The City of Redlands has just handed a small whiskey manufacturing company another identity: tasting room. Last week the J.R. Riley Distillery received approval that allows touring the plant and sampling its four selections of bourbon and whiskey that are made on site at 721 N. Nevada St., Suite 206.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Owner Jason Riley, 38, said that so far, tours are by appointment only and limited to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and cost $20 per person. Each customer is allowed six tastes.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
After opening his grain-to-glass, 2,200-square-foot start-up in an industrial building earlier this year, Riley produced 120 gallons a week (about 600 bottles). His goal is turning out 30,000 barrels a year in hopes of distributing his handcrafted spirits to every bar, store and restaurant in Redlands.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
In the five months he’s been open, Riley already has added bigger cooking and fermentation vessels. The community roll-out has begun with KB Korner Liquor at 402 E. Redlands Blvd., soon to be joined by other stores snapping up his products, he said.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Riley, who likes to think outside the bottle, is marketing his own brand of gluten-free, blue corn pancake pix, costing $8 a pound. “Everyone does barbecue sauce, nobody does pancakes,” he said. “I do things a little different.”googleoff: allgoogleon: all
To arrange tours and tasting, call 909-253-3674 and visit facebook.com/J.Riley.Distillery.googleoff: allgoogleon: allMUG TO EMPTY
The Mug, which claims on its website to be the first restaurant in San Bernardino to offer pizza 65 years ago, is closing for good. Server and bartender Jordan Silva confirmed in a phone interview that the family-owned business at its original place at 1588 W. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, will be kaput on Monday, June 15. googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Mary Trozera and her sons,Vincent and Tony, opened The Mug as a beer joint in 1948, but the website dates the restaurant’s official debut to 1949. In response to customers clamoring for food, The Mug began serving the family’s pasta recipes and rolled its own pizza dough as well as steak, chicken and sandwiches. googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Silva that Tony Trozera’s grandson, Jeremy LeClair, who has owned the restaurant for the past three years, did not want discuss the closing with the media. For information, call 909-726-0921 or visit themugpastaandpizzasanbernadino.com.googleoff: allgoogleon: all BULLDOG GETTING BIGGER
Bulldog Brewery in Murrieta is celebrating its second anniversary with a growth spurt: bottling, canning and kegging for distribution. CEO Tom Caso, co-owner with wife Sandy, said in a press release that their 3,200-square-foot brewery, taproom and restaurant at 41379 Date St., Suite B, will expand regionally through wholesaling and niche marketing. For information, call 951-461-6200 or visit bulldog-brewery.com.googleoff: allgoogleon: all BANNING’S SMOKIN’
Another Inland city has gotten serious about firing up meat. Banning will host its inaugural barbecue competition at the annual Stagecoach Days from 10 a.m. to 6 p .m. at A. C. Dysart Park, 2107 W. Victory Ave., on Saturday, June 20. Besides the horseshoe tourney, live bands, beer garden, games, watermelon-eating competition and jam/jelly making contest, the smoker smack-down will pit the region’s top grillers against one another. They’ll duke it out in four categories: beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken and pork, vying for cash prizes and to be crowned Champion Pitmaster. Admission: $5. For information, call 951-445-1903. googleoff: all
googleon: allTo pass on tips about restaurants, breweries and food shops that are opening and closing, contact Laurie Lucas at llucas@pe.com or 951-368-9559. googleoff: all