Craft Distilleries in California
39 independent distilleries, 289 expressions
California's craft distillers range from wine country operations to city production spaces. Wine country distilleries in Sonoma, Napa and Paso Robles turn local grapes and fruit into brandy, grappa and grape-based vodka. City distilleries in Los Angeles and San Diego make gin, whiskey, rum and liqueurs in small urban production spaces.
Some of the state's pioneers are here too, like St. George Spirits in Alameda and Charbay in Mendocino County, alongside distilleries founded in the last few years. Explore by area below, or jump to gin, whiskey or brandy to compare California producers side by side.
Distilleries in California
- 117° West SpiritsVista · American Single Malt, Rum, Whiskey117° West Spirits is a California craft distillery dedicated to the idea that California should have a whiskey and craft-spirit tradition all its own.
- 619 SpiritsSan Diego · Vodka619 Spirits started with one simple idea: to create a spirit that truly represented San Diego.
- Alley 6 Craft DistilleryHealdsburg · Liqueur, Gin, BrandyAlley 6 Craft Distillery is a 100% family-owned and operated distillery in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, built by husband-and-wife team Jason and Krystle Jorgensen.
- Batch 22Los Angeles · AquavitBatch 22 is an American Aquavit created in Los Angeles by three lifelong friends - Matthew Arkin, Marc, and Bruce - with a mission to establish American Aquavit as America's next great spirit obsession.
- Bethel Rd DistilleryPaso Robles · Brandy, Gin, LiqueurThe path to Bethel Rd. has been one of passion, experimentation and homage to the tradition of spirit making from around the world.
- Blinking Owl DistillerySanta Ana · Vodka, Aquavit, GinThe Blinking Owl is the first craft distillery in Orange County and one of the first in California to hold a Type 74 Craft Distillers License, allowing it to operate a tasting room and sell bottles on site.
- Calwise SpiritsPaso Robles · Rum, Gin, LiqueurCalwise 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.
- Canary Natural SpiritsRedlands · LiqueurCanary is a natural spirit company committed to sharing the very best of California agriculture with the world.
- CharbayUkiah · Vodka, Whiskey, BrandyCharbay was founded in 1983 in Ukiah, California as Domaine Karakash, becoming the 177th licensed distillery in America.
- Cutler's Artisan SpiritsSanta Barbara · Liqueur, Bourbon, WhiskeyThe Cutler legacy began with a simple belief: fine spirits bring people together.
- Dead of Night DistilleryLos Angeles · Gin, Liqueur, AbsintheDead of Night Distillery works out of a small production space on the southern edge of Los Angeles's Arts District, with DSP-CA-20185 printed on every bottle as the only credential they lean on.
- Fallen Barrel HouseLos Angeles · WhiskeyFallen Barrel House is an independent bottler of American whiskey and spirits, exclusively from distilleries that no longer produce.
- Greenbar DistilleryLos Angeles · LiqueurGreenbar Distillery began as a couple's home hobby of infusing spirits with fresh, real ingredients, started by Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew in Monrovia, California in 2004.
- Griffo DistilleryPetaluma · Whiskey, Brandy, GinWe are driven to lift and defy expectations of flavor, through ingenuity and precision, and to enliven moments of togetherness.
- Hanson of SonomaSonoma · Vodka, GinHanson of Sonoma began as an idea from brothers Chris and Brandon Hanson, who spent two years and 155 experimental batches developing an organic, grape-based vodka before settling on their final blend in 2013.
- Hollywood DistilleryLos Angeles · Rye Whiskey, Vodka, GinFounded in 2016 by three longtime Hollywood residents who kept wondering why their neighborhood - famous for its cocktail culture - still had no distillery of its own.
- Humboldt DistilleryFortuna · Rum, Vodka, BrandyHumboldt Distillery aims to capture the spirit of California in its natural state.
- Laurel Canyon SpiritsLos Angeles · Liqueur, VodkaLaurel Canyon Spirits was founded in 2019 by two families intertwined through a lifetime of friendship: Bryan and Dayna Turcotte, and Tammy and Nathan Ehrenfeld.
- Liquid AlchemistLos AngelesWe spent years behind the bar, frustrated by syrups filled with artificial flavors and high-fructose corn syrup.
- Mainland RumLos Angeles · RumMainland Rum is the independent American rum company, distilled on American soil and never imported.
- Napa Valley DistilleryNapa · Brandy, Liqueur, GinNapa Valley Distillery operates on one basic principle: Make it Different!
- New Alchemy DistillingEl Dorado Hills · Gin, Whiskey, Rye WhiskeyNew Alchemy Distilling began as an idea in a research laboratory, where its two founders first met.
- Noble 1975Modesto · TequilaNoble 1975 Tequila is more than just a tequila, it's a family story rooted in hard work, heritage, and pride.
