Best Los Angeles Alcoholic Beverage Types
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Appletini consists of vodka and one or more of these beverages: apple juice, apple cider, apple liqueur, or apple brandy such as Calvados. This modern cocktail was invented in Los Angeles in 1996, and it is also known as Apple Martini or Adam's Apple Martini.
Vodka may be substituted with gin, and in some variations, vermouth can be included in the combination. One of the most popular variations is known as Rumpletini, made with light rum instead of vodka. Appletini continues to gain fame through pop culture, with frequent mentions in famous TV shows such as Scrubs, Two and a Half Men, Mr. Robot, and How I Met Your Mother, and after the release of the movie Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg declared Appletini Facebook’s official drink.
Zombie is a Tiki cocktail that was invented in the late 1930s in Los Angeles by Donn Beach. The cocktail is named Zombie after the way it affects the drinkers. The drink is made with demerara rum, golden rum, dark rum, 151 proof Lemon Hart, falernum, lime juice, grenadine, Pernod, Angostura bitters, and Don's mix.
However, some variations include absinthe or triple sec, which makes the cocktail even stronger. This high-powered cocktail is prepared by shaking all the ingredients together, except for the 151 proof rum, which is added on top of the drink and can even can be ignited at this point.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Harvey Wallbanger is a simple cocktail made with vodka, orange juice, and a sweet herbal liqueur known as Galliano. To prepare it, vodka and orange juice are poured into a glass over ice, while Galliano is added on top by pouring it over the back of a bar spoon.
The cocktail is garnished with an orange slice and a cherry. Although it is believed that the cocktail was invented in 1952 by Donato Antone, it gained popularity in the 1970s.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Pearl Diver is a tiki cocktail created by the legendary tiki master Don the Beachcomber. The cocktail is a slightly complicated version of Hot Buttered Rum. One of the main elements is Don's Gardenia Mix—a combination of butter, honey, cinnamon and vanilla syrups, and allspice liqueur.
The rest of the ingredients include rum (typically a combination of at least two or three types such as Demerara and Jamaican rum), lime and orange juice, and Angostura bitters. All the ingredients are blended with ice, and the mix is then strained into a glass filled with crushed ice.
Best Los Angeles Alcoholic Beverage Producers
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2023
BEST Dona Vega Mezcal Spirits
AWARDS
Great American Beer Festival - Gold
2020
World Beer Cup - Gold
2018
BEST Golden Road Brewing Beers
AWARDS
Great American Beer Festival - Gold
2022
BEST Creature Comforts Brewing Co. - Southern Mill Beers
La Bay Distillerie Californienne is an award-winning boutique distillery located in Los Angeles, California, founded by master distiller Shadi Saroufim. Driven by a passion for gin and mixology, Shadi embarked on a global journey—from Beirut through London and Amsterdam, culminating in Los Angeles—to craft a unique gin that harmoniously blends diverse botanicals.
La Bay Gin df with signature notes of Lebanese juniper berries, spring wild za’atar, and figs, complemented by California botanicals, resulting in a globally unique recipe. The distillery employs cutting-edge distillation technology, such as the iStill, to ensure precision and consistency in their spirits.
Wolves Whiskey is a luxury American whiskey brand founded in 2017 by cultural icons James Bond and Jon Buscemi. Based in California, the company is renowned for its small-batch, handcrafted spirits that blend traditional distillation methods with innovative techniques.
The production process at Wolves Whiskey is meticulous and artisanal. They utilize a rare copper alembic pot still, imported from Cognac, France, in 1983, to distill their whiskey. This method, though less efficient than modern column stills, yields spirits with greater body, flavor, and viscosity.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
BEST Wolves Whiskey Spirits
Batch 22 is an American aquavit that has its roots in some of the traditional spirits of Northern Europe; we've added our own twists to make it uniquely smooth, warm, and inviting. It’s a spirit that pairs effortlessly with an infinite variety of mixers and ingredients.
As a mixer, Batch 22 breathes new life into old standards like the Bloody Mary, the Manhattan, or the Negroni. As a straight sipper, Batch 22 aquavit offers a complex array of aromas and flavors that beg to be quietly contemplated.
AWARDS
NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
BEST Batch 22 Spirits
Best Los Angeles Alcoholic Beverages
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2023
AWARDS
Great American Beer Festival - Gold
2020
AWARDS
Great American Beer Festival - Gold
2022
AWARDS
World Beer Cup - Gold
2016
AWARDS
World Beer Cup - Gold
2018
La Bay 3 Months Old Oak Barrel Aged Gin is a new and award-winning creation from La Bay Distillerie Californienne, showcasing a remarkable evolution in gin craftsmanship. This exceptional gin is aged in oak fusion barrels, expertly crafted from a blend of American and French oak, enriching its character and complexity.
Infused with the subtle influence of oak, the gin retains its signature notes of za’atar and figs, elevating the drinking experience to new heights. The wood finish imparts pronounced herbaceous qualities, complemented by a long and well-balanced finish.
AWARDS
London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
Wolves 11 Year Old California Single Malt Whiskey is a distinguished spirit that has garnered significant acclaim for its unique flavor profile and craftsmanship. This whiskey is a blend of nine barrels, each aged for 11 years, resulting in a complex and smooth single malt.
Tasting notes highlight hoppy, beer-like flavors that meld seamlessly with mouthwatering hints of red fruit and plum skin. The palate is further enriched by mocha undertones, leading into a long finish enlivened by lemon peel and ginger.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
Batch 22 Classic Gold: New American Aquavit is a unique American interpretation of traditional Scandinavian aquavit. Crafted from a grain-based spirit, it is distilled six times and infused with a blend of botanicals, with citrus, caraway, and dill as the core flavors.
This 80-proof (40% ABV) spirit contains no added sugar or artificial additives, resulting in a smooth, complex, and approachable profile.
AWARDS
NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
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