Magic, Botanicals, and High-Rye Bourbon in Santa Fe
Caley Shoemaker never expected a surplus of neighborhood fruit to dictate the opening chapter of her Santa Fe distillery. Shortly after opening the distillery in the Santa Fe Railyard in 2021 with her husband, Jeff Gust, master distiller Caley Shoemaker turned a surplus of neighborhood apricots into a limited-edition Apricot Eau de Vie brandy. That initial batch set the tone for what As Above, So Below Distillery would become—a place where regional botany intersects with unconventional spirits.
Shoemaker arrived in New Mexico in 2020, drawn partly by the state’s recently expanded craft-distilling laws that allow producers to sell bottles directly to consumers while offering on-site tastings and cocktails. Before taking root in the Southwest, she built a career breaking barriers as one of the first women in the U.S. distilling industry. Her resume includes a stint starting out at Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery in Denver, followed by a tenure as head distiller at Hangar 1 Vodka in Alameda, California, where she crafted Fog Point Vodka using water harvested from San Francisco Bay fog.
That penchant for unusual ingredients found fresh inspiration in New Mexico’s geography. Shoemaker notes that the state ranks as the fourth or fifth most biodiverse in the nation, providing a vast palette for her distilling projects. The distillery’s award-winning Sigil Gin relies on 14 botanicals, including native piñon and juniper. Meanwhile, the Aradia Aperitivo pairs angelica and cherry bark with local osha root and citrus peel. The lounge itself leans heavily into this mystical aesthetic, featuring an apothecary-inspired setting complete with velvet couches, weekly trivia games, and goth dance parties.
From Horror Icons to Alpine Amaro
A chance encounter with the manager of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, led to a more permanent fixture on the distillery’s shelf. That meeting sparked a collaboration resulting in the September 2025 release of Elvira Autumnal Gin, which blends juniper, black cardamom, mugwort, allspice, and sage. Customer demand quickly pushed the partnership further. Shoemaker notes that fans repeatedly asked for a high-rye expression, leading to the September debut of an Elvira Bourbon.
Fall releases also brought the introduction of Lilith, an alpine-style dark amaro named after ancient mythology. The spirit incorporates 19 botanicals, among them rosemary, mint, cinnamon, and more piñon and juniper. For Shoemaker, the blending process remains an exercise in patience and intuition. She treats whiskey like divination, noting that the true test arrives years after the liquid is laid down to age.
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