Bentwing Brandy

Hangar 1 let this Californian Brandy spread its wings and find its French soulmates.

The folk at the Hangar 1 Distillery, located at a repurposed airplane hangar on Alameda Island in San Francisco Bay, sure like a good plane reference. Previously an exclusive grape-based Vodka distiller, famous for their Hangar 1 Straight Vodka (Don't be deceived by the word straight as it's really quite complex.), it was founded in 2001 by Ansley Coale who was in cahoots with St. George Spirits. Coale also co-founded the legendary Germain-Robin Craft Distillers back in the 1980s, but anyway, today, Hangar 1 Spirits is owned by Proximo Spirits of New Jersey and produced right next to St. George's distillery on Alameda Island.

Their Bentwing Brandy (Told you there's plenty of plane references flying around.) is their first non-Vodka offering. If you thought California's grapes are just for excellent Wines, think again – we're living in the new era of Californian Brandy and this one marries the best of Northern California grapes with French Brandies, made in the Chenin Blanc style, and the result? It's pretty fly. I guess that's what happens when Old World heritage and New World styles converge – here, the classic French Brandies are blended with a delicate floral Brandy, made from several California Wine varietals, before being finished in seasoned American white oak Single Malt Whiskey casks. You ready for takeoff?

Smartass Corner:
During World War II, the F4U Corsair fighter planes were used by the U.S. Navy and some of them were located at the very same Alameda hangar of the Hangar 1 Distillery. Recognizable by their inverted gull wings, the plane earned the nickname "Bent Wing Bird. "