Stark Spirits operates out of a sleek space in Pasadena’s Lincoln Avenue corridor, founded by Steve Stark, a former aerospace engineer who traded rocket science for whiskey making in 2016. The distillery launched with a focus on American whiskey and bourbon, using traditional methods in a modern urban setting. Stark brought his engineering precision to distilling, installing custom copper stills and implementing meticulous quality control processes that reflect his technical background. The 3,000-square-foot facility houses production equipment, a tasting room, and barrel storage in what was previously industrial space, transforming it into a working distillery that feels both professional and approachable. You’ll find everything from their flagship bourbon to experimental small-batch releases, all crafted with the kind of attention to detail you’d expect from someone who used to work on spacecraft.