Sabbatical + Lab

Bottles of whiskey on a wooden table with grains in glass containers and barrels in the background.

We are on a mission to make great products and never stop endeavoring to make them better. The “lab” is an ethos as we continuously experiment, learn and create with precision. Using solar powered stills, advanced controls and constant experimentation, our goal is to provide only the purest, most interesting products out there.

Good Science = Good Drinks

At Sabbatical we question the status quo and test to see if it could be better. Every detail that could be tinkered with, has been tinkered with until we get it right. We’re perfectionists at work blending the art with the science.

Solar powered electric stills harness the sunny California days and give us full control of distillation processes for consistently premium quality. Precise cuts create a cleaner product that keeps the flavors we want and strips out the lower quality alcohols that can lead to a rough day after.

The details matter. Every step has been tested and perfected before we bottle our spirits. We practice slow proofing and marrying by gradually introducing the contents of one barrel to another, adding time for them get to know each other before moving to the next step. This creates smoother and more cohesive end products. “Engineered” blending also gives us a greater pallete of flavors to draw from with individual distillations and recipes joining together to become something greater. Something intentional.

The lab is our place to take farm-harvested ingredients and turn them into something different. Curiosity leads to the next experiment. Welcome to the Sabbatical Lab.

Notes from the Lab

We invite you along for the journey as we try, fail, perfect and push the limits of what a craft distillery can be

Industrial distillation equipment in a facility, with steam, pipes, and tanks, labeled 'Sabbatical'.
Close-up of a stainless steel door on a large metal tank labeled 'Sabbatical,' with several glass bottles on a nearby counter in a distillery setting.
Close-up of metal circular coil springs stacked inside a glass container.
Sabbatical Labs Fermentation Vessels
Two bottles of whiskey, one labeled straight bourbon and the other blended American, on a wooden barrel next to a barrel tapper.
Liquid being poured into a textured glass with an ice cube, using a metal strainer, casting a shadow on a light surface.
Sabbatical Botanicals Sabado Gin Ingredients Coriander, Sarsparilla, etc
Wooden whiskey barrel labeled with "Sabbatical Labs Distillery CA-20271," "Porto," and "Straight Bourbon." A metal funnel and a glass pipette are on top.
A clipboard with papers and a black pen on a wooden table. The papers have tables and text, possibly for data recording or analysis. A partial view of a hand is visible, along with two glasses of water in the background.
Interior of a distillery with metal brewing vats and industrial equipment.
Sabbatical Labs Distillery Production Floor
Industrial piping system with a pressure gauge and orange valve handle labeled 'HAYWARD'.
Close-up of an open industrial tank labeled "Sabbatical" with visible interior pipes and fixtures.
Digital display panel showing potstill run with temperature and settings for distillation process.
A laboratory workspace with measuring instruments, a notebook, and various chemical bottles and containers on a concrete counter.
Three men having a conversation in a warehouse filled with wooden barrels. One man is holding a tool and a liquid, and another man is holding a glass of dark liquid.
Close-up of a large metal industrial distillation columns with clamps, connected to a flexible yellow-green hose with black and orange fittings, in an industrial setting.
Clear glass bottles with swing-top caps are arranged in a row, each labeled with yellow tags numbered 2 through 6.
Close-up of fermentation tank with a drilled pattern, with another similar container in the background inside a well-lit room.
Laboratory workbench with measuring cups, test tubes, a pipette with pink liquid, and various scientific equipment and containers.
A man with a shaved head and beard, wearing a black t-shirt, is preparing spices in a dark room with wooden barrels in the background. Various bowls and a bottle are on the table.
A bottle of clear liquid surrounded by various dried herbs, roots, and berries with handwritten labels on a black background.
The Sabbatical Lab
Sabbatical Solar Still 2000
Sabbatical Botanicals Sabado Gin Ingredients Juniper Berry and Chamomile
Bottles of bourbon whiskey, glasses with barley, wheat, and corn grains, and a cutting board on a wooden table in a distillery surrounded by stacked wooden barrels.
Sabbatical Whiskey Bottles Fresh Fills
Sabbatical Solar Stills and Production Floor
A clear glass bottle filled with a golden liquid and dark streaks, sealed with a wooden cork, sitting on a wooden surface. A small white paper label on the bottle reads 'BLEND #1, 90°, NO PRESSURE.' In the background, a person is blurred out, and var
Two men posing with barrels at Sabbatical Distillery, holding a sign that says 'co-founder' inside the tasting room with barrels in the background.
A glass of whiskey beverage with ice and lemon slices on a dark textured surface, alongside lemon wedges and scattered ice cubes.
Swirling red liquid inside a metal container, possibly wine or juice, with some foam and bubbles on the surface.
Laboratory setup inside a warehouse with scientific equipment, glass jug, pipettes, clipboard, tablet, and various containers on a wood table.
Four glass bottles with swing-top lids filled with a red beverage, arranged on a black surface.
A person holding a bottle of straight bourbon whiskey with a pink silicone wristband that has the word 'Sabbatical' on it.