History

San Diego Distillery was founded by T. Trent Tilton. According to the company's own descriptions, Tilton began his journey as a homebrewer about twenty years ago and, in 2012, became a pioneer in San Diego's burgeoning craft distillery scene, after which he founded San Diego Distillery. He describes himself as someone who blends his deep background in beer brewing with a bold use of non-traditional ingredients, resulting in specialty spirits that, according to the website, are in demand nationwide.

Production / Manufacturing

What we’re about

San Diego Distillery emphasizes blending craft ingredients with spirits. The use of a range of non-standard malts and special fermentation and distilling methods is mentioned, which provides a broad spectrum of spirits with unique character and depth of flavor. Since the start, they have also introduced a sourcing program for premium aged whiskies from around the world to expand their offerings and create some of San Diego's finest spirits.

Experimental Series

A significant theme on the website is their experimental series and spirit lines, which include collaborative projects with San Diego breweries and in-house distillation. Examples include Dead Locks, Fourpenny, Green Flash Rayon Vert, Me So Thorny, Nuts and Beavers, and San Diego Outcast – all described as experiential whiskey variants with distinctive flavor profiles and barrel finishes.

Flavor Approach

According to head distiller T. Trent Tilton, they aim to infuse their recipes with a broad range of non-standard malts and to use specialized on-grain fermentation and distillation methods to achieve unique character and layers of flavor. Additionally, the climate in San Diego is mentioned as a factor in aging some of their series, and names such as The Monk's Straight Bourbon & Rye are cited in connection with decades of aging under temperature swings in the valley.

Products / Whisky Series

Main Products and Characteristics

• Turkey & Tater Bourbon – 7-year-old single-barrel bourbon bottled at 113 proof. Notes: warm oak, caramel and vanilla with a long, smooth finish.
• Turkey & Tater Rye – a limited small-batch blend bottled at 117 proof, built from an 18-year-old Canadian whisky and a 6-year-old MGP rye, with a robust spice character and deep oak, and a pronounced rye grain profile.
• 18 Year Canadian Rye – 18-year-old Canadian rye, 60% ABV, continued finishing and available in variants such as Finished in Stagg Bourbon Barrels and Lost Cause Pomegranate Mead Barrels.
• 18 Year Canadian Rye Finished In Stagg Bourbon Barrels – 60.4% ABV; finish in Stagg Bourbon barrels provides complexity inspired by the cask it’s bottled in.
• 18 Year Canadian Rye Finished In Lost Cause Pomegranate Mead Barrels – 60.5% ABV; finish in pomegranate mead barrels adds mature fruit notes and complexity.
• Maple Cask Finished Pacific Oak Bourbon – 7-year-old bourbon finished in maple syrup barrels for an additional 2 years; 90 proof with notes of warm oak and maple syrup.
• Pacific Oak: Bourbon Whiskey – originally from the Midwest and finished in San Diego's climate with 5+ years of aging; 45% ABV.
• Pacific Oak: Rye Whiskey – 5+ years of aging, 45% ABV; the first part of the Pacific Oak line.
• Padres Blend Yellow Edition Bourbon / Padres Blend Brown Edition Bourbon – limited edition blend with hand-selected casks, 6 years and about 94 proof.
• San Diego Scotch & Bourbon Sharing Barrel #11 Bourbon – 6 years 7 months, cask strength, 54.7% ABV.
• Small Batch American Single Malt Whiskey – 375 ml, cask strength / alternate finish, 54.5% ABV.
• Small Batch Single Malt 2 Row Whiskey – 375 ml, 63.5% ABV.
• TT Small Batch – 375 ml, 55% ABV (Bourbon).
• Just OK Barrel #23 Bourbon – 6 years 10 months, cask strength; 54% ABV.
• House Blend Bourbon – small-batch bourbon, 45% ABV.
• Indy Gold Bourbon – 375 ml, 116 proof/58% ABV; nose and palate described as a balance between sweetness and rye.
• Kentucky Love Bourbon – 750 ml, 50% ABV; single-barrel stock from Bardstown source.
• Orange County Bourbon Society Barrel #7 Bourbon – 750 ml, 55.5% ABV; hand-selected from over 50 casks.
• PB Aged Bourbon – 750 ml, 59.5% ABV.
• Padres City Connect Bourbon – 750 ml, 47% ABV.
• San Diego Scotch & Bourbon Sharing Barrel #11 Bourbon – 750 ml, 54.7% ABV.
• Small Batch American Single Malt and Small Batch Single Malt 2 Row along with TT Small Batch – further examples of the single-malt approach in small-batch formats.
• Barrel Selects / Barrel Stave Sampler Kit – special collector editions and stave-length kits that showcase different woods as part of the finishing process.

Experimental Series (selected)

• Dead Locks Experimental Whiskey – 375 ml, 57.5% ABV; based on Pariah Brewing's Dank Drank, with chai tea and herbs in the flavor.
• Fourpenny Experimental Whiskey – 375 ml, 57.5% ABV; made from Fourpenny House beer and aged in different casks.
• Green Flash Rayon Vert Whiskey – 375 ml, 59% ABV; another experimental style.
• Me So Thorny Experimental Whiskey – 375 ml, 57.5% ABV; notes of citrus, lavender and tobacco.
• Nuts and Beavers Experimental Whiskey – 375 ml, 60.5% ABV; notes of peanut butter, toffee, salted peanuts and coffee.
• San Diego Outcast Experimental Whiskey – 375 ml, 55% ABV; chai tea and herb notes.

Other Products in SD Crafted / Core Competencies

• Amaro – 750 ml, 40% ABV; a special spirit in the family, but not a whisky per se.
• Small Batch / Barrels and Barrel Equipment – various small-batch whiskies and barrel exploration gear.

Visit and Experiences

Tasting Room & Hours

Tasting room and bar experiences offered: Flights & Cocktails – BUILD YOUR OWN (3 x 0.5 oz pours) and BARTENDERS CHOICE (3 x 0.5 oz pours), HOUSE COCKTAILS and CASK STRENGTH COCKTAILS. Times and address: - Thursday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM - Friday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM - Saturday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM Address: 2733 Via Orange Way, Unit 101, Spring Valley, CA 91978

Philosophy

Imagination Is the Beginning of Craft Creation

The company emphasizes that the goal is to blend craft ingredients with spirits through the use of non-standard malts and special on-grain fermentation and distillation methods. They emphasize delivering diverse flavors and depth in every spirit and have introduced a sourcing program for premium aged whiskies from around the world to broaden their range and capture San Diego's soul.