Hangin’ at the Hangar
We finally got ourselves over to Alameda this afternoon to visit the Hangar One / St. George Spirits distillery. We’ve always managed to be out of town during their annual open house parties, but this year was different. For a $30 ticket, we got the chance to sip pretty much everything they make (though we limited ourselves to things we hadn’t already tried), including the seasonal Spiced Pear vodka. The best part, though, was getting up close with their gorgeous copper stills, one of my favorite photo subjects.
For an additional $10, we also got to sample the new Agua Azul, a 100% agave spirit that can’t technically be called tequila because it’s not made in Mexico. We loved all three expressions — rich cristal, smoky reposado, and mellow-but-not-boring añejo — but balked when we saw the $60, $80, and $120 price tags. (We’ll probably change our minds right as they sell out, just as we did with the Absinthe Verte last year… oh well.)
In addition to all the sippable samples, admission included copious top-notch munchies: June Taylor preserves, Boccalone salumi, El Huarache Loco antojitos, La Cocina sweets, and Recchiuti chocolates. We were impressed at the short lines for both the samples and the loos (thanks to a set of porta-potties ’round back of the distilling equipment), and plentiful water stations all throughout the warehouse. A DJ spun tunes, employees answered questions, and a shuttle swung by every hour to drop guests off at BART.
Sound like fun? Sign up for the newsletter to find out about next year’s open house and other special events throughout the year.
Hangar One / St. George Spirits
2601 Monarch Street
Alameda, CA 94501
510.769.1601
Comment by David
I brought back a bottle of their absinthe recently but haven’t cracked it open. Their pear eau-de-vie and kirsch are the best I’ve ever had. If I had more luggage space, they’d of gone in there, too.
Posted on 11.23.08 at 4:22AM
Comment by cookiecrumb
Spiced pear vodka? Wow. I wonder if they’d like some Bartletts from not as far away as Colorado!! They could pay me with a bottle. Just one.
🙂
Posted on 11.23.08 at 2:47PM
Comment by jak
man, now i’m jealous and homesick! we used to live in jack london square, just a few miles away from st. george. their absinthe is mindblowing… a real treasure to be savored. i remember always having to be extra careful during the tasting events–those tastes can hit you pretty fast.
by the way, it’s been a little while since i’ve visited your site and you’ve really done a nice job. terrific pictures and great layout!
Posted on 11.24.08 at 5:55PM