Thunderbolt

Los Angeles

Ethically sourced, low-waste cocktails in an accessible package

From the outside, Thunderbolt could be mistaken for a run of the mill Los Angeles watering hole, with its colourful, airy interior and laid-back SoCal spirit that has guests feeling relaxed the second they walk through its doors. But behind the easily accessible front is one of North America’s most innovative bar programmes that has sustainable practices woven into its very fibre.

Within its day-to-day operation, Thunderbolt takes measures to reduce waste at every opportunity. For starters, you won’t find a slice of lemon with your spritz, or any traditional single-use garnish for that matter. Thunderbolt scaled back its dependency on citrus with only three drinks on the menu created with any at all, while the majority use acid-based alternatives.

A large proportion of the cocktails are pre-batched, using empty glass bottles as containers. This allows the bar to keep many of the cocktails fully chilled in their final form, reducing the need for excess ice and water for shaking, something particularly noteworthy in Southern California where droughts are a regular occurrence. It also actively works with spirits suppliers to ensure that their delivery methods are as green as possible, favouring eco-totes and refillable kegs for spirit restocks.

Thunderbolt also takes proactive measures regarding the provenance of the spirits and ingredients used across its menu. When sourcing new distillates, the bar will only work with small-scale agaverias that fulfil a strict set of criteria. Producers must be making tangible efforts in achieving sustainable production, use ancestral methods, pay fair wages to workers and explicitly acknowledge the tequilero/mezcalero behind it. The spirits must also be unnecessary additives and celebrity involvement-free.

Thunderbolt also ensures it pays back into its local community beyond those who drink at the bar. When guests order the Echo Park Trash Club, proceeds from the drink’s sale contribute towards an initiative that provides clean water and shelter for those in need in LA. The bar also regularly hosts educational events for the bar industry, openly sharing its wisdom on sustainable sourcing and cocktail creation.

For all these efforts combined, Thunderbolt is named the winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2025, as judged by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, 50 Best’s Sustainability Audit Partner.

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