You've probably seen Blade Gin or Rusty Blade Gin around the Bay. These two gins (and more) are produced by Old World Spirits which operates out of a garage in an industrial park in Belmont. Don't judge just because it's an industrial park, this place is a tight, efficient operation and makes great use of it's space. It's got a huge copper still that makes everything from gin to rye whiskey to brandies to absinthe. On Friday nights you can get a tour and tasting for $15. Because of California law, spirits cannot be sold at the distillery, except wine/grape based brandies. The Blade gin is a citrusy gin with a lot of complexity but not much strong juniper flavor that turns most people off. The Rusty Blade is the same Blade gin that is aged in barrels which brings out more cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. It's very much a winter spirit in my opinion. The pear eau de vie brandy really packs a punch with a lot of great pear flavor and though I'm not really a fan of eau de vies this one is a great one. Also, make sure you try the walnut liqueur, based on a Croatian family recipe, for something different. Finally, yes, absinthe, real absinthe, is now legal in the US and you can taste La Sorcière here. It's a great traditional absinthe with a lot of anise flavor. The distiller who gave us the tour and the tasting was really nice and knowledgable. It was a great experience and I encourage everyone to visit once. read more

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In order for you to enjoy a tasting here, you need to enjoy straight liquor old school style. Seeing that I drink just about the peatiest Scotches out of Islay, this was no issue for me. For some of my friends, not so much :) Tried the following: -Pear Brandy - 2 different Peach Brandies -Blade Gin -2 Absinthe -Framboise liquor -126 Proof Brandy now the last two weren't on the flight list but the owners were such nice guys that they started pulling stuff out of the reserves to entertain us. That is good hospitality. I suggest you patronize them on the service alone and it's nice that they make some solid products to boot. The crowd was much rowdier than I had expected but then I realized that Devil's Canyon event happened at the same time so I'm sure you're getting some of that crowd too. Though I guess it was interesting and good people watching to see what is normally straight, boring Belmont turn into a raucous party. read more

Our group had a reservation for my friend's bachelor party. My friend who organized the whiskey tasting paid and confirmed the appointment with them. The day of, they simply never showed up. Can you imagine showing up, pumped about your friend's bachelor party, and then the shitty feeling that follows because this place was too unprofessional to get their shit together? My friend contacted the manager Davorion, who at first was accommodating and offered us a free tasting to make up for their mistake. Told us they had us down for Saturday, not Friday. Then suddenly he got back to her a few days later, said that she had never paid and there was no confirmation. Funny, then why did they have us down for Saturday if they had no confirmation. My friend sent him a screenshot of THEIR confirmation email for the Friday appointment, so he went back to saying he'd give us a free tasting. Well, it's been weeks now and he won't respond to our emails to set up the appointment. Lousy customer service, they don't deserve anyone's business. read more

A Local Distillery up the road from our LoveNest? Awesome. We love bringing our friends in to do tastings on the last Friday of each month! It's $15 for a flight and you get a personalized group tour through each spirit. If it weren't for tasting 6 types of their 94 proof on avg spirits I'm sure I could tell you the names of the guys we had the pleasure of meeting! haha We met the creator of all the fine spirits! He was very laid back and eager to tell us about the processes and flavors he added to his unique creations. Blade Gin was my gateway into being a Gin Lover. I love Blade chilled with a touch of zest of lemon. Another interesting Gin we got to try is his new AGED Gin called Rusty Blade. It's an amber color and tastes like Christmas in a glass! It most certainly warms you from the inside out. I had to shake my head pretty hard to get back to reality after that one. The Absinthe is another wonderful and favored experience. If you're nice they will even let you FAIRIE up your own glass. I love watching my Faeries clouding up the glass. Then that special touch of Lemon Zest again and I'm on Cloud 9. We bought a few bottles this time to give as festive Christmas gifts. Our guests even surprised us with a bottle of Blade (SNEAKY THEY ARE!!) that night when we got back to our place. Apparently I had raved enough about it that they just knew it would make a great host gift as Thankyou for their stay with us over the Holiday weekend. We love going here and will certainly return again over and over. I've never stopped in on a Saturday, but I just might have to check it out. Perhaps the VIP service I already feel like we get there when it's crowded might just put the experience right over the top? Old World Spirits can enter my temple anytime... read more

