History

Origin

Cutwater Spirits was founded in San Diego, where Yuseff Cherney began making spirits as a hobby in the back of his brewery. He built his first pot still from an old beer-fermenter to distill rum, vodka, gin and whiskey. Driven by experimental curiosity and a strong focus on quality, Yuseff and his team have developed Cutwater from a passion project into an award-winning craft-spirit brand. They were early in pioneering the category by introducing Cutwater's canned classic cocktails, so anyone can enjoy a good cocktail wherever they are.

Production and Philosophy

Cutwater distills a broad portfolio of spirits – whiskies, vodka, gin, rum, tequila and liqueurs – and incorporates them into their canned cocktails. Production takes place in San Diego, and the brand emphasizes an ambitious approach to quality and innovation. When it comes to whiskey, they use virgin, heavily charred American oak barrels in some variants, contributing notes such as cinnamon, toffee and vanilla.

Products (Whisky Series)

• Cutwater Devil's Share Bourbon – bourbon aged in virgin, heavily charred American oak barrels, with notes of cinnamon, tobacco, oak and vanilla.
• Cutwater Devil's Share American Whiskey – a smooth American whiskey aged in virgin, heavily charred American oak barrels.
• Cutwater Bourbon Whiskey – a blend of straight bourbons with notes of caramel and vanilla.
• Cutwater American Rye – a blend of straight whiskeys with notes of honey, almond, black pepper and clove.

Visits and Experiences

Cutwater operates the Tasting Room & Kitchen in San Diego, where guests can reserve tables and experience cocktails and dishes in a restaurant setting. The Tasting Room also offers tours and special events, such as the Winter Lodge from November 20 to December 23, including a free kickoff event on November 22 from 4–7 pm. The address is 9750 Distribution Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, and there are tour times Thursday through Saturday on the hour and Sundays. The phone number is 858-672-3848. They allow private events and special experiences through the Tasting Room.

Philosophy

Cutwater describes itself with the slogan "Award-Winning and Adventure Ready" – they see themselves as explorers mapping the road with adventure in mind. With a combination of award-winning spirits and a growing set of canned cocktails, they commit to bringing craft and innovation to both restaurants and home bars, without compromising on quality or the experience.