Top 7 Local Beverages
in Los Angeles

Wolves Whiskey is a luxury American whiskey brand founded in 2017 by cultural icons James Bond and Jon Buscemi. Based in California, the company is renowned for its small-batch, handcrafted spirits that blend traditional distillation methods with innovative techniques. The production process at Wolves Whiskey is meticulous and artisanal.

They utilize a rare copper alembic pot still, imported from Cognac, France, in 1983, to distill their whiskey. This method, though less efficient than modern column stills, yields spirits with greater body, flavor, and viscosity.

Wolves Whiskey offers a range of distinctive products, including American Single Malt whiskeys and unique blends distilled from craft beers like stout and pilsner. Their commitment to quality extends to their packaging, with each bottle hand-wrapped in premium materials such as Italian sheepskin, reflecting the brand's attention to detail and luxury positioning.

In addition to their core offerings, Wolves Whiskey has released limited editions like the "Malted Barley Series" and collaborates with renowned distillers to create unique flavor profiles. Their products have been recognized for their complexity and innovation, contributing to the evolving landscape of American whiskey.Expand

Batch 22 is an American aquavit that has its roots in some of the traditional spirits of Northern Europe; we've added our own twists to make it uniquely smooth, warm, and inviting. It’s a spirit that pairs effortlessly with an infinite variety of mixers and ingredients.

As a mixer, Batch 22 breathes new life into old standards like the Bloody Mary, the Manhattan, or the Negroni. As a straight sipper, Batch 22 aquavit offers a complex array of aromas and flavors that beg to be quietly contemplated.Expand

Highland Park Brewery (HPB) is a craft brewery from Los Angeles, founded in 2014, which started as a small project inside the bar “The Hermosillo” in the Highland Park neighborhood. The brewery is recognized for experimenting with styles and ingredients, while keeping a strong focus on freshness - most batches are produced in small quantities to ensure the beer is consumed as close to the production date as possible.

HPB also stands out for using local ingredients, and in certain releases they incorporate herbs and fruit sourced directly from the surrounding neighborhood, giving the beer a sense of terroir that is unusual in brewing. Their production approach follows a “slow beer” philosophy - careful aging, natural carbonation, and balance, without aggressive additives.

The portfolio includes lagers, various IPA expressions, as well as seasonal and specialty beers fermented in oak barrels. The brand’s philosophy, “drink fresh, drink local”, reflects their commitment to quality rather than mass distribution.

For that reason, their beers are mostly available on-site or in limited releases. Highland Park Brewery represents an example of how authenticity and local identity can be translated into a distinctive and sustainable brewing concept.Expand

Golden Road Brewing is one of the most prominent breweries in Los Angeles, founded in 2011 with the goal of delivering fresh, quality craft beer to the local community. Established by Meg Gill and Tony Yanow - with Gill becoming one of the few female founders of a major brewery - the company quickly grew into LA’s leading craft brewery, producing over 45,000 barrels annually.

Golden Road is known for its technical precision and diverse portfolio, as well as seasonal and limited-edition releases from their Custom IPA line. On weekends, the brewery offers guided tours with tastings, giving visitors a firsthand look at the brewing process and a chance to sample a wide variety of styles.

Today, Golden Road operates four brewpub locations across Southern California, including Atwater Village, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Grand Central Market in downtown LA. With its fusion of urban culture, creative brewing styles, and wide appeal, Golden Road has become a recognizable name among both local craft beer enthusiasts and drinkers across the U.S.Expand

La Bay Distillerie Californienne is an award-winning boutique distillery located in Los Angeles, California, founded by master distiller Shadi Saroufim. Driven by a passion for gin and mixology, Shadi embarked on a global journey—from Beirut through London and Amsterdam, culminating in Los Angeles—to craft a unique gin that harmoniously blends diverse botanicals.

La Bay Gin df with signature notes of Lebanese juniper berries, spring wild za’atar, and figs, complemented by California botanicals, resulting in a globally unique recipe. The distillery employs cutting-edge distillation technology, such as the iStill, to ensure precision and consistency in their spirits.

The distillery offers products like their London Dry Gin and a 3-month-old oak barrel-aged gin, both of which have garnered multiple awards for their harmonious blend of fruity and fresh flavors.Expand

Zombie is a Tiki cocktail that was invented in the late 1930s in Los Angeles by Donn Beach. The cocktail is named Zombie after the way it affects the drinkers. The drink is made with demerara rum, golden rum, dark rum, 151 proof Lemon Hart, falernum, lime juice, grenadine, Pernod, Angostura bitters, and Don's mix. However, some variations include absinthe or triple sec, which makes the cocktail even stronger. This high-powered cocktail is prepared by shaking all the ingredients together, except for the 151 proof rum, which is added on top of the drink and can even can be ignited at this point. Zombie is typically served on the rocks in a tiki mug or a hurricane glass, garnished with a cherry, an orange slice, and a pineapple slice. If it is served heated, the cocktail is named Hot Zombie.Expand

Appletini consists of vodka and one or more of these beverages: apple juice, apple cider, apple liqueur, or apple brandy such as Calvados. This modern cocktail was invented in Los Angeles in 1996, and it is also known as Apple Martini or Adam's Apple Martini. Vodka may be substituted with gin, and in some variations, vermouth can be included in the combination. One of the most popular variations is known as Rumpletini, made with light rum instead of vodka. Appletini continues to gain fame through pop culture, with frequent mentions in famous TV shows such as Scrubs, Two and a Half Men, Mr. Robot, and How I Met Your Mother, and after the release of the movie Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg declared Appletini Facebook’s official drink. Typically, the drink is served shaken in a chilled cocktail glass, garnished with a cherry or an apple slice.Expand

Harvey Wallbanger is a simple cocktail made with vodka, orange juice, and a sweet herbal liqueur known as Galliano. To prepare it, vodka and orange juice are poured into a glass over ice, while Galliano is added on top by pouring it over the back of a bar spoon. The cocktail is garnished with an orange slice and a cherry. Although it is believed that the cocktail was invented in 1952 by Donato Antone, it gained popularity in the 1970s.Expand

Pearl Diver is a tiki cocktail created by the legendary tiki master Don the Beachcomber. The cocktail is a slightly complicated version of Hot Buttered Rum. One of the main elements is Don's Gardenia Mix—a combination of butter, honey, cinnamon and vanilla syrups, and allspice liqueur. The rest of the ingredients include rum (typically a combination of at least two or three types such as Demerara and Jamaican rum), lime and orange juice, and Angostura bitters. All the ingredients are blended with ice, and the mix is then strained into a glass filled with crushed ice. Traditionally, this cocktail is served in a specialized tiki glass with a ribbed bottom and coupe top. It is often garnished with an edible orchid and a pineapple wedge. Expand