County neurosurgeon Lokesh Tantuwaya
Indicted for taking $3.2 million in kickbacks
Don Bauder 12:30 p.m., June 25
Booze News
A warm greeting in a glass
Bartender Wetherbee "wanted to encapsulate the freshness of Thailand"
Say “Sawatdi!” to the Sawadee! “Sawatdi” is a common Thai greeting (like Hawaii’s “Aloha!”) and the Sawadee (same word respelled for the American palate) is one of the newest inspirations from Prohibition mix-master Heath Wetherbee. ...
Shiny medals for local boozemakers
Seven Caves and Cutwater Spirits set the pace
Several local booze businesses have acquired hardware for their tasting rooms, thanks to a slew of medals won at recent competitions. First up, newcomer Lost Cause Meadery earned a silver medal at The Mazer Cup, ...
A progressive agenda of flavors
Driftwood's Vanilla Old Fashioned
The bartender for Driftwood Craft Cocktails at Open House, Scarlett Hannon is an Old Fashioned kind of gal—but just because it’s her favorite drink doesn’t mean she has to play by all the rules to ...
Sunshine from a home-built still
"We use Ramona wine barrels for our aging."
It doesn't make moonshine, but no distillery in the county better reflects the history of the backyard still than San Diego Sunshine Craft Spirits. Sunshine opened to the public two years ago this week, in ...
Biggest San Diego beer and booze news of 2017
A year that tested local beers' metal/mettle
1. San Diego beer's unchecked growth Thirty-two new breweries started operating in San Diego in 2017, the most yet in a single year. Twenty-two of them were new enterprises, and two others returned from hiatus. ...
New tax bill a win for craft brew biz?
"This is a huge deal for small distilleries."
A part of the federal tax overhaul that passed through Congress this week was a provision likely to impact local craft-beverage business. The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act lowers the federal excise tax ...
San Diego wines catching on?
Acres planted, gross sales, and varietals produced — all up
A new study commissioned by the San Diego County Vintners Association reports the economic impact of the San Diego wine industry reached $30.4 million in 2016. Written by economic analyst Vince Vasquez, The Economic Impact ...
Booze fest nicks blueprint from beer fest
Spirits by the Bay to be the first of its kind liquor-tasting event
The beer festival has become a fixture in the San Diego events landscape. Not a month goes by without a festival featuring local beers, and most months there are several. However, October 14th, a boozy ...
Baked goods distilled into booze
Misadventure & Co. makes vodka out of discarded bread
A new spirit producer in San Diego has debuted a line of vodka made from an unlikely source: discarded baked goods. Misadventure & Co. was founded by local bartenders who initially got together four years ...
Neither grape nor grain — but craft, indeed
"The science behind fermentation allows any fruit wine to be fermented to dryness."
A different sort of craft-beverage company has landed in Hillcrest, just in time for the summer heat. Fruitcraft Fermentery and Distillery grand-opened the sweltering last weekend of June, serving alcoholic drinks produced not from grain, ...
Henebery brings production home
Legacy whiskey brand opens tasting room and distillery in Vista
Producing whiskey requires fermented grain, a still, a barrel, and patience. Henebery Spirits has shown plenty of the latter. Jesse Fanning launched Henebery in 2013 with his wife Natalie and her family, including parents Annette ...
Cutwater sets sail
Miramar distillery/restaurant opens its doors
As the number of craft breweries in San Diego nears 150, the number of distilleries approaches a mere 17. However, in the relatively young world of craft spirits, 17 apparently counts for a lot. When ...
Aargh ye scallywags ready for beer whiskey?
Pirate's Breakfast makes use of ugly brew
In San Diego, we've seen collaborations between breweries and between breweries and coffee roasters. Add another to the list, as a Spring Valley spirits producer is working to convert beer into whiskey. "I'm really trying ...
Nifty bottle design leads local liquor lineup
Swinford Spirits' invitation: add bacon
When Jason Swinford opened Swinford Spirits in late 2016, he really launched three craft-spirit brands. From a single production facility and tasting room across the parking lot from the Home Depot in Grantville, Swinford releases ...
Year of the woman distiller
"These are things I know how to do."
A new spirits company debuted in East Village with the March 9th opening of the You & Yours Distilling Co. tasting room (1495 G Street). You & Yours is the brainchild of founder and distiller ...
