Get In The Spirit(s)
Once upon a time, I didn’t like wine. I’m going to pause for a moment and let that sink in. You may have noticed the ever growing ‘Wine Tasting’ category on this very blog, highlighting everywhere from Napa and Sonoma to Paso Robles, and San Diego and find this confession hard to believe. But, there was a time when I skipped right past wine completely, in favor of cocktails. Sure, I would try wine every once in a while but it wasn’t until my trip to Italy, wine tasting in the rolling hills of Tuscany, pouring from carafes of Chianti in Florence, sipping in piazzas in Naples, that I finally started to appreciate wine.
This post though, gets back to my roots. A nod to another type of tasting, as distilleries seem to pop up more and more frequently. Whether you like vodka, gin, whiskey or want to discover something unique and different- here are four California distilleries that are worth a trip.
San Francisco Bay Area
On a cold, rainy weekend in the Bay Area, TK, her brother, Teddy and I headed for Alameda to check out two distilleries that had been on my list for a while. What better than some spirits to warm you up on a dreary winter day?
St. George Spirits (Alameda)
You don’t stumble upon St. George Spirits– you go in search of it. Located in an airplane hangar on the former naval air station in the westernmost section of Alameda, St. George boasts some of the best views of the Bay you can find.
Even on a cold and gloomy day in February, we took a moment outside to take in the view. If you’re fortunate enough to visit on a clear, sunny day, you’ll enjoy a stunning backdrop for your tasting experience.
Our group all had different favorites on this tasting- but we were in agreement, St. George knows what they’re doing. From the gin and whiskey to the liqueurs- you’re sure to find something you like in your six selections.
You can take a quick walk to the other side of the hangar if you’d like to purchase anything (there’s a liquor store on-site). Unfortunately, they aren’t allowed to ship directly to customers. If you’re visiting from out of town, they may very well carry St. George in a store near your home. Our host was happy to check on locations in Louisiana for Teddy.
Hangar One (Alameda)
Just down the street from St. George, Hangar 1 shares the amazing view of the Bay Area and boasts several unique options to try. If you enjoy vodka, this tasting is for you! We selected the Lounge Tasting, which allows you six of the nine available selections.
I grew up in Daly City, surrounded by fog on most days. Hangar 1 harnesses actual Bay Area fog into their Fog Point vodka. Brilliant. Finally, someone has done something useful with the thick fog that blanketed my childhood.
Hangar 1 impressed me with their creative twists on vodka, including the Honeycomb and the Syrah Barrel Reserve, a distillery exclusive so hot off the press, it wasn’t even available for purchase yet when we visited. With hints of cardamom, warm sugar, and snickerdoodle, it’s absolutely worth a trip back to pick up a bottle (or two).
Napa Valley Distillery (Napa)
Many people associate Napa Valley with wine– which is fair, as the region is world renowned for the wineries. However, on a recent trip to Napa, TK and I visited Napa Valley Distillery, in search of vodka instead of viognier. Located in Oxbow Market, a busy marketplace similar to the Ferry Building in San Francisco, Napa Valley Distillery’s tasting bar is a great introduction to a sampling of their spirits.
This is also where we learned about ‘yoga breathing’ for spirit tasting. Our friendly host encouraged us to take a deep breath in, sip, then breath out slowly. It tasted like magic. No unpleasant burning, just smooth.
Turns out, even with the diverse collection available at the tasting bar, the Grand Tasting Salon has even more options available at their tastings. Based on this experience, I’d say it’s definitely worth a visit.
Southern California
Desert Distilling (Palm Desert)
In Palm Desert for TK’s most recent birthday, our girls getaway in Coachella Valley came complete with spa treatments, girl talk, lounging in the jacuzzi and a trip to the relatively new Desert Distilling.
During our tour and tasting, we learned a bit about the origins of the distillery, complete with funny stories about mistakes early on that flooded the facility and ‘great ideas’ that resulted in disastrous science experiments.
Visiting on a relatively slow day, our group was essentially treated to a private tour and tasting.
Brown Lady Travel Tips
Catch a Deal
Two of the four distilleries we visited had deals available on Groupon that we were able to take advantage of. Check before your visit to see if you can get a tasting and tour at a discount.
Go On Tour
Most distilleries (like wineries) will offer you the opportunity to tour the facility. This can be a great way to learn more about both the spirits and the region, often directly from the makers themselves.
Play Hooky
I’m not encouraging you to call in sick (no judgement if you do though!). If however, you happen to find your way to any of these distilleries on a Friday afternoon, you may have the tasting room to yourself. Weekends tend to be really busy, so you may not have a chance to chat with the staff or enjoy the same relaxed environment. If weekends are your only option, make a reservation in advance.
Do you have any favorite distilleries? Where else should be on my list?