![\"Local](\"https:\/\/missiontimescourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Jason-Swinford-in-production-room.jpg\")
<\/a>More recently, he added a 400-square-foot tasting room to his Grantville-based business, Swinford Spirits, which produces artisan gin, plus vodka contained in self-infuser bottles, and Canadian whiskey he imports and enhances with toasted quinoa and organic ginger.<\/p>\n
A resident of South Park, Swinford took an interest in making spirits through a course at Downslope Distilling near Denver and started experimenting with techniques when returning home. He previously owned Recess, a food truck from which he sold salads, burgers and sandwiches.<\/p>\n \u201cI probably made about 100 gallons of gin at first that was absolute garbage. I had to throw it away,\u201d he said. \u201cRegardless what you\u2019re taught in the courses, you have to get right in and start doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n After persistent honing, he launched the distillery at 5980 Fairmount Ave., across the parking lot from Home Depot, and introduced a trio of branded spirits to the local market. His crisp Foxlore Gin (90 proof) is crafted with orange and lemon peel, as well as a touch of licorice root. As with his other two products, no sugar is added. \u201cGin is the fastest growing spirit category in the world \u2014 up 14 percent globally,\u201d he notes. \u201cPeople who normally hate it are blown away when drinking this straight.\u201d<\/p>\n Consumers become the flavor drivers when it comes to his 80-proof Lingo Vodka, which is made with organic wheat from northern Italy and distilled six times. It\u2019s sold in BPA-free Tritan bottles with \u201cinfuser baskets\u201d affixed to their wide screw caps.<\/p>\n Swinford has a patent pending on the bottle design, which allows drinkers to infuse the vodka with everything from cinnamon and jalapenos to citrus, berries, roasted garlic or even bacon for making deluxe Bloody Marys. But there are limits.<\/p>\n \u201cI screwed around once with Skittles and it was gross,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n Swinford\u2019s Lumberjack Lily Whiskey (84 proof) is nutty and intriguingly spicy while maintaining the classic, light body of its Canadian pedigree. The quinoa and ginger in the recipe tamps down the masculine, smoky overtones inherent to the whiskey. Hence, he named it with the hopes of captivating the reported one-third of whiskey drinkers who are women.<\/p>\n \u201cWhiskey is always marketed to men, and often with misogynistic messages. So with the words \u2018Lumberjack\u2019 and \u2018Lily\u2019 in the name, it makes people stop and think.\u201d<\/p>\n When purchased from the tasting room, which doubles as a retail shop, both the whiskey and gin sell for $29 per bottle. The vodka, with its built-in infuser, is $22.<\/p>\n By state law, customers can purchase up to three bottles (to go) per day. Those dropping in for tastings are served a maximum of 1.5 ounces per person, per day. They can be sampled in $6 flights or in crafty cocktails for $8 each. Slowly but surely, the Swinford label is gaining traction offsite. The products are currently distributed to 30 retailers throughout San Diego County \u2014 in liquor stores, restaurants, bars and markets. They include Bully\u2019s East in Mission Valley, Pardon My French in Hillcrest, Spike Africa\u2019s Fresh Fish Grill & Bar downtown, and Stump\u2019s Family Marketplace in Ocean Beach.<\/p>\n Swinford has relied partly on social media to increase his branding. He also participates in events held by the San Diego Distillers Guild and offers his modernly appointed tasting room free of charge to local businesses seeking a space to hold private events and parties.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s really exciting about the local distilling scene is that there\u2019s a lot of camaraderie within it, just like there is in the craft beer scene,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re a niche group and people are still learning the differences between a distillery and a brewery. It\u2019s important to make something that is both craft and accessible at a reasonable price point. I\u2019m creating spirits because this is where the market is headed.\u201d<\/p>\n Swinford Spirits is open from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 844-933-7465, or visit swinfordspirits.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n