As we continue celebrating Long Beach Last Call 2026—a 10-day, multi-event celebration of our city’s rich bar culture and the people who make it happen—we will offer a series of features that highlight events like this feature on Baby Gee’s esoteric spirit tasting on Saturday, March 6… All in order to lift a glass to a social and economic driver that rarely receives the love it deserves: our bar industry. For more information on Long Beach Last Call, tap here.
Let’s get weird: an esoteric spirits tasting at Baby Gee…
A tasting focused on esoteric spirits is one of the best ways to explore bottles you’d likely never commit to buying outright. Especially when hosted ata thoughtful local bar such as Baby Gee. These spirits can be expensive. Obscure. Unfound on local grocery shevls. Or simply unfamiliar. Which is why this guided tasting on Saturday, March 7, is the perfect low-stakes introduction.
“The event is mostly a way to get people exposed to things they may not have tried,” said owner Gianna Johns. “Or that they have tried, but wanted to learn more about. Take amaro. Most have heard of it and even tasted a few iterations. But we’re frequently asked to tell them more about it. Because, even though it’s been around, it’s such a diverse category that most people have barely scratched the surface of. We’re super excited to bring in Cameron [Martinez] from Oliver McCrum to showcase some really special family-owned brands.”
But the value goes beyond sampling rare pours: it builds cultural cache for the drinker. By learning how different amari, bacanoras, and sochus taste on their own, you begin to understand how bartenders balance cocktails at your favorite spots. Suddenly, that bitter edge, floral lift, or earthy backbone in a drink makes sense. Each new spirit becomes another flavor in your vocabulary. And it expands not just your palate, but your appreciation for the craft behind the bar.
So what will guests experience at this Baby Gee tasting?
Eight expressions of three spirits will be explored: Amaro. Bacanore. And sochu. And each will have experts on hand to run through them, including: Bacanora specialists Ramon Rivera and Natalia Garcia Bourke. Japanese spirit specialist Paul Nakayama. And Italian spirit specialist Cameron Martinez.
Your Baby Gee tasting ticket includes:
- A welcome cocktail
- Three educational segments lead by spirit specialists
- Spirit tastings from each category (8+ total spirits)
- A speciality cocktail from each category by Baby Gee
“In an economy where cocktails are a luxury, it can be hard to stray from the categories that were most comfortable with when we are looking at a menu,” Gianna said. “And that’s simple: you don’t want to be disappointed. And it’s hard to risk $20 on something you might not like… So I wanted to find a fun way to expose people to new possibilities because I believe going outside of our bubble is how we stay alive. Open-minded. And creative. The world literally needs us to try new things and get unstuck. Even if just one person walks away from this seminar with a different order on their next visit, I will be super stoked.”
Tickets are $55 and the event takes place on Saturday, March 7, starting at noon. To RSVP, email: info@babygeebar.com
Exploring shochu…
“Shochu and Bacanora are probably much less well-known to the average drinker,” Gianna said. “Shochu is often mistaken for Soju. And vice versa. Japanese shochu is one of the most interesting categories. This is not a category where you can decide you just don’t like it they each differ from each other so much so even if you’ve heard of it this is a really exciting way to go more in depth. I’ve personally been most excited about shochu this year than I have about anything in a long time. Honestly: I can’t stop drinking it.”
Japanese shochu is one of the country’s most quietly beloved spirits—less internationally famous than sake but far more commonly consumed within Japan itself. Distilled rather than brewed, shochu can be made from a variety of base ingredients. You have sweet potato, or imo. Barley (mugi). Rice (kome). Or even buckwheat.
Each lending its own character to the final spirit. Typically bottled at a lower proof than whiskey or vodka, it’s also incredibly versatile: enjoyed neat, on the rocks, diluted with hot water (oyuwari), or lengthened with soda in casual highballs.
The ballet of bacanora…
“In that sense, bacanora shares similarities with mezcal but has a fascinating history and is in its own lane in many ways,” Gianna said. “Baby Gee loves to work with alternative agave spirits, and it’s exciting to share these with an audience that already is in love with tequila and mezcal.”
Bacanora is one of Mexico’s most distinctive agave spirits, hailing from the rugged mountains of Sonora where it has been produced for generations. Made primarily from the native angustifolia branch of agave, bacanora shares some similarities with mezcal but carries its own identity.
For decades, bacanora was produced clandestinely after the Sonoran government outlawed its production in 1915, forcing distillers to operate in secret until the ban was lifted in 1992. That rebellious history remains part of its allure today. Now protected by a denomination of origin, bacanora is gaining wider recognition among bartenders and spirits enthusiasts who appreciate its wild, rustic character and the deep cultural traditions behind every bottle.
Baby Gee is located at 1227 E. 4th St.
