Cutwater Spirits Is the Brainchild of Ballast Point

What started as the distilling segment of Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits in 2007 has morphed into a standalone brand making its own bourbon, gin, vodka, rum, and more. But parting ways with the beer juggernaut, which was bought by Constellation Brands for $1 billion in 2015, hasn’t slowed them down.

Cutwater Spirits opened a massive facility last May in Miramar, and their canned cocktails—like Three Sheets Rum & Ginger and the Spicy Bloody Mary—have become a runaway success, expanding from four to 14 flavors.

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“Coming from brewing roots, we know the convenience that can come from a can,” says Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Earl Knight. “It’s a perfect cocktail without any of the work.”

But just booze it is not. Chef Luke Johnson (ex-La Valencia) is running a kitchen that’s turning out harissa-dressed fingerling potatoes, pork loin with polenta, and fries loaded with white cheddar cheese curd. “We always planned to expand the distilling part of the business,” says founder Yuseff Cherney. “It’s great to give it a life of its own.”

Cutwater Spirits Is the Brainchild of Ballast Point

Illustration by Holly Exley