I knew about Cutler's vodka years ago. But I stopped drinking vodka a year ago. It started to taste like lighter fluid. Odd, after three plus decades drinking it. At a Santa Barbara Maritime Museum function, I saw a bottle of Cutler's whiskey (the regular one, not the 33) and asked the bartender to make a Manhattan with it. It was too sweet (I don't like that much vermouth) so I just started drinking it on the rocks. Outstanding! Then a few weeks later, at La Paloma, I asked the bartender what gins they serve. The usual : Bombay Sapphire (yuck), Tanqueray (not T10, also yuck), Henrdicks (snooze). He suggested Cutlers and proceeded to make one of the best martinis I've had in SB. So I went to buy a bottle in the Funk Zone. A Dodge Ram hit me after I bought the bottle to take home, but that's not Cutler's fault Note: It is very difficult to find. Yes, next to the Lark but the numbering of the suites isn't consecutive. I didn't realize dyslexia applied to numbers as well. Took me awhile to find the tiny space where you can buy bottles next to the patio where they serve cocktails. Great people, great company, great spirits. At $40, it's more than Tanqueray 10 for a 750 mL but well worth it. If you love gin, you must try. Cutler's ships within CA but not beyond. The t-shirts on the website are adorable, too. Sexy longish v-necks. Read up on the history of the Cutler family's distillery. And support local! read more

Cutlers was such a fun experience. They've got a cute patio area that is decorated well and they've got a small menu of cocktails. I had the apple pie mood lifter it was perfect for a warm summer day. It tasted like apple pie! And my hubby got a Negroni, which was very good. We ended up also getting a shot of the cold brew liquor and ended up taking a bottle of that home. We will definitely be back!! read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Negroni and apple pie mood lifter - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

After a sweet drink, at a bar nearby, I was seeking something less sweet- thus we headed over to Cutler's for a drink or two. This location is in the heart of the Funk Zone near the pier in Santa Barbara. When we approached the location, we saw that they were only offering drinks outside on the patio- as the temps were ok on Saturday in early September, we felt ok sitting on a small patio on lounge chairs with relaxing music in the background. The patio is in the back of Cutler's that can be entered around the corner (map on the front door of Cutler's shows the directions). The patio is next to other tasting room patios featuring wine and next door to Lark's restaurant. When we visited the tasting room at about 3pm in the afternoon, we were the only individuals there but started to fill up with other small groups. When a large group entered, the waitress said you will need a reservation as she was only wait staff there. Perhaps a sign is needed to notify people, that groups need reservations. The drinks were spot on- the drinks started at 14 dollars to about 16 dollars for cocktails. The tasting room also offers tastings of their products too. The tastings looked small. The cocktails were well poured. I was just disappointed to find out that I could not get a Bloody Mary on a Saturday- only Sundays- the Bloody Mary looked really good. If you are done with wine, and seeking something different, come relax on the patio here if your vibe is a low key environment with solid distillery cocktails. read more

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If you're cruising through the Funkzone and looking for some high quality spirits to perk you up instead of wine, then check out Cutler's! Their vodka is 7 times distilled to the point of where the vodka almost tastes like water. It is ultra-purified using a sophisticated 7 stage treatment process. When I first tried the Moscow Mule, it tasted watered down, but little did I know it was due to the distilled process. It definitely brought out my happy spirit lol. I don't drink vodka that often, but if I'm going to get a vodka based drink, then Cutler's is my choice. I've also tried their Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur. It is smooth, subtly sweet and delicious! You can drink this straight up and it won't burn your throat. It is made with local coffee beans from the SB Roasting Coffee Company. You can expect to taste vanilla, cacao nibs, and a rich earthy chicory. The other must try liqueur is the Apple Pie! It's the most popular here, and made with fresh apple juice and organic ingredients. They also serve up apple pie mimosa's on the weekends. If you can't make up your mind, then try their tasting flight. It's only $12. Since the pandemic they have moved outside to the back, which I actually prefer much better. There's plenty of table seating and they also share space with the other wineries and restaurants. A great place to chill and people watch. read more

