5 Sonoma County Distilleries You Should Know

Distilleries are popping up all over Sonoma County, crafting hand-blended, drinkable delicacies like vodka, gin, and whiskey. You can see fine spirits being made on site, and sample them to discover whether you like your vodka plain or flavored and your gin simple or sloe.

Here are some exceptional Sonoma County distilleries you need to know.

1. Hanson of Sonoma, Sonoma

Hanson of Sonoma is a beautiful and fun destination where you can tour the vodka-making process from the crush pad to the state-of-the-art distillery and then sample the wares in the stunning tasting rooms or by the pond on the scenic grounds.

Choose spirits and cocktail flights, food and spirits pairings, and experience Hanson’s organic and fruit-infused vodkas, American Single Malt Double Barrel Whiskey, and delicious meals from local restaurant girl & the fig.

2. Griffo Distillery, Petaluma

Griffo Distillery mills organic, non-GMO corn for its award-winning gin and then distills it onsite in the 250-gallon copper still they call “Betty.” 

You can take a behind-the-scenes tour through the production floor and barrel room and enjoy a guided tasting. Relax in the bar, order food, snack on charcuterie, and pour over the ever-changing cocktail list. Griffo spirits are created by owners Jenny and Michael Griffo, who artfully combine craft and science (he has a PhD in physics).

3. Prohibition Spirits, Sonoma

The Italians may take credit for limoncello, but this artisanal micro-distillery, owned by Fred and Amy Groth, creates one that is simply perfection  — with outstanding Orangecello and FigCello, too! Distillery tours, intimate tastings, and a variety of experiences are offered on special dates. 

You can always come to the hip, urban tasting room located on the historic Sonoma Plaza, where you can savor Prohibition Spirits’s small-batch, handcrafted vodkas, brandies, gins, whiskies, liqueurs — and their extraordinary limoncello.

4. Sonoma Brothers Distilling, Windsor

Sonoma Brothers is an artisan distillery that’s the dream of Chris Matthies, a Santa Rosa firefighter, and his twin brother, Brandon, a Santa Rosa police officer. Their first batch of vodka was released in summer 2015, followed by bourbon and gin. 

Today, the brothers’ unwavering commitment to high quality, local ingredients has earned them a strong following of fans. Book a private tour and tasting Monday through Thursday, or walk in to sample spirits Friday and Saturday.

5. Barber Lee Spirits, Petaluma

Barber Lee Spirits specializes in harder-to-make, unique styles of spirits. And dedicated to traditional methods of distillation, everything is painstakingly done by hand (no computers allowed)! That means every dial is turned manually; every cut is tasted in the distilling process. While it’s a lot of work, the effort is noticed in the end result. It’s something you have to try, and a place you just have to visit, for yourself to fully appreciate!

Find More

Sonoma County boasts more than a dozen local distilleries, close to a dozen cider producers, and more than two dozen craft breweries — with more in the works.  Check our list of Breweries, Distilleries, and Cider Houses, or follow the Sonoma County Craft Beverage Map to find even more craft beverage touring and tasting options.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Carey Sweet