The Distillery
Venus Spirits, founded in 2013 by Sean Venus, is a small craft distillery producing whiskey, gin and blue agave spirits. We are located on the beautiful Westside of Santa Cruz in a growing community of brewers, wine makers, restaurants and artists. With your help, we can create an amazing space for people to experience both the distilling process and the spirits that are made here. The most common question we get asked is, "do you have a tasting room?" We think it is time to make it happen!
An experienced brewer, Sean also had a passion for whiskey that turned into the dream of starting his own distillery here on the West Coast. As founder and distiller, Sean is able to source the highest quality ingredients and create small-batch spirits that are truly handcrafted.
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The 10 bbl brewhouse used to create Wayward Whiskey mash, along with two fermentation tanks.
After months of licensing, construction and late nights, the first cases left Venus Spirits in July of this year. You can find Venus Gin Blend No. 01 and El Ladrón Blanco Blue Agave Spirit at fine locations in Santa Cruz, Monterey and the Bay Area. Wayward Whiskey is aging in new charred American Oak barrels and will be bottled early 2015.
The Details
Why are we asking for $15,000? The super talented team at Stripe Design Group has come up with some incredible design elements for the tasting room, and with your help we can start bringing them to life. Here are a few of the ways we will put your contributions to work:
- Deeply charred wood to bring the inside of a whiskey barrel to the walls
- Copper bar top inspired by our hand pounded copper still.
- Custom built shelving for showcasing the spirits behind the bar.
- Gorgeous handmade cement tiles that will transform an entire wall.
You have been more than generous, so what's in it for you? The perks we have put together include everything from hats & tees, to custom Wayward Whiskey barrels. Nobody will be left empty-handed!
The Impact
We are so excited to be one of the first distilleries in Santa Cruz and we want to make sure we can share it with all of you. By creating a place to meet friends and neighbors and learn about the art of distilling, we hope to spread the excitement of the craft spirits movement. The response to our spirits has been incredible and we are so grateful for the continued support.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you aren't able to make a donation right now don't worry! You can still help out by spreading the word to your family, friends, coworkers and the next friendly stranger you're having a drink next to. Use the Facebook and Twitter share buttons to share our page with everyone you are connected to. And of course, come taste our spirits when the tasting room is open! Thank you for your support.