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I love trying Distillery's as they are creating great new spirits. Per the website for Old World Spirits you had to make a reservation and pay $16 a per person for a tour and tasting. We arrived a little early for our "tour". There was a large group of people there for a tasting so we were told to join the current group. There was no tour, just a tasting. John (I believe that was his name) was a bit overwhelmed with the large group of people. He was there by himself. He was great with our group and answered our questions about the different spirits we tried. The gin was decent (I enjoy Bourbon/Whiskey more but enjoyed trying the absinthe. The tasting area is pretty small so can't hold too many people all at once. Met some nice people while tasting. Not sure about paying $16 to taste since there was no tour but John did a great job with dealing with our group and another large group that was coming in after us. read more

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I like gin, and generally have a gin and tonic on occasion. But the Rusty Blade gin is a nice sipping gin with some wonderful flavors from the cask it was stored in (yes, this is an unusual process). And their absinthe rocks too. They have tastings on Fridays that you can go to if you schedule this in advance. It is a very cozy distillery (but what else would you expect in BELMONT). And if you taste a little too much there is a nice/casual mexican restaurant across the street--before you hop in your car. How convenient. And by the way, making a reservation before you come is a very good idea, particularly if you are going out of your way to get here. read more

It looks like a small warehouse. Not really where you would expect a tasting room. I only got to try the Pear brandy, Walnut liqueur, clear Absinthe and Blade gin. 4 different kinds of alcohol, I wonder why the reviews said they got to try more. I was hoping I can get something new for my mixing experiments but I think they only pull out more products if you're female or something. The pours were around 1 ounce, it didn't take more than 15 minutes for the entire tasting and there was only one couple doing the tasting. The only reason I was there is to try out Blade gin anyway for mixing and it is quite fragrant with the scent of citrus oils, peels and definitely a good substitute for gin based drinks since a lot of people don't go for the juniper heavy gin. Kind of a bummer since they don't sell this here due to some constraints. I'll stick to Hendricks gin. I hope they have more products for tastings in the future, other than that, I don't see a reason to go here when you have bigger venues and more products in places like St George Spirits in Alameda. read more

I was introduced to this place by some friends, and we decided to try one of their Friday tastings -- I'm glad I went! We did the flight which included five different tasting, including a pear brandy, their Blade brand gin, a clear absinthe, and a walnut liqueur. I ended up buying a bottle of the pear brandy to diversify my drinks at home a bit, and the owner/master distiller was kind enough to autograph the bottle for me -- very cool! The place is run by family/friends, and it definitely shows through in their excellent service and hospitality. It's also super cool that they source local ingredients for all their spirits. The staff was very courteous, explained each of the drinks, and were generous with the pours. We also got to try a few things not on the tasting menu, including a cocktail containing the walnut liqueur and a brandy, as well as the 'regular' (non clear) absinthe. I preferred the normal absinthe to the clear -- it had a lot more anise flavor. The clear is still good though, especially if you aren't a fan of the strong herbal flavor usually found in absinthe. Overall, just a fantastic place to meet up and hang out at after a long day at work. I was really impressed with the experience and can't wait to go back again! read more

Tucked away in an industrial complex in Belmont you will find "Old World Spirits". It's not really well known, but the complex itself has slowly been taken over by various beverage companies.... Devils Canyon- Plenty of Yelp Reviews on them- The best beer around! Golden Star Tea Company (You can get it at whole foods) - No retail or tasting shop, but it is made here.. I've tried it a few times... Tasty Mayfield Brewing Company- They do a thing where they age their beer in wine barrels for a very unique taste. And most recently, Old World Spirits... The last Beer Friday at Devil's Canyon, I walked over and was introduced to the folks at Old World Spirits. What a great group of people! Not knowing much about how to distill various spirits, they not only provided a tasting of their various products, but educated me on how its made and the various nuances of their products. It appears they are still getting off the ground as a new company, but I'm sure they will start to show up at your local bar and retailer. The next time your at Beer Friday, walk on over and get to know the folks at Old World Spirits.... Their Absinthe (sp) is good stuff! read more

