Best San Diego Distilleries You HAVE to Check Out

In November, Greg and I went to the San Diego Distillers Guild Festival and got to taste our way through the best San Diego Distilleries. It was a fantastic night and we chatted with the distillers and owners, sipped their various drinks, and learned a lot about the local distillery scene in San Diego. Greg and I both are partial to gins and whiskeys, so we mainly tried those. That is not to say the distilleries do not offer other distilled spirits as well, we just haven’t tried as many of them.

A beverage of leisure is a serious business

Shane Bowermaster 

Best San Diego Distilleries

Old Harbor Distilling

Address: 270 17th St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 630-7048
Website

I discovered this distillery, when I bought Greg a bottle of their small-batch barrel rested gins. The light amber color and the full mouthfeel made the gin perfect for sipping, rather than mixing. At the distillers guild festival, we also tried their Asian-inspired gin that contained miso and other funky ingredients. I love that they are always trying new things and adding fun twists to old classics. I am looking forward to checking out their net tasting room in Seaport Village when it opens later this year.

You & Yours Distilling Co

Address: 1495 G St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 955-8755
Website

You & Yours is personally my favorite distillery in San Diego (so far). This distillery in East Village is not only owned by a woman, but she also runs the still. A few years ago, Greg and I did a distillery tour and tasting there and it was fantastic. We learned about the history of the company, their distillation process and got to try their gins and whiskeys. I love their Sunday Gin. It is so light and floral, it feels like a butterfly tingles your tongue. Very different from the regular Juniper-forward, bitter gins that you usually get.

Their tasting room in East Village feels modern yet cozy and is decorated with a lot of attention of detail. It is a beautiful space to meet up with friends, go on a date, or simply unwind after a long day at work.

Cutwater Spirits

Address: 9750 Distribution Ave, San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: (858) 672-3848
Website

Cutwater Spirits is the largest distillery in San Diego, kinda like the Ballest Point of Craft Distilleries. They offer a wide selection of spirits, including whiskey, tequila, rum, gin, vodka, and even mezcal. You can also find several canned cocktails on their menu that have become very popular and can be bought pretty much all over the country.

Pacific Coast Spirits

Address: 404 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: (760) 453-7150
Website

One of my favorite gins made in San Diego. We chatted with their head-distiller at the distillery guild festival and learned how they focus on small batch, sustainable distilling using local ingredients to capture the essence of California spirits. They offer a selection of Single Malt, California Bourbon, and Rye whiskeys, two gins, tequila, and brandy.

Storyhouse Spirits

Address: 1220 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 241-2780
Website

As many other distillers, the founders started out their careers in craft beer and later found their love for distilling. Their Storyhouse spirits are light and airy, sunny like a day in San Diego. From floral and citrus-y California Coastal Gin to Cucumber-Lemon or Seaside Vodka, these spirits bring you the “California Living” in a bottle.

ReBru Spirits

Address: 1735 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
Phone: (619) 650-2251
Website

This small Barrio Logan distillery has such a great concept. They use beer as the base for their distillation and craft some truly sustainable, but also great tasting spirits. My favorite I have tried so far was their Absinthe. It packs a punch of liquorish flavor and a warm finish. Not a spirit you see often, so I highly recommend you try this one!

Seven Caves Spirits

Address: 7950 Stromesa Ct, San Diego, CA 92126
Phone: (619) 300-1624
Website

7 Caves makes some tasty rum, ok? Their rum is full-bodied and spicy, a great addition to any tropical cocktail or just to sip on a hot summer day. They also have a decent gin and whiskey, as well as a few canned cocktails on offer.

Henebery Spirits

Address: 2870 Scott St Suite 105, Vista, CA 92081
Phone: (760) 440-7281
Website

This North County distillery from Vista focuses on whiskey in all variations as well as a selection of bitters. They have the classics, but even more fun are the funky twists they make, like the Carolina Reaper Whiskey or the Latitude 33 Blood Orange IPA Whiskey in collaboration with a local brewery. If the drive to Vista is too much, they also offer free shipping to California residents on orders over $80.

Misadventure Co

Address: 2420 Grand Ave Suite C, Vista, CA 92081
Phone: (760) 216-6930
Website

Another Vista distillery that is worth the drive. What makes Misadventure Co so unique is the fact that they use baked goods as the foundation for their mash. Their vodka is phenomenal and even won a gold medal, but a model of sustainability. As the world’s first carbon-negative consumer good, you can feel real good about drinking this vodka. Cheers!

Mike Curphy Distillery

Address: 2731 Via Orange Way UNIT 104, Spring Valley, CA 91978
Phone: (619) 316-2009
Website

Malahat Spirits

Address: 8706 Production Ave, San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: (858) 999-2326
Website

Named after a 5 mast schoner that delivered spirits up and down the coast of California during Prohibition and became known as the “Queen of Rum Row”, the distillery stayed true to its namesake. The spiced rum made by Malahat Spirits won the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and it is seriously delicious. Try some of their innovative variations, like ginger rum, black tea rum, or cabernet barrel aged rum.

While San Diego is still known as the craft beer town in Southern California, these San Diego Distilleries show that we can do more than just beer. What is your favorite Distillery in San Diego?

Last Updated on February 16, 2022 by sandiegoexplorer