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Riley was awesome and a great customer service. Great atmosphere and vibe love the band. Please check this place out.. acoustics are not overwhelming. You will love this place. read more

The smoothest liquor selection you may ever find. I'm not a gin drinker, but I would definitely recommend theirs. The coffee liqueur was really nice. Ended up getting their bourbon and the coffee liqueur. read more

Great outdoor ambiance, super cool server. We got a flight, Vodka, Gin, Bourbon, Whiskey, Apple Pie Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur. Good quality. I bought a bottle of the coffee liqueur, made with beans from Santa Barbara Roasters. read more

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What's just as good as wine tasting? Spirit tasting!!! Corks n' Crowns recommended this place to us so we went and are glad we did. Duncan was great and friendly. We both ordered the tasting which came with tastes of vodka, gin, whisky, burbon, apple pie bourbon, and espresso liquor. Duncan even gave us a taste of their apple pie mimosa. My favorite one! Only thing I would change is next time i would ask for some ice so I could chill them. read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Spirit tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great local find. Place is small, basically a bar that can accommodate about 4 or 5 people. For $10, you can try the five different spirits they make. They have a vodka, gin,mixed bourbon, single malt, and an apple pie. Apple pie would be great paired with some ice cream. Great taste. Vodka, Mixed Bourbon, and single malt were good. The gin was the one the surprised me as I am not much of a gin fan but this was good. Very friendly owner. A great alternative place to stop in if you are tired of wine and beer. read more

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An absolute hidden gem and must try! Fourth generation bootleggers and the most legit real distillery anywhere near here. They actually stock their alcohol in almost all of the local bars, and many farther away as well. The liquers are absolutely incredible as well. Definitely worth stopping in and going through a tasting, you will not be disappointed!! read more

American whiskey and bourbon distilled in Santa Barbara? Yep. And they are wonderful. I'm only reviewing the liquor as I bought bottles of them while visiting and did not take part in the drinking establishment. I should have stocked up on more. If you like your bourbon, I highly recommend trying theirs out. read more

We love this place, Keegan was amazing. They have great spirits and a fun tasting flight. I definitely recommend coming here!

Love the apple liquor! Yum!! Can't wait to try some of the additional wonderful items!

Wanted a break from wine tasting in Santa Barbara and was in the mood for some cocktails. Cutler's had good reviews on Yelp so we decided to give it a try. Wow! What a great place. Got seated right away in their distillery and cocktail patio. Atmosphere is fun and laid back. You never have to flag down a server because they're constantly checking in on you. And holy cow, the drinks are strong but flavorful. The bartender must have a heavy hand because you certainly get your money's worth lol. read more

Getting locally-made spirits AND talking to the distiller in-person is such a treat. When walking down Yanonali, my husband and I finally stopped in to Cutler's for a tasting. I had always felt apprehensive to stop in to such a cozy space (it's just the bar immediately in front of the door - no seating), but after a great meal in the Funk Zone and no other plans, we stopped in. Ian immediately greeted us and asked us if we wanted to do a tasting. We split a tasting of the 1/4 ounce pours of the five spirits (vodka, gin, a straight-forward bourbon, their fancier "33" bourbon, and an apple liqueur. All pours were delicious! The vodka had a distinct flavor (it didn't just taste like... nothing) and the gin was balanced and would be amazing on the rocks. I enjoyed both bourbons, and Ian told us about the differences between the too. But watch out - the apple liqueur that comes last is dangerous. It tastes like straight apple pie and I would gladly enjoy that than a slice of Thanksgiving pie any day. When we were wrapping up, Ian asked us if we were coffee drinkers and we said we were. He then went in the back and grabbed a cold brew liqueur that he said they were working on. It was delicious!! We ended up buying the gin and making cocktails at home with it that night. It was a fair price, and it feels great to support local SB businesses and their amazing craft! read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Tried a bit of their cold brew liqueur which should come out soon!! - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Crappy service. Server noticed me several times but too busy doing mainly nothing but shots with guests. Left and went elsewhere

came here with some friends for our first outing since 2020 and it did not disappoint! the outdoor seating, the flight of tastings, and dani (the girl working) were all so great!! my favorite was a gin that smelled like christmas and another one which i forgot but it straight up tasted like coffee! so good! and it was $12 for a flight of shots, which i thought was a great deal to try a variety of liquor. special shout out to dani for putting up with my friends and i. we were probably talking her ear off but she took it all in stride. planning to come back! read more

