Small distilleries with a big draw

The small distilleries leading the craft spirits scene today share one thing in common. People can walk in the door, taste what’s made there, and meet the folks who make it. That personal connection has become one of the biggest reasons people choose their whiskey, rum, or vodka, and it’s something only a local maker can offer.

Why the experience matters more than ever

Industry researchers keep pointing to the same shift. Whiskey enthusiasts and collectors want to know where the bottle comes from and who made it. Limited releases and a good story behind the bottle now influence buying decisions as much as price.

A big national brand can’t offer that. A small distillery with a tasting room can. When you sip a spirit at the bar where it was distilled, you remember the place and the conversation. That memory is what brings you back, and it’s what gets you to tell your friends.

Taste it here, take it home

Travel plays a big role, too. In a recent industry survey, 87% of regular craft spirits drinkers said they want to buy online the spirits they first tried while traveling. You find something you love on vacation, and you want to keep enjoying it once you’re home.

Distilleries like Oakhurst Spirits make that easy. We let a visitor taste first, buy a bottle on the spot, and reorder later from home.

Oakhurst Spirits

Oakhurst Spirits is built around that kind of visit. Right in Oakhurst, on the way in and out of Yosemite, you’ll find a full bar where you can settle in and try what’s made on site.

Start with a tasting to get to know the lineup. Then order a mixed drink made with spirits distilled a few feet away. It’s a relaxed way to end a day in the park or kick off an evening in the mountains.

When you find a favorite, you can take it with you. Bottles come in small, medium and large sizes, so you can grab a sampler-size souvenir or stock up. You can buy them at the distillery or order online, with shipping available anywhere in California.

Mike Benbrook started Oakhurst Spirits and Gallery when he moved to Oakhurst, California with his artist wife, Ally. They had sold their business in the San Diego area, and moved to the mountains to fulfill a dream. Oakhurst Spirits has now been open almost ten years, serving locals and visitors from all over the world!

Support the small makers you can visit

Local distilleries flourish when people come to visit, and each bottle you buy helps keep that craft alive in your own backyard.

Next time you’re headed to Yosemite National Park, stop by Oakhurst Spirits for a tasting or a cocktail at the bar. And visit our art gallery for a wide variety of works by local artists.