SAN DIEGO — The Beach Boys have long been America’s band, a musical group made in California, with their hits celebrating surf, sun, sand and California Girls. Co-founder Mike Love had always thought wouldn’t it be nice to share the spirit of Kokomo, those good vibrations, with the rest of the world. And now he has a new line of premium spirits inspired by the tropics crafted right here in San Diego. Our Laura Cavanaugh caught up with Love to talk about his music, his love affair with San Diego and his upcoming Endless Summer Gold tour.
“I’ve been dealing in a lifetime of harmony with music, but now we’re dealing with a harmony of flavors,” said Love.
Last year Love and his son Brian launched Club Kokomo ready-to-drink cocktails to rave reviews. Now they are building on that success, creating harmony with a new line of premium spirits distilled locally in San Diego, masterfully blended by hand by Geoff Longenecker of Seven Caves Spirits.
“We have an amazing award-winning distillery. The goal was always to move into spirits and create something that is additive-free, has no added sugars, no artificial coloring,” said Brian Love.
The 83-year-old Love says he is proud of the family business and his ability to share the spirit of Kokomo with his new premium line of artisanal rums from Club Kokomo Spirits. It’s tropical bliss in a bottle – Tahitian vanilla rum, barrel finished rum and artisanal white rum. From smooth and aged, to vibrant and spiced, each bottle is an invitation to paradise.
“Like the song itself, it takes you away to a place where you can get away from it all,” said Love. “And so whether it’s for a few moments, a few hours, a few days, we promote that through our music, but also now we’re promoting a wonderful way to get away from it all by opening the can or making a cocktail from our great rums.”
The Beach Boys are now playing festivals. They will play Stagecoach in April, Pechanga in August and the Rady Shell on September 1.
And, just in case, the band needs a backup singer on tour or help penning a jingle, our Laura Cavanaugh auditions for the living legend with a Kokomo remix.
Sponsored by: Club Kokomo Spirits