Mission to Donate 100% of Altadena Strong Proceeds to Local Fire Relief

It's taken us a few weeks to pick up the pieces here at Mission. We've been checking in on our colleagues, friends, family members, and many of our own homes, scrambling to keep our doors open for the Altadena customers who depend on our business. 

This week, however, we're beginning a series of different charity drives to raise money for the rebuilding of Altadena, beginning today with our new 'Altadena Strong' T-shirts. 

100% of all proceeds from the sale of these shirts goes to the Pasadena Educational Fund for Eaton fire victims to help local families in need, and 100% of what we give them goes directly to those who have been displaced. 

Working alongside our recently updated logo's design firm, the Thirty O' Ninebranding and merchandising agency, the 'Altadena Strong' shirt pays homage to our Washington Blvd storefront as it looked in the 1970s, with the mountains rising up behind it. Mission's vintage vertical sign has been a fixture of the neighborhood for many decades and served as the inspiration for the graphic. 

Help us give back to the community by purchasing one of our new ' Altadena Strong' T-shirts and wear it with pride as we work together with the community to rebuild. Mission is thankful to have such credible customers helping to distribute the necessary resources directly to those in need, and working to make this next drive a success! 

Pre-order your 'Altadena Strong' T-Shirt below and select your size and preferred shipway – either via shipping or in-store pickup. We're expecting all shirts to be ready by the end of this week and we're ready to print more if need be.  Click on the link below to order…

'Altadena Strong' Mission Fundraiser T-Shirt

$30.00

"Donations to the PEF Eaton Fire Response Fund will support our Pasadena Unified School District community during this crisis. Our district leadership is currently assessing the needs of our students, staff, and families. PEF and PUSD are committed to working together to ensure that resources reach those who need them most."

Oban's Limited Edition Delivers

Under Diageo’s Johnnie Walker empire there are many great, iconic single malt distilleries: Lagavulin, Talisker, and Clynelish—just to name a few.

But only one of Diageo’s distilleries is so prized as a single malt that almost none of it ever finds its way into the Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky releases. That special distillery is Oban, the 230 year old facility located along Scotland’s western coast. 

Oban’s single malt whisky is prized not just because the distillery itself is quite small, but also because the whisky itself is so delicate and fine. With graceful notes of fruit, vanilla, and subtle spices, its delicate character is easily overpowered when blended with other, more expressive malt whiskies.

In fact, Oban is so coveted that you’ll almost never see it as an independently-bottled single barrel or private label. As a result, limited editions from Oban have been few and far between over the years, which is why Diageo’s latest 10 year old cask strength edition named “Coastal Orchard” really got our attention!

Finished in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at a whopping 58% ABV cask strength, this is a side of Oban we’ve never witnessed before. It combines the saltiness of Oban’s maritime influence along with ripe orchard fruits and viscosity from the Sherry cask aging. It reminds us quite a bit of Springbank, in that regard!

We think you’ll want to try a bottle while they last. Oban is always few and far between, especially outstanding editions like this one.

Oban 10 Year Old Coastal Orchard Special Release Single Malt Whisky 2024

Larceny C924 Out-Ranks Pappy 15 For Best Whiskies of 2024

When renowned whiskey critic Fred Minnick released his list of the Top 100 American whiskies of 2024 last month, there were more than a few surprises.

One of the biggest shockers was the 125.1 proof Batch C924 of barrel proof Larceny from Heaven Hill beating out the legendary Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year, which came in at #13, Van Winkle 10 year at #10, and just behind the Weller Millenium at #6 (which runs for $7500+).

All of these selections are wheated Bourbons made at two of Kentucky’s most popular distilleries, but one of them is a LOT cheaper (and more readily available) than the others. Believe it or not, we still have an ample supply here at Mission and our $59.99 price is one of the best in the nation.

If you want to do your own review and see if you agree with Minnick, grab one of the remaining bottles while we still have them in stock. Big, sweet, powerful, mature, cask strength wheated Kentucky Bourbon is always in short supply. According to Fred Minnick, your money will go a lot further with the Larceny!

After all, it’s better than Pappy!

Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Wheated Bourbon C924 750ml

Insane 49 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Pre-Sale

For those of you who dream about the $10,000+ Macallan editions and the incredibly mature, luxurious single malt whiskies that retail for five figures or more, we’ve got the best deal of 2025 just two days into the new year. This bottle lives up to that level of quality. 

A rich, unctuous, mouth-coating 1973 vintage single Sherry barrel of cask strength 49 year old Highland single malt whisky for just $999.99, bottled by the highly-reputable Alexander Murray private label.

While a thousand bucks is no small ask for a bottle of booze, you have to consider two very important details when considering this value proposition:

1. This same whisky also exists as an official bottling under a different label and retails for well over double our $999.99 price today. With that discrepancy, you could buy two bottles from us today and still have $500 left over.

2. Even the most affordable sherry-matured 40 year Highland single malt whiskies start at around $1200 a bottle (i.e. Glenfarclas). Yet, this is a single Sherry barrel bottled at 49 years of age at a cask strength ABV of 41.5%.

And….we’ve vetted it. It’s utterly outstanding. Comparing it against the great Highland whiskies of a similar age and quality, it more than holds its own. Per our NDA, however, we cannot tell you where it came from. 

Having tasted the barrel sample late last year, we couldn’t get over the complexity and utter deliciousness of this whisky. Layers of dark cacao, toffee, and spice cake with an earthiness that balances out all those decadent notes, yet with enough sweetness to match the alcohol on the finish. The finish goes on for minutes and we can only imagine how much more this whisky will offer those of you lucky enough to nurse an entire bottle of it, let alone a small sample!

This barrel is set to arrive in California very soon, with a pick-up/shipment ETA at Mission of January 31st.

There are very, very few of these bottles available, which is why we’re taking advance orders starting today. Don’t miss out on the best single malt deal of 2025! Lock down your 1973 vintage bottle today and drink the epitome of Scotch whisky luxury while supplies last.

1973 Alexander Murray Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Whisky $999.99 (PRE-ORDER)

The Next Great International Gin Arrives in CA

Not since Australia’s Four Pillars landed nearly a decade ago has an international gin producer arrived in America with as much hype and critical praise as Vietnam’s Lady Trieu. 

Asia’s most-awarded spirit has hit our store just in time for holiday gifting, and our sales team has been waiting impatiently for this moment. Distilled in the rural Saigon countryside of Củ Chi using local botanicals and spices, Lady Trieu’s delicate citrus notes combined with fragrant aromas of hibiscus, oolong tea, and long red peppers, give it a flavor profile that is completely unique from the classic London Dry and New American expressions that have dominated the last decade. The distillery’s custom-designed gin still beautifully captures the essence of each ingredient, giving the spirit a profile of orange peel, juniper, agua fresca, and subtle spice.

With a recent gold medal under its belt from the 2024 World Gin Awards, the interest in Lady Trieu’s legend peaked here in Los Angeles earlier this Fall. The rumors that it might be making its way to California became reality this month when the brand made its soft launch here in SoCal. The largely female distilling team has also become the topic de jour of the international spirits industry, not to mention the Vietnamese community. 

If you need a last-minute holiday gift for the gin lover in your life, this is the bottle. Not only is the package beautiful, the overall drinking experience of Lady Trieu is simultaneously luxurious and exotic. It’s one of the most exciting new spirits to hit the market this year and we’re thrilled to have landed it before the year ends.

Lady Trieu Contemporary Vietnam Gin $39.99

SoCal's Premier Wine Growing Region Overdelivers

“The negociant arm of Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr's collaboration, Sandhi continues to deliver purity, focus and precision seemingly on demand. In addition to sourcing from an enviable array of top-tier sites in Sta. Rita Hills, they have begun including sections of the Domaine de la Côte. The 2022 Sandhi Chardonnay overdelivers for a regional wine.

-Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

How many Angelenos are aware that our Southern California wine country has some of the chalkiest soils outside of Chablis sitting right here in our backyard?

Here at MIssion, we’re huge fans of the Santa Rita Hills Chardonnays because of their incredible combination of acidity, minerality, and fruit. Completely unlike the oaky and buttery Chardonnay wines from up north, the SoCal wines from this appellation are steely and precise, with laser-like precision that offers supreme refreshment and depth.

