CRAFT DISTILLERY

As Above, So Below Distillery

Santa Fe,
New Mexico
— Gin, Vodka

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🧪
Chemical Engineer
Petroleum refining turned craft distilling passion
🌿
Desert Botanicals
High-altitude sage meets traditional juniper
🏺
Adobe Compound
Former artist collective, same creative energy
⚗️
German Copper
Alembic methods meet modern precision
🌙
Seasonal Spirits
Winter solstice gin, summer foraged blends
👥
Husband Wife
Clay and Susan lead tastings personally
📞 (505) 916-8596
🌐 http://www.aasbdistillery.com/
📍 545 Camino de la Familia, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Where Chemistry Meets Ancient Wisdom

As Above, So Below Distillery sits at 545 Camino de la Familia in Santa Fe, where founders Clay and Susan Risen turned their shared fascination with alchemy and traditional distillation into New Mexico’s most spiritually-minded craft distillery. Opening in 2019 after three years of planning and construction, they built their operation in a converted adobe compound that once housed a local artist collective, preserving the creative energy while adding copper stills and fermentation tanks. The husband-and-wife team draws from Clay’s background as a chemical engineer and Susan’s work in herbalism to create small-batch gin, vodka, and seasonal spirits that reflect both scientific precision and mystical inspiration. Clay spent fifteen years in petroleum refining before deciding he wanted to distill something people could actually enjoy, while Susan brought decades of knowledge about botanicals and their properties to their spirit recipes. They named the distillery after the hermetic principle “as above, so below,” reflecting their belief that great spirits require harmony between technical skill and intuitive artistry. The couple handles most operations themselves, from grain-to-glass production to personally leading tastings where they’ll explain both the chemistry and philosophy behind each bottle. Visitors find themselves in a uniquely Santa Fe experience that blends craft spirits education with conversations about the spiritual side of fermentation and distillation. The tasting room occupies the main adobe building with thick walls that keep things cool year-round, while the production area showcases their 200-gallon copper still imported from Germany. You’re not just sampling spirits here—you’re getting a peek into how two passionate people turned scientific knowledge and mystical curiosity into some of New Mexico’s most distinctive craft spirits.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Alchemical Approach to Desert Botanicals

As Above, So Below stands apart as possibly the only distillery where your tasting comes with discussions of both molecular chemistry and ancient fermentation wisdom. Clay’s engineering background shows in their precise temperature control and custom-built filtration systems, while Susan’s herbalism expertise creates gin botanicals sourced from high-desert plants and carefully selected international ingredients. They’re one of very few distilleries using traditional alembic distillation methods alongside modern equipment, and their commitment to small batches means they rarely produce more than 50 cases of any single spirit at a time. The Santa Fe location gives them access to high-altitude aging conditions and pure mountain water, but it’s really their philosophical approach that sets them apart—treating each batch as both a technical achievement and a spiritual practice.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Personal Tastings with The Actual Distillers

Clay or Susan personally leads most tastings in their intimate adobe tasting room, where exposed vigas and handmade tiles create an atmosphere that’s distinctly Santa Fe but never touristy. You’ll sample their spirits while learning about their grain sources, botanical selection, and distillation philosophy, with conversations that might cover everything from pH levels to the historical use of juniper in New Mexican folk traditions. The production area tour shows their German copper still, fermentation tanks, and aging room where they’re experimenting with different wood types including New Mexican oak. Don’t expect a polished corporate experience—this feels more like visiting knowledgeable friends who happen to make exceptional spirits and love talking about their craft.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Science and Spirit In Every Sip

If you’re interested in craft spirits and enjoy learning from passionate makers who actually know their science, this is absolutely worth your time. The personal attention you get here beats larger distillery tours, and Clay and Susan’s combined expertise makes for genuinely educational tastings. Their spirits are legitimately good—the gin especially showcases unique botanical combinations you won’t find elsewhere. However, if you prefer big production tours with lots of polish or want to taste a wide variety of aged whiskeys, you might be better served elsewhere. This appeals most to curious drinkers who appreciate small-batch quality and want to understand the “why” behind what they’re tasting.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their website for current hours since Clay and Susan sometimes close for production days or farmers market appearances. The address can be tricky for GPS, so look for the adobe compound with the small distillery sign rather than relying entirely on navigation. Afternoons tend to be better for longer conversations since mornings are often production time. Ask specifically about their botanical sourcing and distillation philosophy—that’s where their expertise really shines. If you’re planning to buy bottles, bring cash since they sometimes have card reader issues. The space is small, so groups larger than six should definitely call first.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As Above, So Below Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make a reservation for tastings?
Yes, reservations are strongly recommended since Clay and Susan personally lead most tastings and often have production work scheduled. Call ahead or check their website, especially for weekend visits when they’re often at farmers markets.
What makes your gin different from other craft gins?
We use high-desert botanicals including New Mexican sage alongside traditional gin botanicals, and our alembic distillation method creates more complex flavor development than column distillation. Susan’s herbalism background guides our botanical selection for both flavor and traditional properties.
Can I buy bottles to take home?
Yes, we sell all our current spirits on-site, though quantities are limited since we produce small batches. Bring cash if possible since we sometimes have card processing issues, and call ahead if you’re looking for specific seasonal releases.

GETTING THERE

Find As Above, So Below Distillery

📍545 Camino de la Familia, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA

 — 

📞 (505) 916-8596

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