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Blinking Owl
Founded
2016
Region
California, USA
Status
Closed
Company
Production type
Various
Blinking Owl was an American craft distillery, opened in Santa Ana, California in 2016 and named after an infamous dive bar that formerly traded in the town. It was the first craft distillery to open in the state's Orange County, and was founded by husband-and-wife team, Brian and Robin Christenson. The former is the great-grandson of Fred P. Armbrust, a prohibition era bootlegger.
The distillery produced a number of different spirit types which it marketed under the Blinking Owl brand name. Its first casks of whiskey were filled in 2018 however it closed shortly after in 2023, citing financial difficulties caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Blinking Owl brand name was used to market all of the spirit types produced at the distillery. Its debut offering included aquavit, vodka and a flavoured vodka called OC Orange. These were later supplemented by gin, straight bourbon and straight rye whiskey.
The distillery laid down its first casks of whiskey in February 2018 and bottled it for the first time in 2020.
2016-2023
Blinking Owl Distillery
802 E Washington Avenue
Santa Ana
CA 92701
USA
2013
2016
2018
2020
2023
Blinking Owl Distillery LLC is founded by Brian and Robin Christenson.
Distillery opens in Santa Ana, CA.
Blinking Owl brand is launched with two vodkas and an aquavit spirit.
First whiskey is distilled and casked in February.
First Blinking Owl whiskey is bottled and released.
The distillery closes having struggled to financially recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former brands
Various