Who we are

For over two decades, Michael Skubic has been a pioneering force in San Diego’s craft beverage scene—first in beer, then in spirits, and now guiding the next generation of makers through expert distillation, brand strategy, and distillery consulting. A true alchemist of flavor, Michael turns local botanicals, heritage ingredients, and bold ideas into unforgettable liquid experiences that capture the spirit of the Pacific coast.

From Nanobrewery Trailblazer to Downtown’s First Post-Prohibition Distillery

In 2009, Michael Skubic co-founded Hess Brewing Company, San Diego’s original nanobrewery (well, we got our license after AUTOMATIC Brewing, but they were technically a brewpub at BLAH.) and served as head of sales while running the influential Hess Brewing Odyssey blog that helped launch hundreds of breweries nationwide. His passion for fermentation and storytelling quickly evolved. By 2013 he had founded Old Harbor Distilling Co., the first distillery in downtown San Diego since Prohibition, in a 7,500-square-foot East Village warehouse at 17th & K.

working on a laptop at Old Harbor circa 2013

There, he created an iconic lineup that put California on the craft spirits map:

San Miguel Southwestern Gin – named for Cabrillo’s original designation of San Diego, featuring hand-foraged local cucumber, sage, cilantro, coriander, lime, and juniper.
Ampersand Cold Pressed Coffee Liqueur – a collaboration with Coffee & Tea Collective, a pairing we have been working on since CNTC launched back in the day.
Barrelflag Navy Strength Rum – distilled from two different rum washes: one with cane juice, similar to cachaça, and one with
1542 California Native Botanical Gin– extremely limited runs made with locally foraged and native botanicals (We also source from NOPALITO FARMS.) This gin uses ingredients that would have been available to the Spanish when they landed here in 1542.
VOYAGER SERIES– single barrel and small batch aged spirits with limited runs.

Three people planting or tending to a small plant in a garden or farmland with fields and palm trees in the background.

What we do

Michael’s spirits earned national press (San Diego Magazine, Locale, and Riviera Magazine, Dining Out, and many more!), numerous awards, and a devoted following through the exclusive Commodores Club (winner of Best New Bar in 2022.)

Today, through Skubic Spirits, Michael shares the hard-earned knowledge from building two landmark San Diego brands and consulting for Homebrewing Company, Sun Zoo Distillery, Swan Bar, and more. Whether you’re dreaming of launching your first spirit brand, setting up a turnkey distillery, or refining an existing portfolio, Skubic offers hands-on guidance in:

Distillery design & equipment specification
Recipe development & small-batch production
Branding, storytelling, and go-to-market strategy
Regulatory navigation and scaling

He’s the guide who’s already sailed the regulatory seas—so you don’t have to navigate the rocks alone. If you are looking to spend a small fortune to start your own brand, we recommend using a consultant that has a track record worth following.

His work helped grow San Diego's craft spirits scene, similar to its renowned craft beer boom. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he contributed to producing and donating hand sanitizer through the San Diego Distillers Guild (of which he was a founding member.)

When he’s not behind copper or consulting, Michael is an avid surfer, rock climber, cyclist, swimmer and accomplished stained-glass artist (see SkubicStudios.com). As a native Californian with a biochemistry background from Point Loma Nazarene University (with a short stint at the University of Salamanca to learn a little Spanish), he approaches every project with the same curiosity and precision that turned backyard experiments into award-winning spirits.

Michael lives by the Old Harbor ethos: Fathom Something Greater. Whether it’s a perfectly balanced gin, a limited-edition cask, or helping the next dreamer bring their vision to glass, he believes every great spirit starts with a great story—and the courage to distill it.

Take a look at our CURRENT PROJECTS page to see what we are up to this week!

Current Projects