California is best known for its wine, but it also has a burgeoning whiskey culture. In fact, its newest bottlings include a handful that stake a claim for a new “California-style” whiskey.
When Los Angeles producer CALI Distillery released its lightly spiced whiskey, it declared, “we have reimagined whiskey as a California spirit.” Griffo Distillery, in Petaluma, uses open-air fermentation to encourage wild yeast to flourish to add local terroir to its Stony Point bottling.
Elsewhere in Sonoma, Graton Distilling Co.’s Redwood Empire American Whiskey is made with a small portion of a two-year-old rye, rested in wine and Port barrels. Here are eight California-made whiskeys worth a pour right now.
Breaking & Entering American Whiskey
St. George Spirits, Alameda
This craft distillery just south of Oakland jokes that its new hobby is “barrel thieving.” The whiskey is made mostly with Tennessee rye and Bourbon, plus Kentucky Bourbon “pilfered from a few of our favorite distilleries,” the producer states. It’s all blended with malt whiskey made at the St. George facility. This sipper shows smooth vanilla, spice and oak, with a tease of red fruit on the finish. abv: 43%
CALI Whiskey
Cali Distillery, Beverly Hills
“We have reimagined whiskey as a California spirit,” say these producers, who describe CALI Whiskey as “relaxed, but sophisticated, with a rugged edge.” This flavored whiskey is made with Kentucky Bourbon and rye, finished with herbs, spices and botanicals from California. The palate leads with sweet spices, Red Hot candies and a light note that suggests banana bread. It finishes sweet and warming. abv: 42.5%
Charbay Doubled & Twisted
Charbay Distillery, St. Helena
Marko Karakasevic loves to make whiskey with “bottle-ready beer,” and this dynamic offering is no exception. The whiskey starts with three beers, a single malt, a stout and a Pilsner, custom-brewed by Sonoma’s Bear Republic Brewing Company. These beers are then distilled into whiskey, then blended at full strength. The finished whiskey is plush and slightly hoppy, while the stout contributes a rich cocoa note. abv: 45%
Griffo Distillery Stony Point Whiskey
Griffo Distillery, Petaluma
This is a California-made Bourbon from start to finish. It starts with a mash of corn and rye, fermented in open vats to encourage local yeast to flourish for “for [a] rich character of local terroir,” according to the producer. It’s distinctly nutty, with soft hints of vanilla, coffee and pecan, before a finish that features baking spice and mouthwatering lemon zest. abv: 47%
Low Gap 2-Year Rye
Craft Distillers, Ukiah
This small-batch rye is made on an antique Cognac still, and aged for two years in former Bourbon and Cognac barrels that previously held Germain-Robin brandy. The end result is delicately spicy and super silky. The Low Gap label also includes a range of excellent wheat whiskeys, Bourbons and blended whiskeys. abv: 42.2%
Redwood Empire American Whiskey
Graton Distilling Company, Graton
A blend of sourced Bourbons aged between five and 11 years and a three-year-old rye is combined with a two-year-old rye made at Graton. A portion of the whiskey also was rested in wine and ex-Port barrels at the Sonoma distillery. The finished product is a mellow mix of vanilla and stone fruit tones, with a perky cinnamon-cayenne finish. abv: 45%
Slow Hand Six Woods Whiskey
Greenbar Distillery, Los Angeles
What starts as a three-year-old American single malt is aged in a large French white oak vat with hickory, maple, mulberry, red oak and grape wood staves. The unconventional process adds surprising complexity. The nose and palate are tinged with plum, oak, cocoa, tea and clove. Try it in an Old Fashioned. abv: 42%
Sonoma Bourbon Whiskey
Sonoma Distilling, Rohnert Park
This wine-country label was a trailblazer among California-made whiskeys upon its launch in 2010. Formerly known as West of Kentucky, the wheated Bourbon is made with Midwest-grown corn and wheat sourced from California and Canada, for almond and toffee richness. Also, keep an eye out for the cherrywood-smoked version, a seasonal release available in the fall. abv: 46%
Last Updated: May 5, 2023
