TRADITIONAL AQUAVIT

March 22, 2016

Our traditional aquavit has the flavorful characteristics of rye bread and caraway in the Scandinavian tradition. Our distinctive spirit uses high quality Caraway and Grains of Paradise, and no Star Anise. Perfect served frozen, neat with any food, especially danish smorgasbord. Skål!

Handcrafted in small batches as individual as you are!

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Full caraway, not overpowering.
Palate: Cleans the palate of other flavors. Steady arrival, solid caraway, some hint of pepper. Light mouth feel with full-bodied flavor and a touch of heat.
Finish: Medium, leaves you with a lingering memory of caraway.
Balance: Good balance.

Reviews:

Awards:

Double Gold Medal 2018 Central Coast Craft Spirits Competition – Traditional Aquavit
Bronze Medal ADI 2017 Craft Spirits Competition – Traditional Aquavit
Gold Medal 2016 Central Coast Craft Spirits Competition – Traditional Aquavit

Recipes Featuring Traditional Aquavit:

Caraway gives aquavit a savory bent that tends to be assertive. But, even so, the results of a nicely balanced aquavit cocktail make it worth the effort, best is always a simple cocktail like: Danish Mule, Sunrise Over the Fjord, Boilermaker.

Aquavit cocktails deserve food: Hors d’oeuvres, Pu pu platter, smorgasbord or other fish or meat dishes, even Sushi!

Batch Information:

Batch 8 – 01/21/2019
Batch 7 – 10/15/2018
Batch 6 – 05/14/2018
Batch 5 – 11/30/2017
Batch 4 – 04/10/2017
Batch 3 – 08/26/2016
Batch 2 – 05/18/2016
Batch 1 – 04/11/2016

ABV: 43%
PROOF: 86
SIZE: 750ML, 50ML

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUM

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March 22, 2016

Greg Stark has enjoyed crafting a unique west coast style Gold Rum. The measured sweetness of Stark Spirits California Gold Rum announces itself on your palate, not the tip of your tongue. Stark Spirits Gold Rum doesn’t need a mixer, and, just the way whiskey does, it holds its own, neat or straight. Greg decided it was time for a rum with a more individual attitude.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Incredibly rich vanilla, caramel, butterscotch with a hint of funky Agricole on the back. Very inviting.
Mouth: Feels a bit thin but within a normal rum range. Cracked black pepper, a lot of sugar/brown sugar. Surprisingly sweet considering no sugar is added. Mahogany. A hint of youth but the burn is minimal.
With Water: Cotton candy fluffiness to the nose. A bit hotter but somehow more sippable. Candy floss, gum tree chewiness on the back. Bittersweet chocolate morsels with hints of tropical fruit. Great for dessert.

Awards:

Bronze Medal: Aged Rum – Molasses ADI 2016 Craft Spirit Competition

Drink Recipes Featuring California Gold Rum:

Batch Information:

Batch: BBL-30-04 Bottled 12-12-2015

ABV: 46%
PROOF: 92
SIZE: 750ML, 50ML

SUNSHINE Orange Brandy

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May 10, 2015

Sunshine Orange Brandy is something totally unique, an Eau de Vie de Orange. Not a sweet sugary liqueur, but a wonderfully delicious spirit of the orange. Sunshine Orange Brandy is made completely from oranges and their juice and nothing else. It is made from locally grown Valencia oranges, from farms in Simi Valley and Ventura County. A brandy is a spirit made from fruit—and that’s what Sunshine has in common with brandy as you know it, it’s made from the wine of fruit. Sunshine has the intensity of flavor, the smoothness, and heat of spirits made from grains–totally unique, completely surprising. The sweetness of oranges and the bitterness of orange peel with notes of spicy clove and floral lavender make for complexity and depth. Sunshine gives you a true spirit of Southern California, bright, fresh and zesty, a pure 100 proof orange spirit beverage that lives up to its name. Stark Spirits’ Sunshine is handcrafted to light up your days and warm up your nights. Stark Spirits is a true craft spirits brand and this product is full of character.

Mixology Notes:

Sunshine is made without sugar. This allows you to control the sweetness of your cocktail. It adds intense orange aromatic to the nose of the drink. Its expression of orange rind bitterness enhances bitters, but use less of them.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Clean, bright – Orange Peel, roasted orange, slight hint of lavender, and winter spices (clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon).
Palate: Comes on hot— a flash of heat that dissolves into orange flavor, good mouth texture. Again a light taste of winter spice, a stronger presence of orange fruit, then mellowing into just a bite of rind bitterness, softened by some sweetness of orange at the end, the taste of real orange.
Finish: Long and citrusy, clean and acid. The heat of spicy orange leaves a lingering memory of real orange.
Balance: Good balance, some acidity.

Awards:

Silver Medal: Unaged Fruit Brandy ADI 2016 Craft Spirit Competition

Drink Recipes Featuring Sunshine Orange Brandy:

Sun Rise

Batch Information:

Batch 1: Released December 17, 2015

ABV: 50%
PROOF: 100
SIZE: 750ML, 375 ML, and 50ML