Burnt Barn Distilling Co.

About Us

On November 8, 2018, the most devastating, destructive wildfire in California history roared through the charming, hillside hamlet of Paradise. In less than six hours, the Camp Fire, which began as an electrical spark, would envelop and destroy over 90% of the town. It would displace all of the 26,500 residents for nearly two months, claim over 19,000 homes, businesses, schools, and churches, and reduce our family’s property and material possessions to a smoldering pile of ash. Although tragic, our family has chosen to focus our efforts on moving forward and re-establishing our property and the town we call “home.”

Head Distiller, Taylor Schuster, who graduated from Paradise High School in 2003, had long dreamed of opening a distillery. After the shock of losing his family home, Taylor felt that opening a distillery in Paradise and participating in the rebuilding of his home and community would be cathartic and healing, an idea that was enthusiastically embraced by his wife Danae, and his parents, Cliff and Melissa.

Early in 2019, the family toured the town and considered parcels in the downtown area, but finally decided the distillery should be built on the family property, where the 2-story “Art Barn” had been before the fire destroyed it, and where Cliff and Melissa currently live in an RV.

… thus, “Burnt Barn Distilling Co.” was born!

We are so excited to develop Burnt Barn Distilling Co. as an asset for the entire community of Paradise to share, to be proud of and to enjoy!