Our/Vodka opens Los Angeles distillery

Pernod Ricard-owned “glocal” concept Our/Vodka has opened its latest distillery, Our/Los Angeles, in the Arts District of the city.

Tyler Simmons and Steven Ocheltree in the Our/Los Angeles distillery

As with all six Our/Vodka locations, the distillery is the result of a partnership between local entrepreneurs who are passionate about their city and the Our/Vodka brand. In Los Angeles, Steven Ocheltree and Tyler Simmons – the cofounders of creative agency Sew – are leading the business.

With a background in non-profits, community action and design, Ocheltree and Simmons co-founded Sew based on the philosophy that doing the right thing for the community can also prove profitable for the corporate clients they work with.

In their latest venture with Our/Vodka, they are seeking to challenge the perception of a Tinseltown vodka being only about celebrity, glitz and glam.

“What has driven our partnership with Our/Vodka has been shared ideals of a local, grassroots approach to building a brand that people feel ownership over,” said Simmons and Ocheltree.

Asa Caap, Our/Vodka co-founder and CEO, added: “Steven and Tyler’s work with Sew and their presence in Downtown LA, makes them a great fit with Our/Vodka and our values.

“Their community-centered ethos is at the heart of Our/Los Angeles.”

The concept of Caap when she was working in the Absolut marketing team five years ago, Our/Vodka is a “family” of vodka distilleries which so far comprises Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Detroit and Seattle.

In each city, Our/Vodka is partly distilled and hand-bottled in each micro-distillery according to the same global recipe, but with locally sourced ingredients for its own flavour profile.

All producers then present the liquid in a small-sized, simple, crown-cap glass bottle, so each release looks the same, but the city gives its character to the vodka.

Following the Los Angeles launch, Our/Vodka is set to open distilleries in New York, Miami and Houston.

Our/Los Angeles is available now, retailing at US$20 for a 40% abv, 375ml bottle. The distillery is open for tastings Monday-Friday, 1-5pm

Earlier this year, Our/Vodka appointed Pepijn Janssens international commercial director as it seeks sales expansion in new markets.