I've been stopping by this tasting room for a while now, and after so many consistently good visits, I figured it was finally time to write a review. Every time I've come in, the atmosphere has been relaxed, the pours have been great, and the conversation has always been enjoyable -- to the point that I've ended up bringing home quite a few bottles over the years. The bartender has always been friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to talk through their offerings without making things feel rushed or overly formal. On one visit I ended up trying a whiskey made from beer -- something I'd never come across before -- and it ended up being one of my more memorable pours I've had there. That kind of discovery is exactly what keeps me coming back, and it speaks to the range they carry beyond the usual whiskey offerings and rye-focused selections. I can only speak to my own experience, but this has easily become one of my favorite local tasting rooms. read more

Excellent small barrel whiskeys and drinks. A small place but full of great people and knowledgeable staff. The food is from different places and it's always a good mix. I bought a few bottles for the house and you can't miss their 2-for1 Thursday old fashions. Delicious! read more

We had a very disappointing visit this past Saturday. We were really looking forward to going and getting an introduction to their products and having the chance to sample some different options side by side. Unfortunately the guy working the tasting room wasn't really interested in us or the products but made us feel more like we were intruding on his afternoon. He offered no insights into the various products and instead focused on his problems with his wife and his outside interests. We went specifically to taste ryes and he insisted that they don't make a high rye even though when we got home we found a listing for their Cali Gold High Rye. He is doing a disservice to the distillery by continuing to work there. The place could be cosy and inviting with a different server. read more

Dwayne was very knowledgeable about the whiskeys there. He was very attentive too. He made some great drinks. My only complaints are the bar stools were too uncomfortable and the water faucet in the bathroom barely worked. read more

For someone who doesn't drink whiskey but is the #1 supporter of my whiskey-loving husband, this place is truly fantastic. They specialize in small-batch whiskeys and offer a unique speakeasy vibe, tucked away in an industrial park in Spring Valley. Devon is both fun and incredibly knowledgeable, making the experience even better. Congratulations to Trent and the team on 10 amazing years! Don't skip out buying a bottle. read more

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I recently attended their Fathers Day Bourbon class and it was fantastic. Dwayne was very knowledgeable and eager to share with the group. The bourbons were great as were their bitters they provided. I will definitely be back! Hopefully they'll have more bourbon classes soon, it made for a great afternoon read more

Thursday night football with Dwayne. Such a great bartender. A joy of a conversionalist! Bogo Old Fashioneds, yes please. We will be back! read more

What a wonderful experience at a place it feels like we discovered. The server was knowledgeable and engaging and the offerings delicious. It's really expensive so that was a surprise, $225 for a mini flight, 2 pours and a bottle with ti. We were happy to explore the shop and loved the laughing and conversation! It's a cool spot with so much potential for events. A little challenging to find - keep an eye out for the wooden barrel and you'll find it no problem. I liked the search and we were rewarded well. read more

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I've been to San Distillery three times with three different groups of friends. We collectively spent over a grand on the spirits. However, the last experience will be the last. When entering the establishment, my friends and I were greeted with, not Hello, but "what are your intentions,". Not a welcoming vibe. The bar tender is over it and not personable. This could be a hidden gem if management upgrades the service staff. Go to Mike Curphy's in the same complex. Much better experience and better product. read more

San Diego Distillery - Select released bourbon - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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Devon is an amazing host, I love coming here. Retro decor, comfortable and great tasting whiskeys. They offer 2 different flights and some cocktails. On his second visit, my son joined their club. He cant stop talking about what he learns each visit after his monthly tasting. You can bring a snack to nibble on while you enjoy your flight or cocktail. They are open - Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Not too hard to find - commercial property in Spring Valley. read more

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Pretty killer selection of whiskies right in on our own backyard. They have 4 or 5 standards, including a single malt and a pleated whiskey and an ever-rotating section of specialty pours as well. The day we went, they had two distilled beers made into (pseudo) whiskies, both of which were quite tasty. Friendly service and a cozy, nicely decorated tasting room. Worth a visit and a taste or two. read more

