Hazard Reef rum, and Western Fruit Exchange orange liqueur, each one built around a piece of California: Big Sur's forest trails, vineyard barrels, and local orange groves.
The Founders
Aaron's family has a distilling history that runs almost a century deep, tracing back to his great-great-grandfather's moonshining operation, shut down during Prohibition. He started making spirits as a hobby in his college dorm room; it grew into a passion, then an obsession, and eventually Calwise Spirits.
How We Make It
Calwise builds its spirits around California ingredients and barrels sourced from the local wine industry. Big Sur Gin is distilled from wine grapes and native botanicals like juniper, sage, yerba santa, bay, and elderberry. Axe Hole whiskey and Hazard Reef rum both age and finish in repurposed wine barrels using a solera system for some batches. The orange liqueurs use fresh fruit sourced from California growers.
Details
- Location
- Paso Robles, CA
- Founded
- 2018
- Website
- calwisespirits.com/
- @calwisespirits
Gallery
Meet the Team
Aaron
Founder
Started distilling as a hobby in his college dorm room; it grew into a passion and then an obsession. Continues a family distilling history that traces back to his great-great-grandfather's Prohibition-era moonshining operation.
Our Spirits
13 expressions
Barrel Reserve Orange Liqueur
Hazard Reef Navy Strength Rum
Hazard Reef White Rum
Hazard Reef Dark Rum
Hazard Reef 8th Anniversary Rum
Axe Hole Bourbon Whiskey
Axe Hole Single Malt Whiskey
Axe Hole Wild Blueberry Whiskey
Big Sur Gin - Cranberry
