Our Story

Common Ground Spirits

More Than Spirits, It’s a Mindset

On a mission to cultivate artisanal spirits that symbolize the human experience of bonding and forming connections, Julian Peebles and Tory Brown founded Common Ground Spirits in 2020. We believe that finding a common ground with those around us is what adds substance and meaning to our lives. Our common ground is the belief that everybody, no matter race, religion, or gender identity should have equal opportunities in all aspects of life—and our approach to premium craft spirits embodies those values. Our hope is that you will join us on this journey and find common ground over a dram of our artisanal Gin and Bourbon expressions.

Sustainable Spirits Through Local Ingredients and Partnerships

Located in Berkeley, California, Common Ground Spirits is committed to using local ingredients and partnering with friends and neighbors to build a strong community. We source the ingredients for our Gin and Bourbon expressions from California’s bounty; Gin 01 and Gin 02 both incorporate hand-selected blends of the finest botanicals from our local partners, while our Bourbon is made with 100% California-grown grain. Our spirits have been formulated with the assistance of our neighbor, Ryan Sutherland of Sutherland Distilling Company in Livermore, California. By investing in our local community and economy, we are ensuring that as we thrive, so too will the people around us.

More About Us

Julian and Tory, coworkers turned lifelong friends, started their journey together in the tech industry, where both founders shared common ground with each other as men of color. After achieving success in their tech careers, they felt a strong desire to build a legacy, something of their own fruition and creative vision that could be passed on to future generations and other black-owned businesses. Their overall vision: to make a positive impact on the spirits industry by creating a company that takes pride in its representation and diversity. By mentoring and motivating other black-owned companies, Tory and Julian believe they can build a more diverse and inclusive spirits industry.