Still Waldos ~ A special joint collab Single Malt Whiskey
Beer Speaks, Whiskey Sings … Lagunitas Brewing Co. and Griffo Distillery have been longtime friends and neighbors. So, when Covid hit and the world flipped upside down, Head Brewer Jeremy Marshall and Head Distiller Mike Griffo sat down in the Griffo barrel room to figure out how, as leaders in their fields, they might innovate through uncertain times. Jeremy knew beer and Mike knew whiskey. In a brilliant, alcohol-filled moment of Wonka-Vision, they dreamed up distilling a version of Waldos Triple IPA beer - the beloved, quick to sell out, high ABV beer with big floral notes - as the perfect experiment. Jeremy would pull the hops from the fermentation process and then Mike would add them to his still - maximizing flavor and aromatics. They cheersed to it, and “Still Waldos” was born.
Get this limited release delivered
This is the first time Still Waldos is available for national delivery. The catch? It's the same bottling size as the now long-gone 2023 release … so score some while ya can!
So how does a Triple IPA become a Single Malt Whiskey? We thought you'd never ask:
This spirit's journey begins at Lagunitas where Jeremy and his team create the epic Waldos mash using 100% malted barley. The unfermented mash takes a half block trip to Griffo later and Mike and his team are ready to take over. They ferment the mash and add the Waldos' hops to the copper pot still before running it through the still two separate times. The spirit is then put into a large American Oak cask made by famed French cooperage Seguin Moreau.
After several years aging, its proofed to 84 for a final ABV of 42.0% (whoa) and the spirit that is Still Waldos is ready … soft, floral, hoppy and delicious. Ideally enjoyed with a bottle of The Waldos' Special Ale !
And that is how this beautifully balanced spirit was born. As Lagunitas so often says, It's Good to Have Friends!
THE SPECIAL STORY BEHIND THE WALDOS
The namesake behind the beer and whiskey are a group of friends from San Rafael who unwittingly coined the “420” term way back in 1971. Known collectively as The Waldos (hree of 'em are in the adjacent photo at Griffo with Master Distiller Mike Griffo and Lagunitas Brewmaster Jeremy Marshall).
Known as “The Waldos” for they would hang out on a wall by their school. Every day at 4:20 they’d meet there and head out on a search for a mythical wee garden one of their older brothers gave a map to. Soon their meet-up time for this daily quest became short-hand code for marijuana and, being on the homebase of the counterculture movement and backyard of the Grateful Dead, the word (and
number) got passed around the world like a proverbial joint.
The Waldos never found the garden but they kept looking. And Lagunitas keeps brewing their dank, floral Waldos' Special Ale every year for treasure hunters everywhere. This whiskey is a lovely sidetrip on the the quest.
ABOUT GRIFFO DISTILLERY
Griffo Distillery, founded in 2013, specializes in premium craft spirits and contract distillation. We are driven to lift and defy expectations of flavor—through ingenuity and precision—and enliven moments of togetherness. From our flagship California style Scott Street Gin and Stout Barreled Whiskey to our Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur made with Equator Coffees , all are made with the strong belief that marrying craft and science creates the most beautiful products.
