Looking for something interesting, educational and fun to do? As we all recover from the COVID shut down try our Tour. Read this great story from Discover Los Angeles “Tours and tastings of artisanal spirits from Downtown LA to Ventura” by Hope Ewing
Stark Spirits tours are done in small groups. Go to our web page to schedule now.
PASADENA, CA. – June 26, 2019 - Stark Spirits Distillery, a micro-distillery based in Pasadena which produces gins, whiskeys, rums, brandy and aquavit, releases new gin “Dragon Spirit” inspired by the flavors of Chinese 5 Spice. The result, a synergy of flavors sweet, bitter, pungent, sour and salty, offers mixologists a creative spirit to pair with a variety of cocktails. The distillery owned and operated by husband-wife duo Greg Stark and Karen Robinson-Stark since 2013. Dragon Spirit is one of 9 spirits produced at the distillery including the couple’s award winning Skyline Gin, Sunshine Orange Brandy, Peated Whiskey, 151 Rum and more.
Master gin distiller Karen Stark has developed Dragon Spirit to taste very well all on its own, neat or straight. “Orange liqueur or Drambuie are great compliments, and a Dragon Spirit Martini with dry vermouth and a twist of orange is a new take on an old standard. The intertwined flavor elements of Dragon Spirit present myriad opportunities to choose to emphasize any one of them. This is a gin that challenges a mixologist’s creativity and rewards amply.”
Dragon Spirit has also been awarded a Gold Medal at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition 2019 and ranked 90 points. The LA County Fair will display the medal from August 30 – September 22 in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”
“Dragon Spirit gin’s flavor profile is perfect for any style of sour, autumn seasonals, traditional pre-prohibition cocktails, and especially tiki drinks,” says Los Angeles mixologist “Duke” John Mccaffrey. “My favorite cocktail so far is No Name cocktail, a Dragon Spirit Gin sour with fresh lemon juice, lemongrass/ginger syrup, toasted peppers, served on crushed ice. This cocktail highlights the gin’s spices and gives the drinker the same flavor profiles that are very common in Chinese cuisine. Matching a cocktail with its Chinese 5 spice characteristics makes this gin so much fun to work with.”
During Negroni Week the spirit was highlighted at the Mermaid bar in Downtown LA along with a special meet & greet with Karen Robinson-Stark discussing the inspiration for the gin. Several more events are to follow across the Los Angeles area in celebration of the release, see complete list of events below.
Recently, Greg and Karen spoke with TalkTales Podcast about the making of Dragon Spirit. TalkTales co-host and mixologist Shana Leachman says, “It’s really beautiful. On the nose you get a lot of nuances of coriander… It’s so balanced too. When I come across gins like this I personally get really excited. It already gives you the base of the painting. Whenever I encounter spirits like Dragon Spirit, already my mind is turning what I’m able to do with it.” Listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts HERE
July 9 – Made in Pasadena with Stark Spirits
at Foothill Restaurant in Pasadena 6-9pm – RSVP HERE
July 16 – It Takes a Village with Stark Spirits & Guest Bartender Demetrea Dewald (of Bar Mateo) at Genever Bar 7-10:30pm – RSVP HERE
Tours with Tasting at the distillery take place every Friday and Saturday. Reserve your spot on the Tour here.
Stark Spirits’ full list of products includes Skyline Gin, Dragon Spirit Gin, Sunshine Orange Brandy, California Single Malt Whiskey, Peated Single Malt Whiskey, 151 Rum, Silver Rum, Gold Rum and Aquavit. The distillery is also working on an Espresso Liquor, soon to be announced.
For more info:
http://facebook.com/starkspirits
http://instagram.com/starkspirits
http://twitter.com/starkspirits
For press inquiries: ash.eliot@starkspirits.com
PASADENA, CA – August 12, 2016 –Southern California spirits manufacturer, Stark Spirits Distillery, has continued a 2016 winning streak with their version of a classic Scandinavian spirit. The distillery received a gold medal this summer from the California Craft Spirits Competition for their new Stark Spirits Traditional Aquavit. 2016 marks the inaugural year of the Craft Spirits Competition, a subset of the larger Central Coast Wine Competition which has been taking place since 2011. Stark Spirits distillers Greg Stark and Karen Robinson-Stark were honored to accept this prize, which comes hot on the heels of bronze medals, silver medals, and a “Best in Category” awarded this spring to their product family from the American Distilling Institute (ADI). Stark Spirits Traditional Aquavit is their latest offering to join the award-winning lineup.
Introduced in April of this year, Stark Spirits Traditional Aquavit has the flavorful characteristics of rye bread and caraway in the Scandinavian tradition. A unique Californian take on the classic Nordic spirit, it showcases high quality caraway and grains of paradise, but leaves out star anise for a more angular taste. Stark Spirits Traditional Aquavit is delicious served in the customary style: Ice cold and neat with any food, especially Danish smorgasbord. Though its signature caraway gives Aquavit a potent, savory bent, this offering from Stark Spirits also mixes well to create spirit-forward cocktails in a more American presentation.
Stark Spirits’ entire product line includes: California Gold Rum, California Silver Rum, California 151 Rum, Sunshine Orange Brandy, California Single Malt Whiskey, Peated Single Malt Whiskey, and Traditional Aquavit. Stark Spirits Skyline Gin is also coming to market in the near future.
About Stark Spirits
Stark Spirits is a true micro-distillery based in Pasadena, California. At less than 1,200 square feet, the facility uses an efficient design to produce small batches of distinctive spirits. It is the first distillery of this size, and the second distillery over all in the greater Los Angeles area. Stark Spirits was founded by husband and wife team Greg Stark and Karen Robinson-Stark, who share a common vision of producing spirits that are robust on the palate and in character. A bottle from Stark Spirits always contains a taste of adventure in the California sun!
More information at: www.StarkSpirits.com
About The California Craft Spirits Competition/Central Coast Wine Competition
The Central Coast Wine Competition (CCWC) encompasses wines produced exclusively from the Central Coast regions of California, and is the largest event to focus on these fast-growing wine regions. Since 2011, The CCWC has recognized the incredible quality and diversity of wineries and grape growers, providing trade knowledge, feedback, and friendly competition. The California Craft Spirits Competition was launched in 2016 to help promote Californian craft distillers producing fine artisan spirits, and provide them with expert feedback on the quality of their expressions.
More information at: www.centralcoastwinecomp.com
###
