Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.
In far-flung northeast Fresno, behind Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co., there’s a little upscale cocktail bar that’s putting on the finishing touches before opening.
The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge is a tiny place that seats 26 people at Copper and Maple avenues.
It’s something new for Fresno, with a vibe that takes you out of the freshly constructed edges of rural Fresno and transplants you to San Francisco or some other edgy urban hub.
It’s got something else different for Fresno, as well: a distillery.
“I actually think we’re the only craft distillery in town,” said Alex Costa, distilling consultant at Golden Hour.
Next door sits Maple & Copper Distilling Co. where vodka, gin and soon white rum and many more spirits will be made. Those spirits go into the cocktails that will be served at Golden Hour next door when it opens.
The lounge is expected to open around Feb. 14 — maybe a few days before or after. The Bee got a sneak peek — and taste — of everything going on behind its darkened front door.
The Golden Hour and Maple & Copper Distilling Maple & Copper Distilling Co. left, adjacent to The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge, right, photographed Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
The businesses’ Fresno-based owners prefer to remain unnamed and work in a different sector than food and drink. They built and designed The Golden Hour with architect Robby Antoyan, infusing a 1920s, old Hollywood vibe into it.
Two of the partners from Mad Duck — Costa and Dustin Llanes, who is Golden Hour’s general manager with 22 years of bartending experience — are running the day-to-day business at Golden Hour and Maple & Copper. Costa is childhood friends with the owners, but the businesses are separate.
“Copper & Maple and Golden Hour have nothing to do with the Duck, other than being next door to each other,” he said. “We’re just here because we got lucky and happen to know them and know how to ferment things.”
The vodka is fermented from corn. The gin is made from the vodka, plus botanicals such as juniper, pink grapefruit, cardamom, coriander and makrut lime.
There’s also a whiskey using Maple & Copper’s recipe, though it’s made in Kentucky.
This is a small-batch operation. A 2,000-liter still makes about 160 bottles per run.
They plan to sell bottles of the alcohol eventually. But for now, it’s used in the drinks made next door.
The cocktails A filthy martini is served with a blue cheese-stuffed olive and a cocktail onion at The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
This bar isn’t designed to impress other bartenders, said Llanes.
“It’s really about the customer and how they feel and what they want,” he said. “We want to make a place normal people want to hang out at.”
But still, the drinks are a step above what you would find at your average bar. All the juices are made fresh on site. They marinate and stuff their own olives and infuse their spirits with flavors in house.
There’s a mix of classic and historic cocktails and innovative ones on the menu.
You’ll find an $18 Bananas Foster Old Fashioned, for example. It’s made with bourbon infused with brown butter, walnut liquor, chocolate bitters, and candied walnuts and a caramelized banana slice.
Even the traditional cocktails have a little something extra going on.
Take the “filthy martini” on the menu. It’s made with Copper & Maple vodka washed in extra-virgin olive oil, two kinds of vermouth, and olives stuffed with blue cheese in house.
It’s got an extra briny taste, but also enough flavor that it tastes like more than just vodka. If you’re the type who can’t drink a regular martini straight, you probably can drink this one.
Another cocktail that is likely to be a favorite? The saffron sour, made with Copper & Maple vodka, saffron syrup, mango liquor, lemon and egg white (with a vegan option available). It’s served with a tiny flower on top.
Zero-proof drinks are available too.
At just 760 square feet, The Golden Hour is small. Reservations will be available on its website once it’s open. It will take walk ins. But they will only allow as many people in as they have seats, meaning no packed crowds hovering over seated people.
Details: The Golden Hour is at 1974 E. Copper Ave., suite 101. Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Mad Duck Craft Restaurant and Brewing is seen along Copper Avenue in Fresno. The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge and Maple & Copper Distilling Company at the far left. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Dustin Llanes, general manager of The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge and Alex Costa of Maple & Copper Distilling Company have joined forces to offer something unique, a blending of in-house distilled spirits, cocktail drinks and a lounge with throwback vibes for customers. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Vodka made by Maple & Copper Distilling Company, center, seen with other spirits at The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge. Maple & Copper Distilling Company has set up shop next to The Golden Hour to help provide spirits through its distilling facility. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge and Maple & Copper Distilling Company have joined forces to offer something unique, a blend of in-house distilled spirits, cocktails and a lounge with throwback vibes for customers. Both are adjacent to Mad Duck Craft restaurant and Brewing on Copper Avenue. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Dustin LLanes, general manager at The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge, creates a cocktail. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
A buzz button flower tops a saffron sour cocktail at The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Alex Costa, distilling consultant with Maple & Copper Distilling Co., left, has joined forces with The Golden Hour Cocktail Lounge general manager Dustin Llanes, right, to offer a blend of in-house distilled spirits, cocktails and a lounge with throwback vibes for customers. Both are adjacent to Mad Duck Craft restaurant and Brewing on Copper Avenue. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 1:08 PM.
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Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.