San Diego Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

First of all, I had a Groupon for this place, so my cousins and I were excited to try our whiskey tasting. Upon getting there, we realized it was in a warehouse area and it was kind of hard to find in the dark because it's more so on the inside of the driving path opposed to the outside where you could see. Plus there weren't really signs to say that we were in the right place. There was a whiskey barrel outside, but it was facing away from the street. Once we were finally inside, the place was tiny and intimate, which was nice. It was decorated in a vintage style so that was kind of cool. The menu was short and simple, but we al noticed the line saying you couldn't have more than one whiskey flight OR cocktail in one night. Interesting rule. We wanted to have a second cocktail, but didn't ask because of that. We had Devon as our server and he was all by his lonesome working with a cut finger. He was very personable and nice, but he was the slowest bartender I've ever met. SUPER NICE GUY, makes his cocktails with care.... but just really slow. And then they didn't have enough glasses, so he had to start washing the glasses by hand with no bareback or anyone to help him out and that caused the process to be even slower. We didn't get our drinks til maybe 20 mins after we ordered. Then it started to get busier and he had to keep washing the glasses and whatnot so the new folks had to wait quite a bit. Between the four of us we had 2 pumpkin pie old fashions, a whiskey flight and one Penicillin. My pumpkin pie old fashion was hard to swallow.... but only because I didn't mix it til the end. But after we mixed them, those were soooooo good!! My husband really liked the whiskey flight and ended up buying a bottle of the Bourbon. All in all, a fun experience, but you can't stay too long if you want to drink more/have a faster time. read more

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I know many who enjoy an adult beverage. Not me. I'm here for their "hard stuff"! Hard to find. Difficult to make. Hand SANiTiZer! Yep, San Diego Distillery is making it and selling it out back. This Covid deal has changed lives. So I drove 40 minutes to get a supply. Let's say, I'm glad I made the drive. Where else can you get 80%? I'm happy to be drunk with feeling safer. read more

San Diego Distillery - 8oz and 32oz with 80% Hand Sanitizer from San Diego Distillery. - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

If you're looking for a Gem off the beaten path...San Diego Distillery is the place to be. A perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon especially when looking for an experience. I was looking for the perfect birthday gift, fit for a King, and best believe I found it. When you first pull up, I promise, you are gonna feel like you made a wrong turn...don't give up, park and make your way to the back. When you see that table for two under the umbrella, you have made it! Go on in and enjoy. You're going to meet Devon and just go from there! I cannot express in words how the whole experience exceeded my expectations but it did. I won't go into mass detail of my exact experience because I know it could never be duplicated BUT whether you are a whiskey lover or whiskey rookie...you are going to enjoy not just the ambience, the bartender, and energy of this place... you're going to fall in love with whiskey too. The whiskey flight is definitely the way to start, but the Old Fashion is how you're going to want to finish. Take the little walk behind the scenes and enjoy learning the process of how heaven in a bottle is made... PS ~ you're going to want to take a bottle home with you! It was a beautiful day filled with amazing spirits, amazing people, amazing energy and definitely gave us a reason to go back and do it again and again and again. Ladies, if you're looking for something different to enjoy with your special someone...this IS the spot! You will have that person cheesing from ear to ear the entire day. I absolutely recommend San Diego Distillery!!! read more

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Clearly an amazing local distillery that cares about the San Diego community. Distillery right here in Spring Valley. Amazing to see that they have Hand Sanitizer in Production!! ‍‍ Support San Diego Distillery!!Cheers!! read more

Met a friend here today. The boys had a few flights. I got a chocolate old fashioned. Yum! Very tasty and great service. read more

San Diego Distillery - Chocolate old fashioned - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

What an awesome place to sit and have a drink! The ambiance is nice and mellow so it's the perfect setting to sit and enjoy a tasting or cocktail. The bartenders are really friendly and have great recommendations. If you're into scotch, I recommend the Penicillin. Don't let the ginger scare you away, it's pretty subtle and adds well to cocktail. read more

I learned that I am a NOT a fan of Whiskey. Haha! However this place was quaint and intimate! I came here with a couple of my girls after we found and purchased a deal on Groupon. We enjoyed ourselves and laughed and laughed and had a really great time as Charlie explained the differences between the Whiskies. Charlie was great and I thank him for having such an awesome sense of humor! I don't think I'll partake in any more Whiskey tats ting but I'll definitely come back with my friends for great company! read more

San Diego Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

San Diego offers up a lot of amazing places to grab a drink, so you may be thinking why go to Spring Valley? Well, if you're a fan of great whiskey/bourbon, then you should go see for yourself. San Diego Distillery is quite literally tucked away in an industrial area of Spring Valley and can be a little difficult to find. Pro tip: go up the stairs facing the street, make a left, then it's on your right. Once you're inside, you'll appreciate the lounge vibe. The drink menu is limited, but has a great staples like a Manhattan and Old Fashion with a unique twist. If you're not sure which way to go, Devin is super helpful and also willing to whip you up something unique. They also offer flights if you prefer to sample the goods before making a commitment. read more

San Diego Distillery - Flight - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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Been coming here for years. Best whiskey in San Diego. Great spot to try great whiskey and talk with the super knowledgeable staff.