- Old 49Los Angeles · Whiskey, VodkaOld 49's recipe traces back to Nat Kidder, a 34-year-old electrical contractor who began distilling vodka aboard Navy battleships for sailors in 1940.
- Re:Find DistilleryPaso Robles · Vodka, Rye Whiskey, LiqueurRe:Find Distillery is crafting artisan spirits from grape/grain to bottle in the heart of Paso Robles wine country.
- Root ElixirsSan Luis ObispoRoot Elixirs makes sparkling, flavor-forward cocktail and mocktail mixers for people who want the drink to feel finished without spending the night making it.
- Rum et al.El Segundo · RumRum et al. is an experimental rum project from et aliae spirits, LLC - self-described "experimental rum makers who love the art and science behind the various…
- San Hagen TequilaSan Diego · TequilaSan Hagen Tequila is a San Diego/Copenhagen collab merging the best of both worlds, blending the creativity and warmth of Southern California with the craftsmanship and culinary precision of Denmark.
- Seven Caves SpiritsSan Diego · Rum, Gin, BourbonSeven Caves Spirits was founded in San Diego by Geoff Longenecker, who named the distillery after La Jolla's sea caves.
- Shadow Ridge Spirits CompanyOceanside · Rum, American Single Malt, GinShadow Ridge Spirits Company specializes in premium small-batch, hand-crafted spirits.
- Sonoma Brothers DistillingWindsor · Brandy, Gin, VodkaSonoma Brothers Distilling is more than a distillery, it's a family passion rooted in dedication, innovation, and a love for Sonoma County.
- Spirit Works DistillingSebastopol · Liqueur, Rye Whiskey, VodkaSpirit Works Distilling is a grain-to-glass craft distillery in Sebastopol, in Sonoma County's West County wine country.
- St. George SpiritsAlameda · Gin, Vodka, American Single MaltSt. George Spirits was the first small American distillery since Prohibition, founded in 1982 when fewer than 20 distilleries existed in the entire country.
- Storyhouse SpiritsSan Diego · Gin, Bourbon, Rye WhiskeyStoryhouse Spirits is a small-batch distillery, kitchen, and tasting room in San Diego's East Village.
- The Spirit GuildLos Angeles · Gin, VodkaThe Spirit Guild is dedicated to celebrating the fruits and flavors of California through the traditional art of distillation.
- VesoSan Francisco · AperitifsVeso makes wine-based aperitifs, produced and bottled by hand at a winery in San Francisco, California.
- VodkerNewport Beach · VodkaVodker is a Southern California craft brand built for the active, the adventurous, and anyone who believes a great drink shouldn't require a reservation.
- Yes Cocktail CoPaso RoblesOn a mission to discover the world's best bars and cocktails.
- You & Yours Distilling Co.San Diego · Gin, VodkaYou & Yours Distilling Co. calls itself California's first urban destination distillery, in San Diego's East Village.
Bottles from California
See all 234 bottles
CA
Re:Find Distillery
Re:Find Straight Rye Whiskey Cask Strength
Rye WhiskeyCA65.7%
$$$$
AZ, CA
Cutler's Artisan Spirits
Stagecoach American Whiskey
WhiskeyCA40.0%
VanillaCaramelHoney
$$$$
Nationwide
1 award won
Napa Valley Distillery
Meyer Lemon Liqueur
LiqueurCA21.0%
Citrus
$$$$
CA
Griffo Distillery
Barrel 105 Reserve Brandy From Pinot Noir Wine
BrandyCA40.0%
Oak
$$$$
Nationwide
Sonoma Brothers Distilling
Gin
GinCA42.0%
$$$$
CA
Bethel Rd Distillery
BA Gin
GinCA44.0%
Oak
$$$$
Nationwide
Hanson of Sonoma
Hanson Coastal Blue Gin
GinCA42.5%
CitrusHerbalNutty
$$$$
Questions
California distilleries, answered
Can I visit these California distilleries?
Many do, but tastings, tours and hours vary from one distillery to the next, and some are production-only spaces that aren't open to the public. The easiest way to find out is to ask the maker directly. Open any bottle you're interested in and select "Request a meeting." You'll need a DiscoCraft account, and from there you can share when you're available. The brand will follow up with you about visiting, and we'll let you know when they respond. You can also find a link to each brand's own website on its page here.
What spirits are California distilleries known for?
On DiscoCraft, California distillers make the most whiskey, gin and vodka, followed by liqueur, rum and brandy. The state's whiskey ranges widely, from bourbon and rye to a growing number of American single malts. Wine country producers in Sonoma, Napa and Paso Robles often draw on local grapes and fruit for brandy and grape-based vodka, while city distilleries in Los Angeles and San Diego lean toward gin, whiskey and liqueurs.