It's not an easy task opening a distillery in Los Angeles. Archaic laws, county health legislations and sky-high rent makes this city a bureaucratic nightmare when it comes to crafting gin, whiskey and vodka. But some do prevail—like the Spirit Guild, an Arts District distillery that will soft open this weekend for gin and vodka tastings from noon-6pm.
The Spirit Guild was founded by Morgan McLachlan and Miller Duvall; they've been steadily working on perfecting their product since 2010 and acquired the space on Mateo Street in 2014. But these things take time, and only recently has their clementine-infused Astral Pacific Gin and Vapid Vodka been available for those who want to stop by their warehouse for an informal taste. This weekend, they are officially opening their tasting room for sipping (free for a limited time, so you'd be wise to come by soon). It's a gorgeous space, with stained glass windows that'll make you swoon and a Megan Whitmarsh art installation currently on display.
Tastings include samplings of both the Spirit Guild's gin and vodka, although more products are in the works and will be released throughout the summer. If you're looking to take a full tour of the distillery, you'll need to make a reservation by emailing info@thespiritguild.com (reservations for tastings can also be made via email, though walk-ins are accepted). Like what you taste? Bottles of both Astral Pacific Gin and Vapid Vodka will be available for purchase, so you can start populating your home bar with local booze.
Cheers to you, Spirit Guild!
The Spirit Guild is located at 586 Mateo St in Downtown's Arts District. Tastings are Wed-Sun from noon-6pm. Reservations for both tastings and a distillery tour can be made at info@thespiritguild.com.