Charbay Distillery Doubled & Twisted Whiskey
Some bottles earn attention because of age statements. Others because of rarity or allocated status. Then there are bottles like Charbay Doubled & Twisted — a whiskey that immediately makes you stop and ask, "Wait… they made this from what?"
Charbay has built a reputation around doing things differently, and this bottle might be one of the clearest examples of that mindset. While many distilleries spend years refining a traditional formula, Charbay seems perfectly comfortable stepping outside the lines and creating something that doesn't fit neatly into familiar categories. And after learning the story behind the distillery itself, that approach starts making a lot more sense.
Charbay isn't a new craft distillery chasing trends. The Karakasevic family traces its winemaking and distilling roots back to 1751 in Europe. Multiple generations were involved in the family trade long before Charbay ever existed in California. Founder Miles Karakasevic eventually brought those traditions to America, arriving with both practical experience and formal education in winemaking and viticulture before building what would become Charbay.
The family officially established their California operation in 1983, becoming one of the earlier craft distilleries in the United States — Distillery No. 177 at a time when the modern craft spirits movement was still years away from taking off.
Today the legacy continues through Master Distiller Marko Karakasevic, representing the 13th generation of family distillers. But rather than simply repeating old traditions, Charbay has become known for experimenting in ways many producers would never attempt.
What's interesting about Charbay is that they seem to balance old-world methods with a willingness to take risks. This is non-chill filtered and the barrel aging is aggregation of IPA, Pilsner, Stout and Single Malts. The fact all of those can be blended into something so tasty is mind-blowing!
Instead of following a standard grain-to-glass whiskey process, Charbay built Doubled & Twisted around a blend of whiskey components influenced by different beer styles and distillation techniques. The result isn't trying to become a traditional bourbon or classic single malt. It feels more like a whiskey created by people asking, "What tastes interesting?" rather than "What are we supposed to make?"
That philosophy alone makes this bottle stand out.
Charbay Doubled & Twisted isn't a bottle we would describe as predictable — and that's probably exactly what the distillery intended.
- 2 ounces Charbay Doubled & Twisted Whiskey
- 1/4 ounce Amaretto Luxardo
- 1/2 ounce Ancho Leon Liqueur
- Garnish: orange peel
