Gold Bar Whiskey mixology class
Located on San Francisco’s Treasure Island, Gold Bar Distillery is home to the award wining spirit, Gold Bar Whiskey. A tribute to San Francisco history, heritage and craftsmanship, this whiskey is crafted with the intention of highlighting California innovation which begins with Montgomery “Monty” Paulsen, their Master Blender and Distiller.
Monty, second-generation winemaker and a proud native of the San Francisco Bay Area, brings deep expertise to Gold Bar with over 40 years of winemaking under his belt. His passion for spirits and wine began in the early 1970s growing up at his family’s Pat Paulsen Vineyard in Sonoma.
A UC Davis graduate in Fermentation Science, Monty implements a thorough understanding of winemaking to whiskey production. His influence is evident in Gold Bar’s unique finishing process, where the whiskey is aged in former Napa Valley red wine barrels, enhancing its depth and character with refined, complex flavors.
More than just a whiskey brand, visiting Gold Bar Distillery is an true San Francisco experience—one that’s rooted in the historic foundations of its location. Treasure Island, the home of Gold Bar Distillery, is often overlooked but is steeped with the city’s storied past.
“Treasure Island, with its rich history, is an integral part of our story,” explains Elliott Gillespie, President, Gold Bar Whiskey. “Being situated within the former Pan Am Airport Terminal, on the site of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition, connects us to a historically significant part of San Francisco’s history, as the Exposition was created to celebrate the completion and opening of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges.”
Gold Bar Whiskey mixology class
This is the terminal where travelers once embarked on trans-Pacific journeys and it’s this robust history that is woven into every aspect of the distillery’s design, from its Art Deco interiors to its curated mixology classes and whiskey tastings.
Visiting Gold Bar Distillery is akin to stepping into a living time capsule, where the golden age of travel and the craft of whiskey-making come together in harmony. From its luxurious gold packaging to its immersive visitor experience, every element of Gold Bar Whiskey and its Distillery is designed to honor the past while celebrating the diversity and triumphs of present day San Francisco.
Gold Bar’s newest experience are immersive mixology classes that offer a hands-on opportunity to make your own iconic cocktails while learning the fundamentals mixology. While you’re learning how to craft signature drinks including the Gold Old Fashioned, the Whiskey Sour, and the Pan Am Clipper Paper Plane, you’ll also be immersed in the history of Treasure Island and beyond.
Aside from the spirits, Gold Bar Distillery offers a menu inspired by the history of the building where passengers would board here and travel as far as Hawaii, Guam, Manila and Hong Kong aboard the first-class amphibious airships.
Inspired by the global routes of Pan Am flights, the menu features dishes that includes the Hawaiian poke bowl featuring fresh ahi and salmon topped with a homemade poke sauce is infused with Pacific House Gin Deep; Gold Coin Grilled Cheese with mozzarella and Point Reyes toma cheese; and the decadent 24K Gold Bourbon Ice Cream with a side of bourbon infused chocolate sauce and a small 1oz shot of Rickhouse Cask Strength Bourbon.
Pan Am Clipper Paper Plane
Even the drinks tell a tale—like the recreation of the Golden Gate Exposition’s “Official Gin Cocktail,” originally sold for just five cents. With an ever-evolving menu, live music nights, and an upcoming second location in the Bay Area, Gold Bar Whiskey continues to redefine the whiskey experience.
We chatted with Elliott Gillespie, President, and Sam Thumm, Director of Marketing, at Gold Bar Whiskey on Treasure Island history, their new mixology class, their culinary program and more. Here’s what they had to say.
What inspired the creation of Gold Bar Whiskey and how does Treasure Island and its history play a role in its story?
Elliott Gillespie: Gold Bar Whiskey was inspired by the vision of creating an award-winning, California style whiskey and blending with luxurious packaging to create a bottle for special moments worth celebrating.
Our distillery’s location in San Francisco perfectly ties into this ethos. Our Visitor Center is situated in an iconic and beautiful art deco building that provides one of the most stunning views of the San Francisco skyline.
Treasure Island is an integral part of our story. Being situated within the former Pan Am Airport Terminal, on the site of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition connects us to a historically significant part of San Francisco’s history, as the Exposition was created to celebrate the completion and opening of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges.
Every aspect of our Treasure Island location, from the design and decor to our food and drink menu, is thoughtfully curated to reflect and pay tribute to the remarkable history of both the city and Treasure Island itself.
Talk about why this specific venue is unique and what guests can anticipate when visiting and taking the new mixology class?