Good locally distilled spirits. Liked the Whiskey Blend and the Bourbon. What keeps this from being a 5 Star Review is that you pay $10 for a tasting which includes a total of about 1.5 oz of whiskey and they don't waive the $10 tasting fee when you buy a bottle. I bought a bottle of whiskey for $40 and was surprised when it came to $53 with the tasting added in + tax. I understand this is a small business, but charging $10 for sampling after you buy the product? To me it's like paying a car rental fee for a test drive, even when you decide to buy the car. read more

Erica is the fucking best, great CLEAN alc with no additives. Super cutesies, quick service....request Erica

When you need a break from wine tasting, you must check out Cutler's. I'm a vodka lady and I absolutely love theirs. It's distilled seven times and oh soooo smooth. From the tasting room in the front, you can see into the actual distillery in the back with all of its stainless steel machines and contraptions. Fascinating. Currently open for tastings Thursday-Sunday however they plan on expanding their business hours in the near future. Another positive is that, on Friday and Saturday, they are open later than the tasting rooms. Ian(the owner) and Ron(his trusty assistant distiller) are both a joy and a wealth of knowledge. They also make an Apple Pie liqeuer, a Gin and a Bourbon, all of which are stellar. You can do a tasting of all or just one or two. For a special treat, check them out. read more

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I love this place and try to stop anytime I'm in town or traveling close by. I've taken several people here for tastings, all of which have enjoyed the experience. The bartender is super knowledgeable and I love the family history as well as the info on the alcohol. The Apple Pie Liqueur is not to be skipped. I drive 140 miles just to come get some. So good and smooth, not too sweet. read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - The front of the tasting counter has a peek into the distillery itself. - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Cutler's Artisan Spirits has grown into a Santa Barbara Funk Zone staple over the years and we locals love it! Family owned and operated with Ian Cutler at the helm. Everything Cutler's produces is amazing! Gin, Bourbon, Apple Pie Liqueur, and Vodka. Stop by their quaint Downtown tasting room in the Funk Zone and enjoy a tasting flight of everything they produce. These savory artisan spirits are distilled on site. Catch a glimpse of the action from a viewing window in the tasting room. You can also purchase your favorite bottles to take with you! Do you love warm, wintery cocktails? Here's a recipe for my very own hot holiday drink featuring Cutler's Apple Pie Liqueur & Bourbon: Danah's Hot Buttered Bourbon Apple Cider 1 - bottle of Cutler's Apple Pie Liqueur 1 - bottle of Cutler's Stage Coach Bourbon 1 - 32oz bottle of your favorite Apple Cider (or make your own from scratch) 2 - Cinnamon Sticks 1/2 Stick - Grass Fed Butter 1 - Navel Orange, sliced into rings Bring your apple cider to a low boil. Add cinnamon sticks, orange and butter and gently simmer for 10 - 15 minutes. Carefully pour warm contents into a large, insulated carafe. Add Cutler's Apple Pie Liqueur and Cutler's Stage Coach Bourbon. Stir and serve warm. (Garnish with a cinnamon stick, orange wedge or both if you like). *Want something a little less boozy? You can skip the bourbon or use less and it will still taste delicious. You can also add hot water to taste to dilute the alcohol or double up on your apple cider for a sweeter drink. This recipe makes a huge batch and is always a crowd pleaser but be careful, it goes down smooth and easy, yet packs a high alcohol punch that may leave you seeing dancing Santas if you drink too much! read more

