Why “Organic”?

As a consumer, I try to make choices that are both good for the environment and good for my being. So when I set out to make liqueurs, it was only natural that I would make organic liqueurs. Frankly, chemical fertilizers and pesticides have no place in a fine spirit. Furthermore, it seemed obvious that I would make my organic liqueurs with “real” ingredients- by which I mean the same fruits, herbs, spices, teas, and botanical ingredients that you might buy at your local farmer’s market or grocer.

You’d be amazed at the kind of resistance with which my ideas were met. I was counseled to use flavorings, extracts, and additives, in order to make a liqueur that was shelf-stable and looked and tasted good. I was told that if I wanted a consistent product, I couldn’t use fresh ingredients. I was advised to consult with the so-called “flavor houses,” which have developed lines of organic flavorings.

This advice, however well-intentioned, didn’t persuade me, and here’s why. The word “organic” originally meant more than just chemical-free. It meant made from real ingredients that you could touch and taste and recognize for what they were. It meant crafted with care, by hand, and with love. It meant grown or produced in a way that didn’t harm the environment.

So it’s true that J. Witty Spirits are certified organic. But it’s also true that we go to great lengths to embody the original spirit and philosophy of the word.

How we go “beyond organic”

We choose suppliers that are local to California and Oregon (our two homes). We favor small and independent companies over big corporations.

We make our liqueurs by hand in small batches. We take pride in making sure that each batch tastes delicious.

We don’t add anything to our liqueurs beyond what you’d expect to be there. (You’d be surprised at how many companies do.) There are no additives, no preservatives, no shelf-stabilizers. So when you open a bottle of J. Witty Spirits, you’ll probably want to drink it within six months. We hope that’s okay.

We print our labels on tree-free papers using soy-based inks. Our marketing materials are printed on recycled papers. Our case packaging is 100% compostable and biodegradable.

We use natural cork (a renewable resource) rather than petroleum-based synthetic corks.

We donate a portion of our proceeds to support non-profits that help the environment and our local communities.

Most of all, we try to be good people.