Give whiskey a shot. This complex, smoky spirit is made from a wash of 100% malted barley grains, double distilled and then aged in American Oak and Bourbon barrels. Stark Spirits, a craft distillery, bottles their unique take on whiskey in Pasadena.

Greg Stark and his wife, Karen Robinson-Stark, are the distillers behind this hidden gem. Greg explains that his father-in-law inspired him to make his first whiskey. After that introduction to the spirit, he also participated in the L.A Scotch Club’s Peatin’ and Meetin’ event, where he developed a taste for smoky whiskey.

“There is a lot of magic that comes out of the barrel,” said Greg Stark.

Stark’s Single Malt Whiskey as set by the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission has a gentle light vanilla flavor that is intertwined with sweet coffee cocoa bean, chocolate. This sipping whiskey has a light mouthfeel with full-bodied flavor and a touch of heat and a medium finish. This spirit won a silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“I’m a contemplative drinker,” said Stark. “So it was my goal to create something that can distract you and is so enjoyable that you come back again and again.”

Stark also makes a Peated whiskey with peated malt from Scotland. This spirit won Double Gold and Best of Category at the American Distilling Institute’s 2017 Craft Spirit competition and a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This smooth whiskey has a nice, peat aroma and leaves you with dry charcoal smoke and bitter almonds taste.

“Our goal is to make spirits that you can drink neat,” he said. “It’s a balance of flavor and aroma.”

In addition to their whiskeys, Stark will be releasing their first batch of gin, distilled by Karen. The gin was inspired by the sunset view from Stark Spirits distillery.

Read More at source: Pasadena now