Old Harbor Distilling Co. sits in a converted warehouse space in San Diego’s East Village, where founders Chris Belmont and Michael Kazanjian launched their craft spirits operation in 2013. These two former tech executives traded keyboards for copper stills after years of home distilling convinced them to go pro. The 5,000-square-foot facility houses custom copper pot stills from Germany alongside fermentation tanks and aging barrels, where they produce vodka, gin, whiskey, and rum using locally-sourced ingredients when possible. The industrial space maintains its warehouse bones while adding modern distilling equipment and a sleek tasting room that overlooks the production floor. You can watch the distilling process through large windows while sampling their spirits, creating an educational experience that connects the product directly to the process. The operation focuses on small-batch production with careful attention to each spirit’s unique characteristics, from their smooth vodka made with California wheat to their aged bourbon that’s been developing complexity in American oak barrels since their early days.
