Drinking Drinking Edited by Erin Kuschner timeout.com/los-angeles/bars @erinito Greenbar Distillery


Stark Spirits Greg Stark and Karen


Robinson-Stark opened Stark Spirits in December 2013 as a microdistillery operating out of a small warehouse in Pasadena’s Lincoln Corridor. On a tour here, you’ll weave between stills that they’ve named Dragon and Esmeralda, as the Starks finish each other’s sentences while talking about their award- winning rum, whiskey, aquavit and brandy (a gin launches in early 2017). Post-tour, try Stark’s signature product, Sunshine, a brandy made from hand- squeezed Valencia oranges. à 1260 Lincoln Ave #1100, Pasadena (626-798-1377, starkspirits.com). Tour free with R.S.V.P.


Greenbar Distillery L.A.’s very first distillery opened


in 2011, in a split-level, Arts District warehouse where visitors can taste their way through organic spirits that include bitters, rum, liqueur, whiskey, gin, tequila and vodka. Founded by husband-and-wife team Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew, Greenbar strives to be eco-conscious: A tree is planted for every bottle sold, and labels are 100 percent recycled. Standouts here include the versatile Fruitlab Organic


In good spirits


For a taste of L.A.’s growing liquor scene, take a tour—and a sip—at these four local distilleries.


Distilling & Brewing Stark Spirits


Orange Liqueur and the clean Slow Hand White Whiskey. à 2459 E 8th St (213-375-3668, greenbar .biz). Sat at 1, 2, 4:30, 6pm; $12.


The Spirit Guild Morgan McLachlan and Miller


Duvall opened the Spirit Guild in mid-2016, a beautiful distillery boasting stained-glass windows and community events like gin-and-cheese pairings. The Spirit Guild produces Astral Pacific Gin using clementine oranges from Miller’s family


farm in Bakersfield, California, as well as Vapid Vodka, both of which are sampled during a tour that describes the process in thorough, scientific terms. Amaro, limoncello and brandy are in the works for 2017. à 586 Mateo St (213-613-1498, thespirit guild.com). Wed, Thu at 5pm; Fri–Sun at 2, 5pm. $10.


Rob Rubens Distilling 35


& Brewing One of L.A.’s newest distilleries, Rob Rubens is both a brewery


and a distillery, crafting whimsical beers and spirits in a 1940s brick building in El Segundo. During the tour, you’ll learn about the Rubens family history dating back to Prohibition-era Chicago, as well as their grain-to-glass process for both spirits and beer, like the Hitman Ale, Gunpowder Cream, Hideaway Whiskey and American Vandal Vodka. à 909 E El Segundo Blvd (424-277-1134, rubensspirit.com). First Friday of every month; $15.


Coming soon


Arts District–based Loft & Bear, one of the country’s best vodka distillers, is opening a brand new 8,000-square-foot distillery and tasting room in Huntington Park in mid-2017.


à 6414 McKinley Ave, Huntington Park (loftandbear.com)


Rob Rubens


January–March 2017 Time Out Los Angeles


PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): COURTESY GREENBAR DISTILLERY; COURTESY ROB RUBENS DISTILLERY/TIM JONES; ROZETTE RAGO


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76