Prohibition Spirits

Prohibition Spirits Distillery traces its origins to 2008, when Fred and Amy Groth visited Sonoma while living in Boulder, Colorado. Having previously made limoncello for family and friends, they saw an opportunity to produce it locally in California’s wine country and moved to Sonoma with their three young children several months later. The project began as HelloCello, with commercial production of Limoncello di Sonoma starting in 2009. It became the first distillery to open in Sonoma Valley since Prohibition.

The original limoncello business gradually developed into Prohibition Spirits and a much broader spirits portfolio. Its ranges have included Hooker’s House whiskeys, Sugar Daddy rum, Chauvet brandies, Jack’s Gin, Solano Vodka, Nocino and a variety of liqueurs and other small-batch spirits. The company says it has developed more than 50 products since its beginnings with limoncello.

Production takes place at the distillery on 8th Street East in Sonoma. Prohibition Spirits currently operates a separate tasting room and shop on Sonoma Plaza at 452 1st Street East; the tasting room moved there in 2021 after several years at Cornerstone Sonoma.