A question that
changed it all.
Not a trend. Not a shortcut. Just discipline, patience, and the belief that California belongs among the world’s great single malts.
When one of his all-time favorite whiskies quietly disappeared from the market, Virag Saksena was disappointed, but he moved on. He found another. Something equally rare. Equally intentional. Then that one vanished too.
The double disappointment lingered. How could something crafted with such care simply cease to exist? The question stayed with him, turning from passing frustration into quiet obsession, drawing him deeper into the unseen decisions that separate good whisky from unforgettable whisky.
Determined to learn at the source, Virag traveled to Scotland, apprenticing on Islay and spending time inside multiple distilleries. There, he learned to trust his senses and discovered that great whisky isn’t about recipes. It’s about place, process, and intention.
He returned convinced of one thing: California deserved its own great single malt. One shaped by local water, climate, and experimentation, and guided by Old World discipline.
That obsession became 10th Street Distillery. When the vision outgrew experimentation, Virag turned to Vishal Gauri, a trusted collaborator since their undergraduate days, to help forge it into a working distillery. What began as a single question became a lasting pursuit, sustained by the discipline to keep searching for its answer.
A question that
changed it all.
Not a trend. Not a shortcut. Just discipline, patience, and the belief that California belongs among the world’s great single malts.
When one of his all-time favorite whiskies quietly disappeared from the market, Virag Saksena was disappointed, but he moved on. He found another. Something equally rare. Equally intentional. Then that one vanished too.
The double disappointment lingered. How could something crafted with such care simply cease to exist? The question stayed with him, turning from passing frustration into quiet obsession, drawing him deeper into the unseen decisions that separate good whisky from unforgettable whisky.
Determined to learn at the source, Virag traveled to Scotland, apprenticing on Islay and spending time inside multiple distilleries. There, he learned to trust his senses and discovered that great whisky isn’t about recipes. It’s about place, process, and intention.
He returned convinced of one thing: California deserved its own great single malt. One shaped by local water, climate, and experimentation, and guided by Old World discipline.
That obsession became 10th Street Distillery. When the vision outgrew experimentation, Virag turned to Vishal Gauri, a trusted collaborator since their undergraduate days, to help forge it into a working distillery. What began as a single question became a lasting pursuit, sustained by the discipline to keep searching for its answer.
Our Vision
At 10th Street Distillery, our mission is to craft exceptional single malt whiskies that express California terroir and redefine where greatness comes from. We believe world-class single malt is not confined to one country or one tradition. Through precision, patience, and uncompromising standards, we create whiskies meant to stand among the finest anywhere.
If you’re ordering a great single malt anywhere in the world, 10th Street belongs on that list.
Key Milestones
A decade-plus of obsession, engineering, and California single malt done the hard way.
The Rabbit Hole Begins
When two beloved single malts disappeared from the market, it sparked a deeper question. Why did whiskies like this exist at all and why couldn’t they be made again. That question took Virag to Scotland, immersing him in distilleries, aromas, techniques, and traditions that would permanently shape his understanding of whisky.
Reimagining Whisky at Home
Returning
to California, Virag began translating what he had learned into something
entirely new. Over years of experimentation, he worked obsessively on
developing a whisky-making process inspired by Scotland, yet shaped by
California’s water, climate, and character.
Building 10th Street
After tasting Virag’s early creations, Vishal joined the vision. Together, they founded 10th Street Distillery, designing custom equipment, engineering their own stills, and building a distillery from the ground up with precision and unwavering intent.
First Barrel Filled
The first barrel was distilled, marking the transition from experimentation to legacy.
A Statement Release
The Peated Single Malt launched as 10th Street’s first whisky and immediately earned Double Gold in New York. Soon after came the STR Single Malt and the Peated Port Cask Finish, expanding the range and setting a clear standard for flavor-driven whisky.
Recognition and Responsibility
STR earned a 90-point score, while the distillery shifted part of its operation to produce hand sanitizer for first responders during COVID. That same year saw the launch of California Coast and the first release of the Wine Cask Finish.
Defining Moments
The second release of the Peated Wine Cask Finish won Best in Show in New York. That year also marked a major milestone as 10th Street moved into its new home on 4th Street.
Best in Show, Again
Dragon claimed Best in Show at Whiskies of the World, affirming that California single malt could stand confidently among the world’s finest whiskies.
Most Recent Recognition
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2025 - 2026 recognized the Peated Port Cask Finish, cementing 10th Street’s place in the global whisky conversation.