Subtle Spirits is more than your traditional independent bottler. Part spirits purveyor, part alchemist, I mix in some creative magic to deliver you an experience that extends beyond the glass, canvas, or mind. Each of my limited releases starts with an idea or story, brought to life by original artwork produced in collaboration with artists that I admire.

Getting into the spirits business requires more than just capital, though it does require a lot of that. Originality or having a good palate is a negotiable qualification. But what is not negotiable is the stamina to surmount the archaic, ambiguously and contradictory legal and regulatory frameworks before you can begin doing any business. Or so it seemed.

Forgoing any initial investment in the business kept me in 100% control, but bootstrapping the brand into fruition proved to be a long and grueling process. Thankfully, many of my friends in this industry supported me. Whether it was granting me access to in-demand single casks programs, passing through casks in distribution, allowing me to continue to sell to my customers through their retail shops, or straight up allowing me to buy whiskey directly from them, I couldn’t have done it without the help of these people. And that is especially true for all those who supported me by buying the bottles! I kept it tight-knit for the last couple of years, selling to my email list only while I got all the remaining parts together for bottling and distributing my product in California. My fifth original release, and very first blend, Quixotic marks my first foray into statewide self-distribution in CA.

Quix·ot·ic \ kwikˈsädik \ adjective

The impractical pursuit of ideals, especially those ideals manifested by rash, lofty and romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action. It also serves to describe an idealism without regard to practicality. Quixotism is usually related to "over-idealism", meaning an idealism that doesn't take consequence or absurdity into account. It is also related to naïve romanticism and utopianism.

In the 17th century, the term quixotic was used to describe a person who does not distinguish between reality and imagination. The etymology of the word began after the publication of Don Quixote in 1605. In the novel, written by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the hero Don Quixote dreams up a romantic ideal world that he believes to be real. His adventures while acting on this idealism famously lead him into imaginary fights with windmills, who he addressed as giants, resulting in the metaphor of ‘tilting at windmills’.

The Quixotic artwork gracing the label of the bottle was created by surrealist painter Laura Colors. There are many references to “three” within the piece signifying the three barrels that went into the blend, like the dice showing the number, the three mushrooms growing on the trunk, the three of clubs, or in this case, oak leaves dancing on the branches. The symbolism of the bears goes beyond the obvious California connection as they represent what most cultures consider to be the supreme spiritual inhabitants of the forest kingdom.

Quixotic is perhaps the most aptly named title I’ve put on a bottle so far. The word symbolizes the trials and triumphs I’ve faced while founding and building my spirits brand. Being an entrepreneur requires you to pursue your goals with fervor and zeal, oftentimes so quixotic in nature that it could be considered delusional. It requires an unwavering trust in your vision, despite all obstacles, real or imagined, that come your way.

A limited number of Quixotic collector editions are available on OpenSea. Each set includes a numbered and signed wax-dipped bottle, corresponding archival print hand-embellished by the artist, and a digital certificate of authenticity (NFT).

Read the Quixotic tasting notes.

The Story of Quixotic