2 more distilleries could be coming to downtown San Luis Obispo
Two more craft distilleries could be on the horizon for downtown San Luis Obispo.
Leonard Cohen, a second-generation restaurant owner, applied for two craft distillery licenses for his restaurants, Ciopinot Seafood Grill, located at 1051 Nipomo St., and La Esquina Taqueria, located at 1049 Nipomo St.
Cohen said the licenses will give the restaurants the ability to make their own liquor for custom alcoholic drinks.
When he opened Ciopinot 10 years ago, Cohen said, he created mainly vodka infusions to pair with the restaurant’s menu — which includes fresh seafood and flat-iron steak.
When Cohen and his wife, Wendy, opened neighboring Mexican restaurant La Esquina Taqueria in 2017, they carried the idea over through tequila and mescal infusions.
In July 2018, Leonard and Wendy Cohen sold one of their two liquor licenses to Vespera on Ocean, a Marriott Autograph hotel in Pismo Beach, for $225,000. The other liquor license is shared by Ciopinot and La Esquina.
The two restaurants announced the distillery applications via social media Jan. 13.
Leonard Cohen said he is importing European stills that will arrive in three months, around the time the restaurants are expected to receive their permits. Cohen said he hopes to start distilling in May.
Cohen said he is looking forward to “being able to create something a little different if we want to.”
If they receive distillery licenses, Ciopinot and La Esquina will be able to make infusions with fresh ingredients, then bottle and sell them, Cohen said.
“It gives us the ability to have more control to create what we want,” Cohen said.
According to the Alcoholic Beverage Control, a craft distillery license allows the licensee to manufacture up to 150,000 gallons of distilled spirits per fiscal year.
Although Cohen said the restaurants will have small distilleries, they will have the option to buy from the bulk market. Cohen said SB 1164, which went into effect in 2019, allowed for craft distilleries to run more like wineries.
“Now we can either make our own or we could buy it on the bulk market ... or a mix of both,” Cohen said.
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 1:14 PM.