I am obviously way overdue writing this review as we visited Cutler's Artisan Spirits (CAS) back in July 2018... I actually thought I had posted a review shortly after our visit, but I'll do my best to recollect our experience there. We did a one night bed & breakfast stay taking a round-trip train ride from San Diego to Santa Barbara. We stayed at the Beachfront Hilton Santa Barbara and got a pretty good idea why this locale is so popular. BUT, by far, our visit to CAS was the BEST and most remembered stop of all places we visited in SB! We did their $10 tasting and sampled some very good stuff of theirs, we really liked their Stagecoach Whisky, 33 Straight Bourbon, and most of all, their Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur! We're almost out of their Cold Brew Liqueur that we're starting to stress out since we've almost to the bottom of the bottle. Something like 32 lbs of coffee beans are used to make a barrel of their delicious Cold Brew liqueur. The super nice guy who helped us and one of the owners whose grandpa started their micro distillery were on hand to talk about their fine spirits, take photos with us, and give that 'personal touch' that you rarely see in much larger spirits distilleries these days. If you're ever in Santa Barbara and like whisky, gin, vodka, Bourbon, coffee liqueurs, etc., you HAVE TO VISIT Cutler's!!! You won't regret it and you may go home with a few of their delicious bottles to savor much longer. read more

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Wow! Santa Barbara has it's first Distillery!! This place is located in the Funk Zone (of course) right next to Figueroa Mountain Brewery. I was surprised it was open when I went by yesterday and only had a moment to pop in. They are currently tasting a Vodka that has been through seven distillations, a very good Bourbon and an Apple Pie, basically a vodka with apple, vanilla bean and a subtle cinnamon. Ian the owner and distiller is a great guy and fun to talk to! He comes from several generations of bootleggers and really know his stuff! His Grandfathers old still is sitting by the door as you walk in. Ian's equipment looks a little more state-of-the-art. It is an interesting business in that he can not charge for his tastings. He is also not allowed to sell his liquor. He can sell you the glass that use to have your taste though so I would STRONGLY recommend that you do that! If you like his booze there are places to buy it and bars that serve it locally. Please support this new Santa Barbara business by asking for it! read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Ian the owner and distiller at Cutler! - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Friendly staff. Good mixed drinks. Great gin and cold brew. The Apple is good but sweet and smooth so be careful, like apple juice with a hidden bite. read more

Not only well done liquor, but great explanation / tours. Well it may not be top tier yet, they are getting there and doing great for a small operation. Note - hours are limited and it's strictly a bare bones tasting and tour (no food / music / games or special events). When in the funk district, check them out! read more

Great booze. I accidentally left my jacket there. Silly me. I called to see if they had it. Had to call 2x to get a response. Our waitress that day was more interested in chatting to her friends. I had to go inside and find her to bring us water after she served us a flight. I should have known from her in inattentiveness that my jkt would not be located. Ian cutler called me after 2 calls to tell me they didn't find it. It is nice when people care and sux big time when they don't read more

Absolutely a fantastic experience, I am so glad that we hunted this place down. Their spirits are pretty great tasting but what made it even better was the hospitality of our host (I really wish I got his name), who was Waac my and friendly and very generous! Certainly will be back next time we are in town and will look for their Stage Coach Whiskey around me read more

This spot is a fabulous gem we didn't know about in Santa Barbara. We stumbled upon it on our recent trip from LA after getting a recommendation from a local bartender. Ian, the owner, was generous with his time; chatting about how he distills, his family legacy, and sharing drink recipes and holiday favorites. We really enjoyed the gin and bought a bottle to keep on our home bar - also picked up a bottle of the Apple Pie Liqueur which Ian recommended making a seasonal mimosa with. Can't wait to host some holiday parties and treat our guests to this family owned, California made liquor! read more

We were quite taken aback when we were presented with a bill for $40 for the four tiny plastic tasting shots the four of us had together of apple pie whiskey - more expensive than the $30 to purchase the entire bottle. Same price as the tasting flight of all five of their spirits. No comment from the proprietor to warn us of this. In fairness, the whiskey quality was good. read more

We stopped by Cutler's last evening and had an amazing tasting experience! Fantastic knowledge of the entire selection, detailed description of each bottle, and an overall fun experience. Highly recommend taking the time to visit Cutler's. You will be pleasantly surprised. read more

Tiny little place but a fun stop to start the night! We did the flight of spirits for $10. It includes 5 tastings (vodka, gin, bourbon, whiskey and their apple liquer -- yum!) The vodka and apple were my favorite. The woman who worked there was super friendly! read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Their distilled products are very good, but a little on the pricey side. Go for the sampler (5 small shots for $10) and find out which spirit works for you. read more

Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Spirits: Their vodka was good and lacked harsh acetone taste and burn. Their gin was unique but left the lingering taste of lemon cleaner in your mouth. Their whiskey and bourbon should be a hard pass for you and anyone who has any respect for whiskey, especially bourbon and rye. Why you would dilute perfectly good MGP stock to 86 proof is beyond me. What little flavor you could pull out was bland and muted at best. All their flavored variants are vodka based and what you would expect from that category of product. The cold brew tasted like the coffee you intended to drink after a long night of drinking but drank cold several hours later as a last resort to cure your blistering hangover. The apple pie was good if flavored, vodka-based liqour is your thing. Service and Presentation: The best part of visiting craft distilleries is not the fact that you'll usually pay double for a lesser or equivalent product that is usually younger in age. It's the unique approach/perspective on the spirits they produce and the passion they have for their brand. The gentleman who did our tasting could only answer basic questions about their vodka (since that's all he drinks apparently) and had a dull, tired, and apathetic demeanor that made me want to just pay for the crappy tasting and get out of there. Based on my experience, I don't know why anyone would ever come back. You might want to figure out your "why" because you clearly are not passionate about what you are doing now. read more

Love this place and the spirits. The gin is so smooth. Duncan and Ty, who run the tasting room, are great guys. They know their stuff. They are professional and personable. The wait staff, Cada, and Heather are exceptional also. I would highly recommend stopping by when you are visiting the SB Funk Zone and are a have had your fill of wine and beer. read more

Great product! Tastings with 6 bottles are $12 But you only get 1/4oz pour for each so you basically bought a $12 shot. I did enjoy the stage coach which was great! Then we still paid full price for both tastings Whelp they know they got a great product so they're gonna a milk ya read more

Came here with some friends from out of town. The tasting area is very small. There were 4 of us and we filled up the entire room. We sampled their vodka, gin, bourbon, and apple pie liquor. All were exceptional. I'm a big gin drinker and Hendrick's is my #1; however, I was in love with their gin. It has a nice citrus flavor. It's a shame they cannot sell their bottles at this location. Overall, the experience was nice. I would definitely come back. They also have a great 2 for 1 Axxess deal. read more

tiny place...super friendly! no seats...tasting is standing only. great use of time and clear and speedy explanations. Bought two types of whiskey, the apple pie and the stage coach. If you like whiskey, you must go in! they also make their own gin and vodka. the only thing that would make it better would be some chairs...but then I can see people simply hanging on to drink and that is probably NOT what the owner want! read more

I love this distillery!!! I think it is really cool that the owner, Ian, gives the tastings. He is so knowledgeable and friendly and for him, this is a family affair. He comes from a generation of distilling and even has his grandpa's old moonshine set up in the front. Their vodka, scotch and whiskey is all amazing and you can honestly taste the difference. It is like nothing I have ever drank before. I highly recommend the apple pie liquor because it is amazing and tastes like it was made with fresh apple pie! YUM!!!! Go here, stop in for a tasting, it is something fun and unique to do and this place is truly a gem in the funk zone! Cannot wait to come and bring friends! This is also a Santa Barbara Axxess deal, Buy one get one free tastings! $6.00 for two tastings and a few shots was well worth it! Thanks Ian, hope to see you soon! read more

The establishment is very small and clean, you will notice a small counter as soon as you enter with a few bottles, that the very kind man behind the counter assists you in tasting. Next to the counter, you will see a glass that offers a view of their distillery, everything is very clean! For $10 you get to taste 5 liquors. The ones that stood-out to me were the vodka, from which you will appreciate the smoothness; and the Grandma's apple pie whiskey...the sweet taste of freshly baked, cinnamony apples will have you craving more...the only thing I lament is the fact that you cannot purchase any of their bottles there due to a law that apparently states that distilleries have to place two middlemen between their product and the buyer??? (ie wholesaler and retail store). Anyway, I have made it a point to purchase one of their bottles as soon as I find a retailer that carries them. Enjoy! read more