Funky little tasting room out in spring valley. The service is great, and the bartender/distillers are super knowledgeable. Eric does a great job. read more

Came here with a groupon with good friend that appreciates whiskey. Upon arriving at the business we were wondering what is up since it was a business park and plain exterior. We could see in the garage section where the distilling took place. Opened the front door to be immersed in the past. They have set this up to look like a speak-easy. Dark, intimate atmosphere with period music. The groupon was for the basic menu ($12 for 3 tasters), however, we upgraded to the premium ($18 without groupon) and were glad we did. We thought we knew whiskey and how to drink it. Wrong! We learned that we had really not had the experience of whiskey just drinking Jack D. and Jim B. Getting into the premium whiskey is totally different. When the whiskey was brought to us, we looked at each other and thought: "that's it? that little shot?". That is when the education began. We learned that we could stretch that "little" amount into a pleasurable experience. Our host explained how to taste each selection by adding water. What? Dilute the whiskey? YES. Our eyes are now open to a new level of tastes. We will be back. read more

San Diego Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Such an amazing distillery! I reserved the place for my husband's birthday and it could not have been more perfect. The space was more than enough room for our group of 10 and can definitely accommodate more. All of the whiskeys tasted great and even my friends who aren't the hugest fan of whiskey raved about the chocolate old fashioneds that Devon prepared. This place is perfect for intimate, low key events. I can also tell how passionate Devon is about distilling by how he explained the process to us and answered all of our questions. This place is totally worth a visit! read more

Found this on Groupon and gave them as gifts for co workers and they love love live this place they now are members and Ger tasting a month with that membership. read more

The bourbon here is amazing, came last Saturday after seeing their sale on Instagram. The place is hidden so you might get lost. The distillery is super nice inside, has that speakeasy feel. Can't wait till things get back to normal so I can really hangout there. read more

Nominally, and normally, I don't drink 'hard' alcohol. However, I'm a fan of things local, things hand made ('crafted') and done with a certain passion to create. San Diego Distillery is all that. Tucked away in a light industrial complex, it's a small spot that might raise an eyebrow. You might think, 'meh, some guy is a step up from bilge wine'.. You'd be wrong. My Bride and I came on a Sunday afternoon, on a three day weekend, and stopped in, really just to see what it was all about. We were surprised there actually a good deal of people there - despite the location and the weekend. A small, but well appointed sitting room, and a friendly host. A small, but stout variety of strong spirits, each with their own appointed story, and each with their own intent of imparting in regards of flavor. For a reasonable price, you get your selection of 3 for a flight. Each is explained both in flavor and in how they are crafted. While enjoying the drink, you'll get a tour of the small, but very detailed operation - essentially, giving out the secrets it would seem. Not being a spirit drinker, I struggle to say what the cost comparison is for whisky you might find at an adult beverage store, but I'd say comparable, if not even better than comparable, as it's made, truly, by hand, by a family that does it not to get rich, nor to pay the rent, but merely out of a passion to make something unique. Definitely worth the stop, very San Diego and - very good! read more

I had never been spirit tasting before, so I brought my sister for this adventure. The location is in a business park, but when you get inside, it feels more like you've made it to a cool lounge for an entertaining event. It's very relaxing and mellow, with music playing in the background which was cool. Trent and Maria were amazing. Very friendly and welcoming, as well as knowledgeable. They did a great job explaining the process to us newbies, and how a tasting should go. I had no idea how complex rum, whiskey, or eau de vive could be (actually I had no idea what the last one was until our tasting, but hey it was good). We ended up staying a few hours and talking about distilling, brewing (he has a beer background), the industry, and food among other things.It really felt much more like hanging out a friends house than just a tasting. They specialize in small batch right now, so the prices reflect the amazing quality of the product. The Peeted Whiskey was my favorite. Smoky goodness! If you've never been to a distillery, this is one that you should try. Friendly, knowledgeable, great atmosphere and great product. If you want to support local businesses, this is one that is worth it, so give it a try! read more

