History

• CALI Distillery was founded by Howard and Marni Witkin in Gardena, California. According to their site, it started as a small home production of liqueurs with Taste Mistress as the driving force, and it evolved into a full distillery company with a range of whiskeys and liqueurs. CALI describes itself as bringing California flair to American whiskey and as a handmade production in a small coastal town.
• They emphasize that their products are not GMO and not industrially produced, and that they make each bottle by hand in their small seaside town distillery. Their portfolio includes whiskeys and liqueurs under the Sukkah Hill brand as well as products such as CALI Whiskey, Mavericks DoubleWood, Riptide Rye and Three Rivers Rye.
• Other central elements mentioned include family-owned operation, kosher certification of all spirits and special certifications for the Sukkah Hill category (Kosher for Passover). Their marketing focuses on a California twist and a west coast spirit in the products.

Production

• They describe that all spirits are handmade and made from natural ingredients without GMO and without industrial mass production. The production claims to be in a small town in California and that they age in new oak and finish with their own blended herbs, spices and botanicals.
• The whiskey lineup includes specific mashbills and finish techniques: Riptide Rye-Cask Strength is a rye at 93% rye and 7% malted barley, bottled as a single barrel at cask strength (118 proof); Mavericks DoubleWood Whiskey is a high-rye bourbon that first ages in new American oak and finishes in toasted French oak; Three Rivers Rye consists of 93% rye and 7% malted barley and finishes with toasted and charred oak; Thunder Mesquite Finished Bourbon Whiskey has a mesquite-smoked finish and two types of oak in the layers; Steel String Whiskey is a bourbon aged in new American oak and finished in lightly toasted French oak with a touch of honey; CALI Whiskey is described as a California version of American sipping whiskey, where bourbon and rye are used in the mash and it finishes with herbs and botanicals.
• Their products are described as unflavored; they claim not to use pre-made flavorings and describe that flavor comes from extraction from fruit, wood or spices. They also emphasize that finished with spices is not the same as a labeled flavored whiskey.
• Their range also includes Sukkah Hill Liqueurs (Etrog Liqueur, Besamim Liqueur) and Desert Trail, described as mesquite-finished spirit based on a rhum agricole-inspired base, as well as a brand with visits/experiences and press recommendations (e.g., The Tasting Panel).

Products / Whisky Series

• CALI Whiskey: A California twist on an American sipping whiskey, with a mash of corn/rye-based and finishing with their own botanicals. Mentioned as being more complex than traditional bourbon with a California twist.
• Mavericks DoubleWood Whiskey: A high-rye bourbon, aged in new American oak and finished in toasted French oak. Notes of coffee, caramel and cocoa are mentioned.
• Riptide Rye-Cask Strength: Cask Strength rye at 118 proof; mashbill 93% rye and 7% malted barley; single barrel, cask strength, with notes described as maple, oats, marzipan and tea.
• Three Rivers Rye Whiskey: Rye 93% rye and 7% malted barley; single barrel; aged in new American oak and finished with toasted and charred oak; notes of dark chocolate, coffee and caramel.
• Thunder Mesquite Finished Bourbon Whiskey: Bourbon with mesquite finish and two types of oak, described as a bold and complex flavor profile with chocolate, coffee and caramel, supported by mesquite flavor.
• Steel String Whiskey: Californian bourbon, aged in new American oak and finished in lightly toasted French oaks with a hint of honey.
• Sukkah Hill Liqueurs: Etrog Liqueur (citrus/herbal notes), Besamim Liqueur (spiced with cinnamon, vanilla and clove) and Desert Trail (mesquite-finished spirit with rhum agricole-inspired base).
• Special Reserve American Whiskey: Mentioned as part of the range in online auctions, but without details on the type.

Visits / Experiences

• The content describes a small, handmade production in a seaside town in California and a strong connection to West Coast culture and Californian identity. There are no specific details about tours or open tastings in the excerpt, but there are many references to upcoming product launches, press and reviews of the products.

Philosophy

• They emphasize that no flavorings are added from pre-made sources – all flavors are obtained by extraction with alcohol from fruit, wood or other natural ingredients; the sugars in liqueurs are non-GMO and they describe a non-industrial approach to production.
• They describe themselves as part of a Californian spirit, placing a relaxed, friendly and creative vibe at the center, and emphasize kosher certification of all spirits and Kosher for Passover certification of the Sukkah Hill line.
• CALI Distillery presents an approach where they view whiskey as a Californian expression and choose to focus on natural ingredients, craftsmanship, and a California twist on American whiskies without using artificial flavorings.