Storyhouse Spirits To Open Distillery, Bar & Restaurant In San Diego's East Village

March 15, 2018

The craft spirits industry is continuing to expand in San Diego due to a 2016 California law change. Heading into the East Village is a 7,500 square-foot distillery, bar and restaurant from industry newcomer Storyhouse Spirits.

From co-founder and head distiller Matt Kidd and former Uinta Brewing VP of Sales Steve Kuftinec, Storyhouse Spirits will be a bi-level bar and restaurant with a 5,000 square-foot, glass-encased onsite distiller. The eatery will serve a menu centered around woodfired creations. Spirit offerings will include infused vodkas, gin, rum and a variety of whiskey, all which will be used to make an eclectic list of cocktails. Storyhouse Spirits aims to debut as early as this August.  

Under a somewhat recent California's law, which only came into effect in 2016, distillers who obtain the Type-74 liquor license are now allowed to sell three 750-ml bottles to any consumers who participate in an on-site tasting, limited to three per customer per day. Prior to the law, purchasing a bottle at a distillery was not legal unless there was an on-site liquor store owned and operated by a separate party. The new law also allows distilleries to serve cocktails, host on-site private events, and to open a restaurant on premises just like breweries and wineries have been able to do - all prohibited prior to 2016. This change in law will likely result in a golden-era of spirit distilling in California, and we should see many more companies popping up around San Diego in the near future.

Storyhouse Spirits is heading to 1220 J Street in San Diego's East Village. For more information, visit storyhousespirits.com.