Not sure what the deal is but I showed up on September 17, 2022 at 2 PM and the place is closed. I stuck around for a little bit to see if anybody would show up and nothing.. Pretty upset considering I drove 30 minutes to get here to pick up a couple bottles for a friends birthday. There's no sign on the door indicating it's their business and there is nothing indicating hours of operation. You can see that there are barrels inside of the doorway and stacked up in the windows so I assume they're still at this location. Maybe somebody didn't show up to work. Needless to say I'm out a gallon of gas, I'm heading to my local liquor store which is a half a mile from my house, and I'm not bringing the liquor that I said I would bring read more

Well worth the drive, and so FUN! I had a private party here on a Friday night, and it was so wonderful. Trent got us settled in before he left for the evening. Devon took care of us the entire night, crafting everything to our taste. It's in an industrial park, but once you're inside it's like a speak easy. Comfortable seating, very quaint lighting, and the acoustics are one of the biggest reasons I chose this establishment. I can sit on one side of the good side bar, and have a comfortable conversation with someone on the other side without raising my voice. They will play any music you want, and ... oh yeah, the liquor. WOWZA!!! read more

Drove from North County to Spring Valley to visit this place and was not disappointed. The server/bartender, Devin, was extremely welcoming and knowledgeable about a variety of products. As a whiskey fan, I opted to try THE quintessential whiskey drink, an Old Fashioned. Devin served up a delicious drink and kept a great conversation going. The lighting, music and atmosphere were fantastic. Quaint, classy and pays homage to old speakeasies of the past. If this place were closer, I could easily see it becoming one of my haunts. As it's far away, I'll have to plan for another trip, because I'll definitely be back. read more

San Diego Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Tough to find tucked away in a business park but great decor inside like a speak easy. Maybe some signage from the street is needed? Be sure to ask when you arrive on the specifics if you have a Groupon since it seems it doesn't give you full menu access. Groupon was for 4 flights or drinks for 4 people but in reality, I think it was for the basic flight or drink. I ended up paying $21 on top of the $29 Groupon since i didn't ask on specifics and let everyone order whatever flight they wanted. Good quality whiskey and tipped on full amount though! read more

Super fun and cute place! Trent and Maria hosted us for a private tasting/birthday party last night. They were so open and kind, very knowledgeable, and made deeeelicious drinks. Given that I'm not a huge whiskey fan, I didn't know what to expect but the whiskey sour was so good!! The tasting room is very rustic and cozy. Definitely an adults only place though. Although we could have brought the kids, it would have been too hard to entertain them and enjoy ourselves at the same time. Leave the littles at home and go check it out! You'll have a relaxing time, great drinks, and awesome hosts. read more

At first, when drove up kinda wondered. Ha! Once inside, the tasting room was pretty cool. The guy was very informative about the whiskey. Very good! read more

San Diego Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

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Incredible experience, very knowledgeable staff and great atmosphere. For a whiskey tasting it's more than affordable and you have three choices of tastings or you can go with a cocktail. Felt very well taken care of by Devin and he good job of explaining to the idea and story of it all. 5/5 read more

Visiting from Chicago and I love bourbon so this was a good choice, Devon was the bar tender and he was very knowledgeable and gave good suggestions to my friend that isn't into whiskey a must visit! Loved the old school speakeasy vibe. read more

Damn spring valley !!! I see you! Hiding these jewels in plain sight. Great place to come and get some flights and or cocktails. You can bring some snacks and share with the new friends you make here. We will definitely be back on fridays read more

great lil place. The whiskey is delicious. They give a great detailed tour of the small facility. If you enjoy whiskey you must check this place out read more

The San Diego Distillery provides a very welcome treat in the form of craft whiskey! Never before have I tried a whiskey whether it be blended or single malt, that tasted like the ones we tried at San Diego Distillery! Each one had a unique flavor that could only be previously found in craft beers. Trent has found a way to instill so many fun and exciting flavors within each one of the whiskeys created here. A must for any lover of whiskey! read more

San Diego Distillery - Amazing selection!! - Distilleries Near Me - Spring Valley, California

Awesome experience. Had a great time. Love everything. Chill vibes. Great whiskey. I just want to say if love whiskey you are at home here.

Found SD Distillery through Groupon and what a pleasant surprise. Trent the owner was so gracious to personally educate us on whiskey and the distilling process... He even tapped a few aging barrels just for us to taste! Such an awesome experience and we left with a greater appreciation for the spirit. The handcrafted cocktails were really top notch. Thank you SDD for the hospitality! read more