This tiny little distillery is STUPID good. It's family owned & operated (they invite friends & family over for "bottling parties") & everything is done according to old world Croatian tradition. The pear eau de vie was amazing! Super fragrant & made with tons (and tons) of local pears. Both of the peach versions were to die for as well (we got to taste a little fresh out of the still - soooo good); the aged version is the first to be made in something like 85 years, meaning we can finally have a properly made mint julep! A few of the high end cocktail bars in the area are starting to carry it, so look for it there. Their framboise liqueur was delicious as well - you could have it as dessert. I am not a big gin drinker but I really, -really- enjoyed their Blade bottling. Instead of beating you over the head with juniper, it has a lot of really nice citrus & non-juniper herbal notes as well (notably terragon, of which I'm a big fan). It made a fantastic corpse reviver. They are also doing an aged gin (!), which was unbelievable. (Still in barrels currently, but I hear that K&L has purchased all of it, so keep an eye out!) I don't care for absinthe much but they make two different bottles - one for to sipping straight (green), and one that's probably more suited for mixing in cocktails (blue). Last but not least, they make a walnut liqueur that is absolutely TO DIE FOR. Seriously. One taste & you'll want to spend the holidays curled up by the fire with a glass (or bottle), or add a few teaspoons to your coffee. For your drinker friends, there could be no better holiday gift. Best of all, it runs in the high twenties, which, trust me, is an absolute *steal*. I believe the current batch was recently bottled, so look for it at K&L as well. If you want to sample their wears, check them out after 5 pm on the last Friday of every month - they do "Friday Flights" in conjunction with Devil's Canyon Brewery just across the parking lot. A gem!!! read more

After reading about this place, some friends and my hubby and i decided to check it out last Friday evening. It's in a totally unsuspecting industrial area in Belmont, but there are some other booze tasting places there too, and the signage helps you find it. We got there near the end of their tasting hours, and it was a bit chaotic and packed. I kind of pushed my way through and got a spot at the counter for my friends, my hubby, and myself. Service was slow, and when the rest of our friends showed up, we had a hard time flagging someone down to start their tasting. The people working there were fairly pleasant, and the price was reasonable for the amount you got to taste. Tasting straight liquor wasn't quite my thing. It was really strong, and kind of harsh, i might have enjoyed it more when i was in my early 20's. It was something different to do, and you won't know if you like unless you try it! read more

Just made my second trip here and this place is awesome. I walked in about 7 pm on a Friday nite and was the only one in the place except for the distiller Todd who was just finishing up a batch of gin. Although within 10 minutes the place was packed. Funny thing was no one knew anyone else but in 10 minutes time we were all chatting like old friends. Some how this place just makes you meet and greet everyone around you. The explanations of the process were spot on, not only for the still but also for the spirits. Tasted 7 different spirits plus the little "cocktail" at the end. $15 bucks for a flight and I have to say the pours are more than generous. The decor leaves a little to be desired but hey you are in a warehouse what do you expect? Very limited seating so plan on doing a lean against the bar or just standing. Will be coming back again and I want to try one of the "last" Friday of the month nites when I hear the crowds are a bit bigger. Also I was glad I decided to come on Friday nite, as I was considering going Saturday afternoon instead as I was on the e-mail list and received a e-mail saying they were now open every Friday as well as Saturday. I came to find out that the Saturdays have been discontinued, so I would have missed out. read more

I LOVE Old World Spirits! This place is so much fun! The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is warm and the drinks are out of this world. What concoction will you come up with next? Well, whatever it is, I will be first in line...See you on the next Friday Flights with anticipation :-) Cheers! read more

