Distilled California began as a joke. A historian and a distiller walk into a tasting room. What do they do? The historian says to the other. Do you know the story of the liquor that's in that glass? "No," says the distiller, do you know how it got into the glass in the first place? Do you know what it takes? "No," says the historian. And the rest is well...
Distilled California is the distiller-driven podcast for the booze nerd. Join hosts Dylan Almendral and Ryan Freisen as we take a deep dive into the bottle. We discuss the history, legends, politics and future of the California distilling industry from the ground up and distill what it means to be grain to glass in California. Ryan is a distiller and Vice President of the California Artisanal Distillers Guild. Dylan is a historian and writer. Both are devout students and stewards of the glass. This show exists to create informed drinkers. If you drink, know what's in your bottle! And, of course, to document the California distillery world while it is in its infancy.
This podcast is for everyone; the aficionado, the vaguely interested, the distiller, the historian and the nerd alike. All are welcome and always will be. We all float down here.
The podcast will feature tastings, science, history, interviews with distillers, book reviews, distributors, and of course, good times.
Join us as we learn and pass on the experience to you!
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Join hosts Dylan Almendral (The Gentleman Historian) and Ryan Friesen (distiller) as they introduce you to Distilled California, a podcast + vidcast devoted to the artisanal spirits of California. You'll get a look at the bar, the variety of spirits in the back bar, and some of the unique historical pieces around the bar.
Today we will be tasting Sonoma Distilling's Cherrywood Rye Whiskey. Sonoma is a famous wine region in Northern California and necessarily isn't the the first place you think of when distilled spirits enters the chat.
This rye whiskey has a a mash bill of 80% California Rye, 10% California Wheat, 10% Cherrywood Smoked Malted Barley hailing from Wyoming.
This rye is special, for its flavors and texture and its unique bite. Check us out on YouTube!
22 Nov 2021
Distilled California Episode 3 | Blinking Owl Distillery Bourbon
Join hosts Dylan Almendral (The Gentleman Historian) and Ryan Friesen (distiller) as they introduce you to Distilled California, a podcast + vidcast devoted to the artisanal spirits of California. You'll get a look at the bar, the variety of spirits in the back bar, and some of the unique historical pieces around the bar.
Today we will be tasting the first bourbon made in Orange County, California and waxing nerdy as always.
The Blinking Owl is the very first distillery in Orange County. In addition to that, they also are one of the first distilleries in the state of California to hold the Type 74 Craft Distillers License allowing which allows them to operate a tasting room and sell a few bottles. The distillery makes Vodka, Gin, several types of Whiskey, and the Scandinavian spirit, Aquavit. Blinking Owl's ownership are locavores, grain nerds, and control freaks so they decided to make their booze the long way: from grain rather than pre-made spirit. The team mills it, mashes it, ferments it, distills it, and, in the case of whiskey, barrel ages it. All of the grain is sourced from certified organic California farms. Blinking Owl's Founder, Brian Christenson, had a bootlegging great-grandfather, Fred P. Armbrust. Fred had a still on his dairy farm hidden in the basement behind secret passageways. He would covertly provide his local farmers with his “good spirits”. Through Blinking Owl, Brian is able to fulfill his dream of carrying on Fred’s passion by providing “good spirits” to his own neighborhood (legally, of course)!
22 Nov 2021
Distilled California Episode 1 | Blinking Owl Rye
Join hosts Dylan Almendral (The Gentleman Historian) and Ryan Friesen (distiller) as they introduce you to Distilled California, a podcast + vidcast devoted to the artisanal spirits of California. You'll get a look at the bar, the variety of spirits in the back bar, and some of the unique historical pieces around the bar.
The Blinking Owl is the very first distillery in Orange County. In addition to that, they also are one of the first distilleries in the state of California to hold the Type 74 Craft Distillers License allowing which allows them to operate a tasting room and sell a few bottles. The distillery makes Vodka, Gin, several types of Whiskey, and the Scandinavian spirit, Aquavit. Blinking Owl's ownership are locavores, grain nerds, and control freaks so they decided to make their booze the long way: from grain rather than pre-made spirit. The team mills it, mashes it, ferments it, distills it, and, in the case of whiskey, barrel ages it. All of the grain is sourced from certified organic California farms. Blinking Owl's Founder, Brian Christenson, had a bootlegging great-grandfather, Fred P. Armbrust. Fred had a still on his dairy farm hidden in the basement behind secret passageways. He would covertly provide his local farmers with his “good spirits”. Through Blinking Owl, Brian is able to fulfill his dream of carrying on Fred’s passion by providing “good spirits” to his own neighborhood (legally, of course)!
1 Oct 2021
Distilled California Episode 2 | The Spirit Guild Astral Pacific Gin (aka Star Keeper Gin)
Join hosts Dylan Almendral (The Gentleman Historian) and Ryan Friesen (distiller) for this week's episode as they share some news about Dylan's new mode of transportation, rules about the production of bourbon, and chat in depth about The Spirit Guild's Astral Pacific Gin (now known as Star Keeper Gin). Bonus- you'll get a chance to meet King Size Dylmand and hear about his affinity for The Whiskey Vault. Don't miss the part where Ryan loses his mind about terroir.
About Star Keeper Gin (Formerly Known as Astral Pacific Gin) All gins start with a base spirit. Typically, it is grain-based and industrially manufactured to be as flavorless as possible. Star Keeper Gin's base spirit is made from clementines, and is purpose distilled to subtly retain some of the character of its source fruit. With a silky texture and a slight lingering sweetness, its proprietary distillate allows our head distiller to compose a gin with structure, a longer finish, and greater definition of component flavors. It is a gin in the classic style, while welcoming some novel flavors to the mix.
About The Spirit Guild Dedicated to celebrating the fruits and flavors of California through the traditional art of distillation. Their tasting room and distillery are situated in Los Angeles’ Arts District on a site where once thrived the state’s first commercial vineyards and orange groves, just blocks from the scenic Los Angeles River.
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