San Jose is a city that’s become notable for its cultural diversity, technological innovation, scorching weather, and in recent years, its drinking and distillery scene.

While many people travel to this wonderful corner of California for its tranquil beaches and downtown shopping district, a lot of them stay for much longer than they first anticipated, so that they have enough time to experience all the attractions that San Jose has to offer.

If you’re someone who has a particular fondness for exploring distilleries that have been crafting delightful spirits and cocktails for decades, you aren’t going to want to miss out on paying a visit to San Jose, especially when the Mediterranean climate hits in the summer.

Here is your full San Jose distillery travel guide that will tell you where you can find the most popular distilleries in San Jose, what the city is like as a whole, and the best ways to enjoy your visit.

An Introduction To San Jose

Known by many in the tech world as the “Capital of Silicon Valley”, San Jose has kept up with the times incredibly well, being the home of futuristic technology and innovation in America since the early 20th century.

Because San Jose was known worldwide as the center of pioneering innovation, people flocked from far and wide to live there, creating an incredibly diverse and multicultural community that only continues to grow and diversify as the years pass by.

Of course, being in California and right at the edge of the San Francisco Bay, San Jose still contains plenty of jaw-dropping natural landscapes which can be found by traveling a bit further out from the city, so there’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do.

Local Distilleries In San Jose

No matter where you are in San Jose, whether it’s in the market square or even on the sandy beaches, you won’t be far from a big and beautiful distillery. Here are a few of the best local distilleries within San Jose that you need to see for yourself.

10th Street Distillery

The folks at the 10th Street Distillery have been serving up some of the richest and smoothest whiskey to the locals of San Jose for over a decade, and now, it’s time for you to try some for yourself.

You can partake in their tasting test between the hours of 1pm and 6pm on Fridays and Sundays, which gives you the opportunity to enjoy some mouthwatering beverages, including the fan-favorite double-distilled peated single malt.

All the drinks available at 10th Street are crafted so that they retain that familiar essence of California, having an incredibly uplifting and refreshing flavor to each of them.

If you thoroughly enjoy your time spent at the distillery, you can even sign up to join the 10th Street Whiskey Club where you will be able to take home a few bottles each year for yourself, alongside being involved in plenty of events.

South Bay Spirits

As San Jose’s very first craft distillery, South Bay has had many years to expand its catalog of spirits, to the point where the selection can seem a little overwhelming at first glance.

However, Eric and his friendly team offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy these luxurious spirits for themselves in the tasting room which you can visit after booking a place on their website.

On special occasions, the staff also offer visitors the chance to tour around the distillery for themselves so that they can see how the spirits have been distilled for so many years through a mixture of traditional techniques, and modern equipment.

You can find South Bay Spirits on Quinn Avenue right next to the Splash Lab Bay Area and the Acanthus Cabinetry Inc.

Essential Spirits Alambic Distilleries

Located at the end of Whisman Road in Mountain View, this micro-distillery has been running since 1996 and is extremely popular among San Jose and San Francisco citizens.

While it offers all the usual services including taste tests for its award-winning spirits and a tour of the building, the team at Essential Spirits also prides itself on teaching others how to get started in the distilling business through guidance and light training.

With 15 years of experience, the team knows very well that it’s not enough to make a beverage that simply tastes nice, it’s got to be something that you, the person in charge of the whole operation, are proud to make for your customers too.
State Fees And Licenses

Finding The Correct License

Under the Californian Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, a person trying to sell or advertise alcohol will need to register for a license, and while this can be done fairly easily, you will need to make sure that you apply for the correct license since there are over 50 of them.

Here are a few examples of the types of licenses you will find, and what privileges they will grant you:

• On-sale beer license – Permits the sale of beer only
• On-sale beer and wine license – Permits the sale of beer and wine only
• Off-sale beer and wine license – Permits the sale of beer and wine for consumption off the premises
• Off-sale general license – Permits the sale of beer, wine, and spirits for off-the-premises consumption

You can also find more specific licenses, such as the On-Sale General Eating Place License, which will allow you to sell beer, wine, and spirits consumed in restaurants.

If you’re hoping to open up a business or establishment that sells alcohol, this will also need to be inspected after the application has been sent.

Sales Tax Permit

You will also need a valid seller’s permit for sales tax which can be retrieved from the State Board of Equalization. You will require this permit in order to be able to register for a liquor license.

Prices

An application fee for a general license can range from $900 for non-priority up to $17,000 for a priority license.

Non-general licenses tend to be a lot cheaper, with fees usually costing between $100 and $900, while premise-to-premise transfer fees can vary wildly depending on the nature of the premise and its current condition.

Distillery Laws And Restrictions

Distillery owners in San Jose, and California as a whole, are not allowed to distill any ethanol alcohol without a permit under federal law.

Under the newly introduced Craft Distillers Opportunity Act, visitors to distilleries are now able to buy bottles of spirits without tasting them first, which they were forced to do under the previous act.

This is designed to make life a little easier for smaller distilleries that may not even have tasting rooms available.

The CA Craft Distillers Act of 2015 was when distilleries in California were first allowed to sell up to three bottles of distilled spirits per visitor which were only allowed to be offered at an instructional viewing.

Now that the laws have progressed and developed though, California craft distillers now have the same privileges as wineries and breweries. Craft distillers are also allowed to host private events where they can sell their spirits and provide 1.5-ounce tasting samples to guests.

What Else Is There To Do In San Jose?

Aside from the beloved local distilleries, San Jose is also home to many other visitor attractions that you can feast your eyes on during your visit. Here are some parts of San Jose that are often considered a must-visit by many people who have already been there.

Explore The Winchester Mystery House

The eccentric widow millionaire Sarah Winchester first began building this magnificent mansion back in 1886, and once it was finally finished after 36 years, she unfortunately passed away, leaving behind a building full of mystery and intrigue.

With over 2,000 doors, peculiar-looking photos, and a staircase leading to nowhere, this house makes for a fun and memorable visit.

Spectate The Opera San Jośe

The Opera San Jośe is San Jose’s artist company that appears to perform for spectators once every year. Some of their most popular performances include The Tale of the Flying Dutchman and the classic Cosi Fan Tutte.

Visit The Luxurious Hotel Valencia

If you ever take a walk across Santana Row, you will see the jaw-dropping Hotel Valencia, a hotel that has been designed in a way to make every guest feel as comfortable and stress-free as possible as soon as they step foot through the front door.

Whether you try out some of the spectacular wine options available or cozy up with a cocktail near the campfire, there are many ways to kick back and relax at this magnificent hotel.

Take A Load Off In The Municipal Rose Garden

This historic garden is packed full of natural beauty, with over 3,000 types of shrubs and hundreds of rose varieties. When you’re taking a break from the busy nature of the city, this is the perfect place to relax and let your worries wash away.

Summary

The technological hub of San Jose is a beautiful place to visit, especially now that its alcohol and distillery scene is more popular than ever.

So, if you are keen to try out some fresh, newly crafted spirits from the heart of Silicon Valley for yourself, it might be time to start organizing your trip right now!