Today we’d like to introduce you to Giovanni Machorro. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Loft & Bear is the brainchild of Paul Ryan Elliott, an east coast native and a graduate of University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Paul, who comes from a lineage of entrepreneurs, learned the art of distilling while growing his family’s construction company.
It was during the summer of 2012 that the first known Black-owned distillery in California and Loft & Bear Artisanal Vodka were born in a loft in downtown LA. After a decade of growth, we welcome our new 8,600 square foot distillery in the heart of South Los Angeles. Here we will introduce new Loft & Bear product lines, open our tasting room to the public for tours and education, and offer custom distillation, bottling, and storage services.
Loft & Bear Distillery continues to work toward fulfilling long-term sustainable success and is encouraged by the opportunity to support the local community and bring inclusivity and diversity of thought to the beverage alcohol industry. As part of our community commitment, Paul’s protégé, Giovanni Machorro, a Los Angeles native, has learned the art of distilling and is now our lead distiller. Additionally, we offer all our staff a living wage. Our commitment to social awareness is seen in our Distill.Drink.Donate program. 5% of Loft & Bear profits are donated to PATH, a charity aimed at ending homelessness throughout Southern California and Homeboy Industries, founded in Los Angeles, now the largest gang intervention, rehab, and re-entry program in the world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Craft Distillers competing in the marketplace in restaurants, chain stores, and liquor & wine stores is a Samson and Goliath story. The big brands oftentimes buy a bar that in turn carries just bottles from their portfolio, the same thing happens at chain grocery stores, etc. We simply cannot compete with these budgets so we have to support in more creative value add methods that are not simply cash-based.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the head distiller at Loft & Bear Distillery. We make Loft & Bear Artisanal Vodka which is handcrafted in the heart of downtown LA and is acclaimed as the “whiskey-drinker’s vodka” by Los Angeles Magazine for its smoothness and rich aroma. We distill our award-winning vodka four times using winter wheat and 100% pure California mountain spring water resulting in a soft mouthfeel, subtle vanilla notes, and a pleasant herbal flavor. Winter wheat known as the baker’s wheat contributes to the complexity of a traditionally neutral flavored product. With the new distillery, I am excited to be working on new products for 2023. White Rum is on the way and I am experimenting with some new flavors for Gin inspired by my East LA roots, my love for anime, and the motherland…Mexico! Stay tuned. More to share with the community in 2023.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the diversity in our city and am happy that we can share our various cultures through food and traditions. What else? – TRAFFIC!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://loftandbear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loftandbear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoftandBear/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@loftandbear5195/videos
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/loft-and-bear-distillery-los-angeles
