Ascendant Spirits Distillery & Tasting Room

Specialties

Ascendant Spirits is the first distillery in Santa Barbara County since Prohibition. Ascendant was founded on the conviction that our home, Santa Barbara County, famous for producing amazing wines, is also uniquely suited to the production of world-​class artisan spirits.

The secret lies in the California coastal valley climate. We’re located between the Pacific Ocean and the Transverse Range, the only coastal mountain range in the US that tends east west instead of north south. Our home in the Santa Ynez valley warms impressively during the day and cools dramatically at night as air is drawn in from the coast. This climate, which produces some of the best wine grapes in the country, will also help us make outstanding whisky.

Our Master Distiller blends each small batch of Breaker Bourbon from only eight carefully hand-​chosen barrels that have been aged for at least five years. We also produce American Star Vodka, Caviar Lime American Star Vodka, and Silver Lightning Moonshine.

History

Established in 2013.

Located in the heart of California wine country at the gateway to the Santa Rita Hills in Buellton California, Ascendant Spirits is flanked by the Terravant Winery on one side and Figueroa Mountain Brewery the other side, forming an ideal hub for the creation and enjoyment of the finest beverages.

Our impeccable new distillery is outfitted with handmade equipment that benefits from the culmination of hundreds of years of classic distilling knowledge. This equipment includes a 500 gallon American made copper still custom built to our Master Distiller’s specifications. Unlike the mega-​distilleries who churn out liquor on a factory scale, all of the spirits at Ascendant are patiently hand crafted in small batches by the Master Distiller utilizing the best American grains and as many fresh local and organic products as possible.

Please come and visit us. We have a friendly tasting room with a view of the action and we would love to take you on a free tour and show you what we do.

Meet the Business Owner

Steve G.

Business Owner

I’m driven to be an entrepreneur. My dad was an entrepreneur several times over. Santa Barbara is a place with deep roots. Some families among the Chumash indians have lived in the area for 7,000 years. Our architecture is iconic; white adobe running from mountain to sea.

The coastal microclimates with their warm days and cool nights are perfect for distilling and aging. And the growing seasons are endless, with more fruits, grains, and herbs to work with than almost anywhere in the world.

I am beginning new traditions here on the Central Coast of California. Santa Barbara is heaven for distilling. And Ascendant Spirits distills the spirit of Santa Barbara.