Endless West is a spirits and technology company using innovative methods to create its own original brand of wines and spirits. Their first product, Glyph, is the first whiskey ever to be created note by note, using molecules (or, flavor and aroma notes) extracted in their purest form from more efficient sources in nature. Unlike conventional whiskeys, Glyph is made without aging or barreling— which means significantly less wood, water and land is used in its production process. Founded in 2015 by scientists Alec Lee and Mardonn Chua, and sommelier, Josh Decolongon, the company is headquartered in San Francisco and has raised $13 million in total funding to date. For more information, visit endlesswest.com/glyph. 

On a Napa winery visit in 2015, Mardonn came across the historic Chardonnay that won the 1973 “Judgement of Paris” wine competition which put California wines on the map. Upon learning that this particular vintage— due to its age and pedigree had become too valuable to open, Mardonn’s perspective on wines and spirits changed forever. As a wine enthusiast, Mardonn began to wonder what good a bottle serves if it can’t be tasted. As a scientist, he questioned the possibility of creating the same renowned wine without the usual production methods.

Those questions were the genesis of Endless West. Mardonn later joined forces with Alec, a fellow scientist and renegade spirit, and Josh, a sommelier with a knack for unconventional ideas. What began as an obsession with the molecular components of wine turned into an exploration of spirits, too. Our first challenge was to create a high-quality whiskey using a fraction of the usual resources: a smooth, charismatic whiskey that sips like it’s been stored away for years, despite having never seen the inside of a barrel. Our journey begins with spirits, but our passion for innovation within the world of food and drink reminds us that the horizon is endless.