While alcohol may seem part of our everyday culture, the history of booze has been one that is rife with controversy—and its connection to Long Beach is a rich one. Portuguese Bend, Long Beach’s first distillery, is a unique example of what the world of spirits has had to go through in order to make something like this specific distillery a reality. In this episode, Sarah and Brian sat down with Master Distiller Simon Haxton to talk about the history of booze, Long Beach’s love affair with booze, and, well, booze. Explore more coverage of Portuguese Bend:

• IN PICTURES: A sneak peek inside Long Beach’s first distillery, Portuguese Bend
• Long Beach’s first distillery, Portuguese Bend, set to open in April
• Portuguese Bend, Long Beach’s first distillery, breaks ground and releases renderings