Goleta Red Distilling Company

Wow. Talk about a hidden GEM. Finding and entering this place feels like its own adventure. I'd never been to a distillery so I wasn't sure what to expect the first time I came. There was a very small bar/lounge area tucked away in this industrial building, Michael the owner warmly greeted our group of three and made us some cocktails with his handcrafted spirits. Proudly displayed along the walls were all of the awards his spirits have won in various contests. He gave us a tour of the distillery and all of the machines he uses and explained the processing for each spirit. It's really clear that this is a passionate artist who has honed his craft and enjoys sharing his excitement and art with others. You can tell that the end result is a high quality product.

Gin is certainly the specialty here and it's pretty outstanding stuff. Usually if I sniff any old bottle of gin, it's not a pleasant experience but one whiff of this gin makes me want to inhale again. It's probably the only spirits I would bring to a fancy party or make craft cocktails at home with.

I'm so glad to see Goleta Red spirits in local bars like the Goodland, I'd recommend any local or tourist to stop by for a tasting or try a craft cocktail for a real local experience!

The very definition of a hidden gem! Yelp CM Richie brought me here and it was the perfect spot to grab a quiet drink and catch up.

Michael is a sweetheart and really knows his stuff when it comes to distilling! He's won a bunch of awards and has a great selection of spirits. They offer samples of anything you'd like to try and make bespoke cocktails to your tastes.

I had a lemony gin cocktail -- similar to a gimlet -- made with their barrel aged gin. I'm a bit gin fan and have attended a lot of gin tastings so I have some firm favorites. This one is up there with the best.

It's a really cozy space with room to hang out and chat at the bar or a high or low top. They also have a pool table. It was great to see some local art on the walls.

At $10 a cocktail it's totally reasonable too.

Pay them a visit!

What a gem! So many fun inventive spirits. The classics Michael produces are absolutely top notch. Why by from a liquor store when I can walk down the street?

Recently dropped in to taste Michael's Cachaça (although he can't legally market it is such) in a Caipirinha. By far the most authentic recreation I've tasted State side. I'll be coming back for more!

This tiny distillery, which definitely gave me speakeasy vibes is not a place to miss out on!
The owner was very friendly as he told us about his passion, why he is in the business and how he loves to put his heart & soul into making every drink!

He made me a custom daiquiri that was super tasty along with two other drinks that were given to my friends. Though this is place is small, it has a lot of might and a great atmosphere!

After meeting owner Michael at a past Yelp Elite event, where he shared several of his hand crafted cocktails, and his line up of Agave Spirit, Gin, Rum, Rum Liqueur, and Vodka, I was blown away at how amazing each glass tasted. And then so nice to hear about his company being Goleta's ONLY Craft Distillery.

I wanting to dazzle some So Cal friends with some new cocktail recipes, and so I took several bottles of their Barrel Rested Gin, and we all had the best couple of nights celebrating with Martinis (dirty and otherwise), Old Fashions, and Fizzes and Gimlets.

Their little distillery tasting room is quite a hidden gem, but definitely worth a trip to be there in person to taste through their delicious flights, and to also hear about their success story.

Easiest way to find them is either the Storke Road or Los Carneros exits off of Hwy 101, they are between Hollister Avenue and 101. A trip well worth making.

Fellow Goletians, come on out and support someone who loves this town, makes amazing spirits, and will charm you with his stories and knowledge. What a wonderful hidden gem. Down one hall, to the left follow the signs, open the door and experience Michael's passion for handcrafted spirits. This was our first time, and we chose to sample a drop of his spirits straight, not mixed, this way we could really experience what he has created. I highly recommend doing this. Like a good bottle of wine, we could appreciate the nose of each spirit as well as the flavor; so complex. My wife and I had a blast. We left with a bottle of the gin. It was so herbaceous, so good, I may just sip it straight at home. We also left with a bottle of the Amaro. Other favorites of mine were the Fiesta Agave Spirit and Solid Gold Rum that rests with Oak cubes before being bottled. Crazy! Can't wait to go back!

I first learned about this place at a Yelp event. The drinks were so good I had to check this place out for myself! This place is definitely one of the hidden gems of Goleta and it is a wonderful, nice little area. I came to the distillery with two friends and had to try the pina colada. Michael, the owner, is just so friendly too. He stayed open a little passed closing time to make us some drinks. His cocktails look amazing and his vodka/rum is to die for. I am definitely coming back again soon and taking all my friends here!

Needed sanitizing hand rub and also grabed some Gin while I was here. I've never actually bought a bottle of Gin, but the owner recommended so I thought why not! Now i frolic around singing Snoop Dogg's Gin & Juice song with this tasty bottle of Gin. During Christmas I purchased a bottle rum and that was delicious too. I can't wait for my next purchase!

We searched for local breweries and this place popped up with other results randomly. We decided to add it to our "tour" and were not disappointed.

We were greeted and immediately seated. The list of offerings was varied and the tasting was very reasonably priced. One of our favorite things about the experience was the knowledge, enthusiasm and passion that Michael, the owner, exudes.

We hadn't planned on it, but ended up purchasing the Fiesta 100% Agave Spirit. There were others we loved, but this was so unique that it went home with us.

We puréed some frozen blueberries and added the Fiesta. What. A. Treat. This spirit has an incredible flavor and mixes well with any fruit (though there are other ways to mix it - we just thought we'd try it this way as a summer treat).

Can't say enough about this place and the offerings. We'll be back!

Awesome new find in Goleta!

While I appreciate the number of craft breweries that have popped up in our little town as of late, I was delighted to hear that we'd be getting a venue of similar caliber, but with hard alcohol. Cool!

The location is rather unsuspecting, which certainly attributes to the "funk" vibe of these sorts of spots. It's smack dab in the middle of a commercial business plaza neighborhood, hidden a few blocks from the main road. Other than neighboring M. Special brewery, there is virtual no other after-hours action in this sleepy part of town. Parking is plentiful, with a number of off-street spaces complemented by loads of street parking. You won't have trouble procuring a spot.

The entrance is small and you'll be directed down a long corridor before entering the venue. I can tell that the building accommodates office folk during the day. Once you're in the doors of Goleta Red, you're transformed into an entirely new oasis.

The place is surprisingly large, with a number of open rooms accompanied by a back patio area accessible through a roll-up door. It's very industrial-feeling which I enjoyed.

All of the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I learned that the business is open five evenings a week for tastings, which you can enjoy in their front bar room. You can also purchase their libations by the bottle. I was made both a frozen piña colada and a hot buttered rum - both were very good.

The next time you're looking for a good after-work spot in Goleta, check this place out!