Join hosts Dylan Almendral (The Gentleman Historian) and Ryan Friesen (distiller) as they introduce you to Distilled California, a podcast + vidcast devoted to the artisanal spirits of California. You'll get a look at the bar, the variety of spirits in the back bar, and some of the unique historical pieces around the bar.

The Blinking Owl is the very first distillery in Orange County. In addition to that, they also are one of the first distilleries in the state of California to hold the Type 74 Craft Distillers License allowing which allows them to operate a tasting room and sell a few bottles. The distillery makes Vodka, Gin, several types of Whiskey, and the Scandinavian spirit, Aquavit. Blinking Owl's ownership are locavores, grain nerds, and control freaks so they decided to make their booze the long way: from grain rather than pre-made spirit. The team mills it, mashes it, ferments it, distills it, and, in the case of whiskey, barrel ages it. All of the grain is sourced from certified organic California farms. Blinking Owl's Founder, Brian Christenson, had a bootlegging great-grandfather, Fred P. Armbrust. Fred had a still on his dairy farm hidden in the basement behind secret passageways. He would covertly provide his local farmers with his “good spirits”. Through Blinking Owl, Brian is able to fulfill his dream of carrying on Fred’s passion by providing “good spirits” to his own neighborhood (legally, of course)!