While the top-tier Chardonnays from the Santa Rita Hills generally clock in between $60 - $100 per bottle, the 2022 Sandhi clocks in at just $29.99 and offers much of the excitement we find in the pricier single vineyard expressions.

If you want to understand just how awesome these wines are before spending double or triple on a bottle, this is where you start. SoCal’s premier Chardonnays are on par with some of the best French Burgundies. The 2022 Sandhi is an introduction to a greater world from the most exciting wine region in the entire state; plus, the fruit is 100% from Domaine de la Côte, which sells for much, much more than $29.99.

95 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - A vivid, racy and well-balanced wine with great acidity and vibrant citrus, crisp pear and apple flavors on a silky texture. So light-bodied, elegant and linear in character.

92 POINTS: WINE SPECTATOR - Opens with a mouthwatering mix of Meyer lemon, pomelo, freshly grated ginger, Honeycrisp apple and green tea flavors. Hints of toasted herbs, sea salt and orange zest linger on the finish.

91 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE - Sourced from selections planted at Domaine de la Côte, the 2022 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is more floral than saline on the nose, introducing a focused, laser-like palate whose precision overdelivers for a regional wine. It finishes with a lovely textural richness framed with an oceanic lift, making for a charming and accurate showing of the Sta. Rita Hills.

90 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2022 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is a tense, nely-cut Chardonnay. Bright citrus peel, white flowers, chalk, mint and white pepper lend notable brilliance throughout. All of this fruit is from Domaine de la Côte.

Save Big on Perennial 90+ Point Cabernet

The ratings are still out for the outstanding 2022 vintage in Napa, but here’s a quick snapshot of the Hess Allomi Cabernet brand’s trajectory over time:

2021: 93 Points - Wine Spectator & Wine Enthusiast

2019: 90 Points - Wine Enthusiast

2018: 90 Points - Wine Spectator

2016: 90 Points - Wine Spectator

2015: 90 Points - Wine Enthusiast & Robert Parker

Given the ripeness and the richness of the warm 2022 growing season in Napa, the 2022 Hess Allomi is a lush and mouth-coating wine that embodies the flavors of classic California Cabernet, with blackberries, blueberries, and a bit of anise and sassafras.

You can wait for what is certain to be another 90 point score for the 2022 vintage, or you can trust in this wine’s impeccable history and take advantage of our ridiculous price of $23.99 today. If you’re still looking for that crowd-pleasing red to adorn your Thanksgiving table, drop by any of our five locations today!

Glenfiddich’s Throwback 19 Year Old

Not only is Glenfiddich one of Scotland’s oldest and most iconic distilleries, it’s also one of the last family-owned.

With the consolidation of corporate-owned single malts into global portfolios, Glenfiddich remains in the hands of the Grant family, who continues to operate the historic distillery in conjunction with Balvenie, forming what is easily the most heralded duo in all of single malt whisky.

There’s a reason Glenfiddich (along with Balvenie) continues to create amazing whiskies year after year after year: the Grant family has kept standards high and quality strong for a century and a half. Whereas many of our favorite single distilleries have had their reputations watered down by financial ambition and corporate realignment, Glenfiddich has remained a true unicorn, capable of greatness without the need for gimmicky marketing.

Case in point: the fantastic new 19 year old Bourbon Barrel Reserve, which tastes like a throwback to the old days of Glenfiddich when single malt whisky was just straightforward and outstanding. There are no tricks to this whisky, whatsoever. It’s just a simple 19 year maturation in ex-Bourbon barrels, allowing the vanilla, fruit, and spice of the whisky to shine through.

There’s so much toffee and vanilla on the finish that it comes across as creme brulée-like in a river of richness that lasts for minutes. For those shopping for the high holidays, the new 19 year old Bourbon Barrel Reserve is also certified Kosher Mehadrin.

If you like really good single malt Scotch that tastes like old fashioned, no frills, just downright delicious Scotch whisky from the past, the new 19 year old Glenfiddich hits every note: texture, weight, sweetness, depth, and deliciousness. Just like the Grant family has been doing for almost 150 years at this point. 

Glenfiddich Special Reserve 19 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Matured Single Malt Whisky $179.95