VENUS SPIRITS
gin – aquavit– vodka
Botanicals made of beauty: We take the freshest herbs, botanicals, and fruits and infuse neutral spirits made from grain. Each unique botanical blend is marked on the bottle and given a specific blend number.
Gin Blend No. 01
Blend No. 01 is a delicate balance of 10 different fruits, herbs, and botanicals. The fresh juniper flavor is enhanced with hints of lemon, ginger, and lavender. This gin is great on its own or mixed into your favorite gin cocktail.
Tasting Notes
Nose: fresh citrus & lavender
Palate: sweet, spicy & creamy
Finish: juniper, lemon, ginger & lavender
awards & recognition
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - SILVER, spirit
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - SILVER, packaging
Good Food Awards 2015 - Winner, spirits category
Communication Arts - Design Annual 55, packaging
Type Directors Club - 2015 Annual & traveling exhibition, packaging
2016 Distilled Competition - SILVER
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2017 - BRONZE
2018 Distilled Competition - GOLD, best of class, best of division
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2018 - BRONZE
2019 Distilled Competition - GOLD
GIN BLEND NO. 02
We took a different approach with our Blend No. 02 in both flavor and appearance. The botanical blend for this gin was specifically chosen to pair with American oak, allowing the herbal character to be enhanced by the wood when rested in American oak casks.
TASTING NOTES
Color: light amber
Nose: orange & bay
Palate: sweet
Finish: juniper, cinnamon, vanilla, sage, oak & fennel
awards & recognition
Good Food Awards 2016 - Winner, spirits category
2016 Distilled Competition - GOLD
2018 Distilled Competition - GOLD
2019 Distilled Competition - BRONZE
Aquavit
/äkwə, vēt/ This bold spirit gains its name from the Latin phrase aqua vitae, “water of life.” Our interpretation of the traditional Scandinavian spirit highlights the essence of the caraway seed while balancing the spirit with notes of juniper, coriander, orange & anise. Enjoy as a digestif or to enhance your favorite cocktail.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: citrus & caraway
Palate: sweet & smooth
Finish: star anise
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2017 - SILVER, spirit & packaging
2017 Distilled Competition - SILVER
Good Food Awards 2018 - Winner, spirits category
2018 Distilled Competition - GOLD, best of class, best of division
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2018 - SILVER
2019 Distilled Competition - SILVER
EL LADRÓN
agave spirit – rum
A maker of spirits in the ocean air. A diligent process of fermentation. One Alembic still. Double distillation. Integrity. Time. Maturity. The risks of the unknown. The rewards of promise.
El Ladrón means “the thief”. We have secured the best weber agave and have used modern techniques to create a world-class spirit here in Santa Cruz, CA.
EL LADRÓN BLANCO
Our El Ladrón Blanco is double distilled in a hand pounded copper alembic still and allowed to rest in stainless steel drums, resulting in a clear spirit rich in agave flavor.
tasting notes
Nose: tropical fruit
Palate: rich agave, sweet & full body
Finish: salty
awards & recognition
ADI Judging of Craft American Spirits 2015 - GOLD & Best of Category, Spirit
2016 Distilled Competition - BRONZE
EL LADRÓN REPOSADO
Aged agave spirit rests in used Wayward Whiskey barrels and leaves the barrel light amber in color with subtle sweet notes of caramel and oak
TASTING NOTES
Nose: rich agave
Palate: caramel, spice & hint of smoke
Finish: oak
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2016 - SILVER
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2016 - Best of Category, Aged Agave Spirit
2017 Distilled Competition - SILVER
EL LADRÓN AÑEJO
Once the agave has been double distilled, it is put into new American oak to age for a minimum of twelve months
TASTING NOTES
Nose: apple
Palate: caramel, fruit & pepper
Finish: vanilla
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
el ladrón yolo
New release made entirely from agave grown in Yolo County California, fermented and distilled in Santa Cruz, CA.
The first California agave spirit to be released that has been made using traditional pit roasting techniques.
Tasting Notes
Nose: sweet, pineapple, passionfruit
Palate: subtle smoke, juicy
Finish: cinnamon, black pepper
process
Cook method: Pit roasted over almond wood
Cook Days: June 3, 2021 - June 11, 2021
Fermentation: 10 days with house agave yeast
Distillation: Double distilled
Aging: Neutral aging for 6 months
Proof: 84 proof, 42% ABV
awards & recognition
Sunset 2023n International Spirits Competition - Double Gold, spirit
American Distilling Institute 2024 International Spirits Competition Awards - Best of class: Agave Spirit, Best of Category: Agave Spirit, & Gold Medal: El Ladrón Yolo
Forbes: “El Ladron Yolo stands as a shining example of the excellence and diversity within the agave spirits category.”
WAYWARD WHISKEY
BOURBON – RYE – SINGLE MALT
Wayward Whiskey is bold and unruly. These aggressively aged whiskies are surprisingly smooth and flavorful. Crafted by hand in our 10 bbl brewhouse, double distilled and then barrel aged in our ocean air tempered rickhouse in 53 gallon American charred oak barrels.
BOURBON
In 1789 bourbon whiskey was born on the western edge of the United States. Today Wayward Whiskey takes a bit of that tradition farther west to the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. This unruly spirit has forged its own path to become a truly bold American whiskey.
DISTILLATION NOTES
92 Proof
10 BBL wash
Mash bill: corn 88%, rye, malted barley
Still Type: alembic
Distillation: double distillation
tasting NOTES
Color: deep amber
Nose: caramel
Palate: caramel, corn, grain
Finish: sweet, cherry wood
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2017 - BRONZE
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2017 - GOLD, packaging
Good Food Awards 2018 - Winner, spirits category
RYE
Once regarded as the American Spirit, rye whiskey nearly disappeared after prohibition. Wayward Whiskey revels in its resurrection, creating a rye that is defiant in both flavor and spirit.
DISTILLATION NOTES
92 Proof
10 BBL wash
Mash bill: rye 88%, corn, barley
Still Type: alembic
Distillation: double distillation
TASTING NOTES
Color: deep amber
Nose: sweet, spicy fruit
Palate: sweet, raisins
Finish: lingering spice
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2016 - SILVER
Good Food Awards 2017 - Winner, spirits category
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2017 - BRONZE
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2018 - SILVER
2019 Distilled Competition - GOLD, best of division, best of class
SINGLE MALT
Once hidden in port and sherry casks, malt whisky’s concealment led to a deeper and more flavorful spirit. Wayward Whiskey disobeys this Scottish tradition by aging our single malt in new charred American oak casks. Pacific Ocean air matures this spirit to unruly perfection.
DISTILLATION NOTES
92 Proof
10 BBL wash
Mash bill: 2-row, crystal malt
Still Type: alembic
Distillation: double distillation
tasting notes
Color: deep amber
Nose: malty, roasted & chocolate
Palate: semi-sweet, full body
Finish: cinnamon, chocolate, hazelnut & grain
awards & recognition
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - SILVER, spirit
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - BRONZE, packaging
ADI Judging of Craft American Spirits - GOLD & Best of Show, packaging
2016 Distilled Competition - SILVER
2018 Distilled Competition - SILVER
ADI Judging of Craft Spirits 2018 - SILVER
2019 Distilled Competition - SILVER