I just had the most amazingly unexpected enjoyable experience at Old World. For $10 you can taste 7 or 8 different boozes (I couldn't count anymore after the first 2 tastings). Take a designated driver or share a tasting with a person that will just take a sip from your chalice. I hate gin and they had an amazing gin that I liked even pure! They can't sell you a bottle of the gin there because of licenses (you have to buy at a liquor store). But all the other alcohols you can buy there. The absinthe is very interesting and it's NOT green. The green stuff is so nasty! So, every last Friday of the month they have the tasting event. check it out! read more

I visited the distillery in a rainy Friday and had a "private" tasting with a friend. Lots of love are put In the making of these spirits and the Rusty Blade gin tastes like nothing I've had before. Great for sipping or in a cocktail. read more

Tried the Friday Flights on 9/30 and walked out with 2 bottles to enjoy at home. Great atmosphere and very friendly staff. The various concoction of drinks were phenomenal. The Master Distiller, Darvorin came out and met with clients and even made a special drink for me and my wife. read more

We didn't get to try this place even though we got there at the last Friday of the month of June right after it was scheduled to be opened according to the website. When we arrived at the place a little after 5:30pm , the place was closed. We called the place three times to talk to someone but no one picked up. We also checked the website before heading there to verify the days and times that they are open, and I even put it on my calendar weeks before so we wouldn't forget. It was a bummer because we planned our whole day around this. We hope they would be more forthcoming of when they will be closed. Was really excited to check them out. read more

Old World Spirits is a gem of a find. I read previous yelp reviews and decided to try it out on my own. I walked to what looked like Willy Wonka's factory. As you walk in there is a beautiful copper still staring right at you. This place is by no means "industrial". I spend about an hour tasting their products. I guess Croatians really know how to produce good stuff. Davorin Kuchan is the Master Distiller and has a beautiful array of products including Blade Gin, Rusty Blade Gin which is the first barrel aged gin produced in United States, Goldrun 100% Rye Whiskey, Kuchan Nocino and two styles of absinthe called La Sorciere Verte and Bleue. The staff is well versed and knowledgeable and not to mention quite the handsome group. This place is great for a date or out with your friends. I recommend calling and making a reservations. You can find Blade Gin, Rusty Blade Gin and Goldrun 100% Rye Whiskey and La Sorciere Absinthe at BevMo. I stopped by my local BevMo the next day and picked up the whole line. I can happily say that my back bar at home is now complete. Oh by the way, they are opened every Friday from 5:30-8pm. read more

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Old World Sprits is a about to blow up! If you're sick of the same old bar or pub scene, try something different, go to one of the OWS open houses for a tasting. Similar to a boutique winery setting Davorin open the doors to the distillery and hosts a "Buddha-lounge" like party where for $10 you can taste the flight of Spirits he makes on site. The sights and smells will hit you in the parking lot- old whiskey oak barrels, cooked pear and faint traces of steamed herbs will greet you before your first taste. He makes four Eau de Vie (infused brandy for those unfamiliar) William Pear, O'Henry Peach, Indian Blood Peach and Black Walnut. The Walnut which calls for green Black Walnuts is my personal favorite. He also makes a excellent Gin called Blade, beautiful to sip w/ a twist or Martini of course. His signature are his two varieties of Absinthe, Green and Blue ~ Sorciere is the name. They are a most unforgettable experience, I love both. Davorin and his staff will educate you on the art and science of distilling as you warm you innards with the product. Sales are direct to public at the distillery in Belmont (anytime it's open) or you can pick up his line at K&L Wine Merchants. The list of distributors is growing every week so look for them a finer Spirit purveyors. Check it out, for the ultra-premium spirits and one of a kind Boutique Distillery experience. read more

WOW! OWS is the place to be on the last Friday of the month! A place where you can try an Eau De Vie-water of life-brandy distilled with pear, and Blood Indian Peaches and O'Henry Peach, amazing! I don't have the guts to by in a bar but have wanted to try. For $10, not only do you get theses 3 but you get to try thier Blade Gin, and Bleue Absinthe and Verte Absinthe!! It is truly an experience you need to come and have!! Great people behind the bar pouring and educating us, and the Master Disteller Davorian Kuchan is there to meet in person! read more