In May, Golden State Distillery’s Gray Whale Gin was named a winner in Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America’s 2018 Brand Battle, a Shark Tank-style competition. Judges were impressed with distiller/company founder Marsh Mokhtari’s vision of a spirit that reflects his own reverence for the Pacific Ocean and the gentle giant that inhabits its waters.

In addition to botanicals sourced up and down the California coastline, a portion of sales proceeds benefit Oceana (a nonprofit working to protect and restore the world’s oceans) and the company is certified by 1% for the Planet (supporting a variety of environmental causes). Designed by Mokhtari’s wife, Jan Livingston, design agency United Creatives, and Global Packaging LLC, the logo and packaging further represent the couple’s commitment to organic, sustainable, and renewable sourcing. WSWA judges enthusiastically embraced the brand’s look, story, and flavor.