Distilled from Kelp.
Spirits distilled from California's Giant Kelp.
Why Kelp?
Catalina Kelp Spirits will be the first company to distill kelp into alcohol on a commercial scale. There are a number of advantages to this approach all centered around one topic: improving our environment. It requires less precious resources to create alcohol from kelp than from terrestrial plants. Additionally, cultivating kelp has a net positive effect on the environment, by sequestering carbon and creating habitat for other marine species.
Environmentally Regenerative
California’s Giant Kelp is incredibly efficient when it comes to soaking up carbon dioxide and using it to grow. Giant Kelp, distilled by Catalina Kelp Spirits, is the fastest growing plant on earth, and can grow up to two feet each day! As the kelp grows, it removes up to 20 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than similarly sized land-based forests.
From harvest to bottle, distilling Giant Kelp has a significant net reduction on our planet’s carbon footprint. The more bottles that are purchased, the more kelp can be sustainably grown and harvested, and the larger the impact on our environment. Drink to save the planet!
No Fertilizers or Pesticides
“Zero Input Farms” require no fertilizers, arable land or pesticides — they don’t even require fresh water. California and much of the western states are in a drought, and traditional agriculture is responsible for consuming 80-90 percent of what little fresh water we have.
Additionally, the fertilizers run off into our rivers and oceans poisoning fish and wildlife and causing algal blooms that decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic species can’t survive in these “dead zones”, and humans eating diseased fish can themselves become ill, completing the circle wrought by pollution.
As a Zero Input Farm, Giant Kelp actually serves as a habitat for new marine life and helps lower ocean acidification and rising ocean temperatures.
Locally Sourced, Responsibly Grown
Giant Kelp is sustainably farmed and harvested 6 miles off the coast of California with the only commercial permit in United States Federal waters. Commercial cultivation of kelp for spirits is a win-win: marine habitat is created in previously barren ocean spaces while more carbon dioxide is captured, and eco-friendly alternative products result.
Ten percent of Catalina Kelp Spirit’s profits will be donated towards the restoration of California’s iconic natural Giant Kelp forests which are endangered from rising ocean temperatures - which are mitigated by the growth of more carbon sequestering forests!
Requires Less Energy to Distill
Currently, corn and sugarcane are most commonly used to distill spirits, but “food vs fuel” concerns may preclude their future use. Giant kelp as an alternative crop may circumvent concerns for resource management and food supplies.
Because Giant kelp does not contain lignin, sugars can be released by simple operations such as milling or crushing giving it a distinct advantage over terrestrial biomass facilitating higher yields and averts the need for energy-intensive pretreatment and hydrolysis before fermentation. According to the DOE, the ethanol yield from macroalgae (Giant kelp) is estimated to be two times higher than that of sugarcane and five times higher than corn.
How's the taste?
The first thing most people ask when they hear about our kelp distilled spirits, is “What does it taste like?” Almost all taste is removed during the distillation process where the kelp is broken down to create a purified ethanol (the only kind of drinkable alcohol), which is a mostly tasteless and odorless liquid. We say mostly, because there are variances between taste and mouthfeel depending on the type of grain or crop. In our case, we would describe any light, pleasant taste as a kiss from the ocean.
About Us
Lindsay and Wes Cruver, twins with unique backgrounds, have led them to the co-founding of environmentally focused, kelp-based spirits.
Wes Cruver
Three-time entrepreneur, Wes Cruver spent years building value for his shareholders and previous businesses while struggling to recognize his purpose and what made him happy. After the successful exit of his last company, he found his true calling by focusing on something greater than himself (and his shareholders): the environment.
Lindsay Cruver
Lindsay Cruver is the Director of R&D at Catalina Sea Ranch, the first aquaculture facility in U.S. Federal waters, growing sustainable, regenerative crops including mussels and Giant Kelp. Her work in this field led her to the realization that Giant Kelp could be an eco-friendly alternative to wheat and corn for distilling spirits.