History

117° West Spirits is an active Californian distillery located in Vista outside San Diego. The company is run by master distiller Justin McCabe, who has a background in chemistry (PhD) and a history as a homebrewer, which led to the opening of the distillery in 2016. A central part of the brand is the Alexandria Still design – a custom-built copper pot still, imported to the site and forming the core of the production. The distillery emphasizes 100% California ingredients and is a companion to a speakeasy in the same building, where visitors can experience handcrafted cocktails and an approach that combines science, craft, and the spirit of the West Coast of California.

Production and Approach

The distillery emphasizes malt as the starting point for many products and collaborates with Admiral Maltings in Alameda to source California-malted grain products. The Alexandria Still uses on-steam distillation and a small-batch process with quick 3–4 hour runs, which, according to the description, yields smoother, more expressive spirits. Production is entirely in-house in Vista, and there is an emphasis on the region's colors and climate as part of aging and flavor development. It is specifically noted that the malt and coarse grain sources come from California, and that fermentation, maturation, and distillation processes follow a mash-to-glass philosophy.

Whisky Series and Tasting Notes

• Bourbon – 100% California-sourced materials, a high-rye mash bill (corn, rye, malt), aged in small new American oak barrels. Tasting notes include vanilla, warm grain, oak, and a spicy finish; a pattern of single-malt-inspired notes on the palate with a brown-sugar finish.
• 117° West California Single Malt – 100% California barley malt, malted barley and floor-malted in Alameda, aged in small American oak barrels for about a year. Expect fruity, woody, and slightly nutty notes.
• West Coast Whiskey – 100% malted barley, aged in small casks, presenting a malt-forward profile with notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla from the oak; can be enjoyed neat or in an Old Fashioned/Manhattan.
• Yolo Gold Wheat Malt Whiskey – Malted wheat and barley from California, aged in small oak barrels for at least a year; notes described as honey, graham cracker, and spice.
• Rye Malt Whiskey – Malted rye and barley malt with chocolate notes and a spicy profile; aged in small new American oak barrels, imparting oak character and spice.
• Cherya Whiskey (limited release) – an exclusive whiskey that is malted barley and cherrywood-smoked malt, spiced with rye and hopped (Opal and Mosaic). The flavor profile is described as smoke, sweetness, fruit, and spice, with aging in charred oak barrels.

Visits and Experiences

117° West Spirits also runs a Vista-based speakeasy and distillery tasting room, where guests can enjoy handcrafted cocktails made with 100% Californian ingredients. There are private events, tours, and cocktail classes available, and there is an apparently fixed weekly schedule for the speakeasy's hours, allowing guests to experience the beverages in an intimate atmosphere. There is an online shop, and information about private events and private tours.

Philosophy and Approach

The philosophy centers around 100% Californian ingredients – from malt and grains to botanicals in gin and agave spirits. There is an emphasis on sustainability, local relationships with farms and maltsters, and a transparent, small-batch approach to production. The distillery also promotes a ‘California Whiskey’ definition based on primarily CA-prepared grain sources, aging conditions and production in California. The Alexandria Still's design and on-steam distillation emphasize a desire for purity, flavor nuance, and a controlled development of spirits both in production and aging under the West Coast climate.

Summary of Identity

117° West Spirits presents itself as a True California Whisky and craft-spirit producer, blending science, tradition, and the character of California's terroir in each product and in the surrounding experience in Vista.