Will Maroun, CEO of Petaluma’s Griffo Distillery (@griffodistillery), chats hidden gems for cocktails and who he’d like to share a drink with.
Will Maroun, CEO of Petaluma’s Griffo Distillery
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
What you do in business, you do with people. It comes down to who’s sitting around the table with you. As a CEO, it’s a special skill to foster and help grow the talents of the people you lead.
What’s the most unexpected cocktail you’ve had featuring Griffo spirits?
A Griffo Gin and Bergamot Gimlet. Bergamot’s subtle flavor paired with our gin’s citrus and coriander notes are tantalizing.
What hidden gem should every spirits lover visit?
Fogbird (@fogbirdsanmateo) in San Mateo is a favorite for its awesome vibe, great staff and fun drinks. Zola + BarZola (@zola.barzola) in Palo Alto is another favorite.
What music influences your work?
Definitely Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, the ‘Ode to Joy.’ At our core, Griffo is about enlivening moments of togetherness.
What’s the most rewarding part of running a distillery?
Getting out into the marketplace and sharing a cocktail with people has a way of stripping down barriers. Everyone has a story to tell.
If you could share a drink with anyone, living or not, who would it be?
Khalil Gibran. He’s one of my people—Lebanese. I love his writings and paintings.
What’s your mantra?
When you think you can’t, you can. Persevere.
Photography by: COURTESY OF GRIFFO DISTILLERY