Elliott Gillespie: The venue for our Cocktail Class is truly one-of-a-kind. Guests will step back into history as they set foot in the former Pan Am Airport terminal, where passengers in the late 1930s once checked in for a five-day journey from San Francisco to Hong Kong. This historic building also houses the Treasure Island Museum, featuring fascinating artifacts and exhibits from the past.
When attending the Cocktail Class, guests can expect a highly interactive and engaging session that’s perfect for date nights, meeting up with friends, team-building with colleagues, bachelor and bachelorette parties, or simply for anyone seeking a unique and memorable outing to be part of the city they have probably never visited before.
Gold Bar Whiskey mixology class
Along with a history lesson of the city and the island, they’ll also gain insight into the whiskey-making process, participate in a guided tasting of our award-winning spirits, and craft three iconic cocktails: the timeless “Gold” Old Fashioned, the perfectly balanced Whiskey Sour, and our signature show-stopper, the Pan Am Clipper Paper Plane, going from beginner to expert level in the span of 1.5 hours.
Our expert team provides pro tips and tricks to help guests learn how to mix cocktails like a professional. After the class, there’s also an opportunity to purchase our spirits and cocktail-making tools so they can recreate the experience at home.
This unique blend of history, craftsmanship, and hands-on fun makes our venue and mixology class a standout experience in San Francisco. It is also a great way to make new friends, for both visitors to the city and locals! Everyone becomes friends after a class!
Why did you choose the Gold Fashioned, a classic Whiskey Sour and Pan Am Airport for the mixology class?
Sam Thumm: We chose the Gold Old Fashioned, a classic Whiskey Sour, and the Pan Am Clipper Paper Plane for our mixology class because each cocktail highlights a unique skill and adds a touch of creativity to the experience, as well as providing a progression from beginner to expert level in terms of mixology skills.
The Gold Old Fashioned exemplifies the care and craftsmanship that go into a perfectly balanced cocktail, teaching guests the importance of precision and technique. The Whiskey Sour introduces participants to the art of creating foamy cocktails, an essential skill for any mixologist.
Lastly, the Pan Am Clipper Paper Plane features an origami garnish, offering an eye catching and “Instagrammable” finishing touch that’s bound to impress your friends or family!
Talk about the food menu — what inspired it and who is behind it? Is the menu seasonal and will it be changing?
Elliott Gillespie: Our food menu at Gold Bar Distillery is inspired by the diverse history of Treasure Island, the Golden Gate Exposition, and the Pan Am Airport, offering a dining experience that connects guests to the storied past of this unique location.
Each dish is thoughtfully crafted with a story behind it. For instance, our steamed soup dumplings (xiao long bao) pay homage to the final stop of the historic Pan Am flight in China, however ours are served with black vinegar aged in former whiskey barrels.
The Millionaire’s Corn Dog is a luxurious twist on the classic fair favorite, featuring crab and lobster meat for a truly elevated treat with a spicy aioli dip. Our whiskey-infused soft-serve ice cream, topped with real 14K gold flakes, adds a decadent touch to the menu, while the poke bowl represents the original Pan Am Clipper’s first stopover in Hawaii on their trans-pacific route.
Gold Bar Whiskey menu
Even our cocktail menu ties into history, including our recreation of the Golden Gate Exposition’s “Official Gin Cocktail” the Treasure Island which originally cost just five cents!
Our menu is always evolving and we aim to offer new items for return guests.
What are the current highlights?
Elliott Gillespie: The Gold Bar Distillery has a ton of exciting experiences heading into 2025. We’ll shortly be announcing a lineup of major concerts, festivals and special events. For the everyday crowd our Golden Hour, a unique twist on Happy Hour, celebrates the beauty of each day’s sunset with $10 cocktails timed to the sunset.
Every Friday night, the distillery comes alive with live music, featuring everything from smooth jazz bands to soulful DJ sets. And to top it all off, we’re preparing to open a second location soon, expanding further into the Bay Area!
Are there any typed of food or dishes that specifically pair well with the whiskey itself and/ or the three cocktails guests get to make?
Elliott Gillespie: The Gold Old Fashioned pairs perfectly with the Gold Coin Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, often referred to as the World’s Best Grilled Cheese by our guests! The sourdough and melted cheese paired with the tomato soup , complement the warm, rich flavors of the cocktail.
The Whiskey Sour goes well with the Hawaiian Poke Bowl, as the fresh and vibrant ingredients of the poke bowl pair nicely with the bright, citrusy notes of the cocktail.
The Pan Am Clipper Paper Plane is a great match for the Steamed Soup Dumplings. The savory dumplings and whiskey-barrel-aged black vinegar balance the cocktail’s bold yet smooth flavors.
