California Gin Makers Put Local Bartenders Front and Center in a New Social Campaign

In good spirits.

With bars closed for the time being, many local spirit makers put their creativity to the max. One such distiller is Gray Whale Gin, a Manhattan Beach-based company with California-forward product. Earlier this month they launched a virtual bar to help out local service professionals get in front of customers. According to The Beach Reporter, the founders Marsh and Jan Mokhtari have received nearly 200 cocktail submissions at a chance to earn $350 to tape one virtual shift. The show airs live Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 5 p.m. PST, at @GrayWhaleGin.

“We’ve all got bills to pay and rent and mortgage and god knows what else and, and suddenly to have it cut off is debilitating,” Marsh said. “We wanted to basically get them back to doing what they loved and what they’re great at. Plus it’s just vitally important to get cash into their pockets right now.”

“To apply for the shift, the bartender must create an original cocktail with Gray Whale Gin, a Manhattan Beach-based company, and submit it to info@gsdspirits.com. The video not only highlights the creative cocktails, but the bartenders as well.

“We want to really play them up and their personalities, their expertise and get people out there to know them and they can gain their followers,” Jan said.

Bradford Stewart Designs Collection Entirely for Outdoor Display

Listening to jazz in his father’s design studio, former musician and painter Bradford Stewart knew at an early age he wanted to be a musician. Bored with practicing scales in music school, he dropped out and hit the road with an eight-piece funk/rock/jazz band. When the hectic life of a professional musician began to take its toll, he turned to painting.