San Diego Sunshine Craft Spirits operates out of a compact space in Ramona, about 45 minutes northeast of downtown San Diego in the foothills. Founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Lisa Henderson in 2018, this small operation focuses on producing vodka, gin, and flavored spirits using locally sourced ingredients when possible. Mike brings a background in chemistry from his previous career in pharmaceuticals, while Lisa handles the business operations and recipe development for their flavored products. The distillery runs on a 250-gallon copper still that Mike custom-designed, allowing them to produce small batches with precise control over the distillation process. They’ve built their reputation on clean, smooth spirits that showcase the quality of their base ingredients rather than heavy flavoring or additives. The operation reflects their philosophy of keeping things simple and letting the craftsmanship speak for itself. Visitors find a straightforward tasting room experience where you can sample their core lineup and learn about their distillation methods. The space feels more like a working distillery than a polished tourist destination, which appeals to folks genuinely interested in the craft. Mike often leads tastings himself when he’s not running the still, sharing insights about their process and the challenges of small-batch production in California’s competitive craft spirits market.