Bottles will available starting March 10th exclusively through the Venus Spirits online shop and will be able to be shipped throughout California.
SANTA CRUZ, California, February 28, 2022– Venus Spirits will be expanding the line of El Ladrón agave spirits with a new release made entirely from agave grown in Yolo County California, fermented and distilled in Santa Cruz, CA. The spirit, aptly named Yolo, will be among the first agave spirits that has been distilled in California using only California grown agave. It will also be the first California agave spirit released using traditional pit roasting techniques.
Venus Spirits collaborated with Craig Reynolds of California Agave Ventures and Muller Ranch to harvest 6000 pounds of agave from the farm located in Yolo County, CA. Sean Venus is looking to the future of California agave, and says “we are very excited to partner up with Craig Reynolds of California Agave Ventures and Muller ranch. There is a growing movement to plant agave in California, which offers a unique opportunity for farmers to transition to drought resistant agriculture”. After harvesting the six and seven year old plants, the piñas were pit roasted over almond wood in traditional earthen hornos for seven days. The Venus team unearthed the roasted piñas and transported them from Yolo County to the Venus Spirits distillery in Santa Cruz where they were processed and the juice was extracted. After a ten-day fermentation with house agave yeast, El Ladrón Yolo was double distilled in a hand pounded copper alembic still and allowed to rest in stainless steel drums for six months before bottling.
The final spirit has a soft smoky quality that pays respect to traditional mezcal, while also creating a flavor profile that is completely unique. Notes of tropical fruit, cinnamon and black pepper round out the finish. Due to the limited bottling, El Ladrón Yolo will be available exclusively through the Venus Spirits tasting room and online shop, with shipping throughout California. The limited release will retail for $90 per 750ml bottle, and will launch Saturday, March 12 during a release party at Venus Spirits’ tasting room. The celebration will feature music by DJ CongaBoi, food by El Rey León and salsa dancing performances by Lulu and the Lushes. Join us from 1pm to 4pm, 200 High Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Tasting notes
Nose: sweet, pineapple, passionfruit Palate: subtle smoke, juicy
Finish: cinnamon, black pepper
Cook method: Pit roasted over almond wood
Cook temp: 171-190 degrees Fahrenheit
Cook Days: June 3, 2021 – June 11, 2021 Fermentation: 10 day fermentation with house agave yeast Distillation: Double distilled
Aging: Neutral aging for 6 months Proof: 84 proof, 42% ABV
About Venus Spirits
Founded in 2013 by Sean Venus, Venus Spirits is located in Santa Cruz, California. Venus Spirits currently produces Wayward Whiskey, Venus Spirits Gin, Aquavit, Vodka and El Ladrón Blue Agave Spirits and Rum. Venus also produces a line of canned cocktails including gin gimlet, mule, and gin & tonic. Distributed throughout California by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, these three brands and canned cocktails are available at fine locations across the state.
Venus Spirits is located in the Westside neighborhood in Santa Cruz. The 11,500 square foot warehouse is home to the distillery, tasting room and restaurant, Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen. The restaurant opened in the summer of 2020, and features a full cocktail menu along with from scratch snacks, share plates, salads, mains and desserts.
About Sean Venus, Founder & Distiller
Sean attended the University of Oregon during the initial renaissance of craft beer and began working as an assistant brewer at the age of twenty. He held various positions with other breweries in Eugene and spent six years with Gordon Biersch Brewing in San Jose, CA. For the next eight years he worked for several organic food companies.
Inspired by his love of whiskey, Sean made the decision to start a craft distillery in Santa Cruz in 2012. After finding a site, procuring equipment and completing all the necessary paperwork, distilling began in May of 2014. Venus Spirits now produces fourteen different spirits and operates a tasting room where visitors can enjoy tastings or a cocktail.
