St. George Spirits was founded in Alameda, California in 1982 by German immigrant, Jörg Rupf. The Rupf family’s origins in the Black Forest region of Germany included a history of distilling, and when the newly arrived Rupf saw the lush fruit grown in and around the Bay area, he was inspired to start his own distillery. St. George Spirits got its start long before the craft distillery movement began. Today, there are over 2,200 active distilleries in the US, but in 1982, there were less than 20.
Jörg Rupf
Rupf was driven to create and showcase California’s extraordinary bounty. So, with his single, 65-gallon Holstein pot still, Rupf began to distill eau de vie (water of life), a relatively unknown spirit in his new country, but popular in Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, and France. It’s a type of brandy that is a colorless, unaged distillate made from any fruit but grapes. St. George Spirits describes the process of making eau de vie as “cramming 30 pieces of fruit into one 750 mL bottle.” This intense spirit was a surprising maiden effort for a new distillery in the early 1980s, but Rupf quickly found success with it.
He began crafting eau de vie with pears, raspberries, cherries, and kiwis. Using the highest quality fruit in a new fermentation method allowed him to make eau de vie that more than rivaled that of Europe’s leading producers – it bested them!
Lance Winters and Dave Smith
Rupf retired in 2010 and passed the reigns to master distiller, Lance Winters, and head distiller, Dave Smith. Each new addition to the distillery’s portfolio carries on the same creative, pioneering spirit that Rupf himself brought to St. George Spirits. Now, St. George Spirits offers a variety of products, including vodka, gin, absinthe, whiskey, brandy, liqueur, and other exotic spirits. The St. George Spirits approach to crafting unique blends stems from a drive to create something new, innovative, and impeccable, regardless of complexities presented by their distillation or current trends.
St. George Spirits is highly acclaimed for its collection of one-of-a-kind spirits, each created with the goal of inspiring consumers to elevate their favorite classic cocktails – and create new ones! – with spirits that feature complex profiles and superior flavors. Check out some of St. George Spirits’ top products below.
St. George Green Chile Vodka
A vodka created to capture a broad range of fresh pepper flavors, such as jalapeños, serranos, habañeros, and bell peppers. All those tangy, vegetal notes are beautifully balanced by the addition of cilantro and lime. Give this vodka a try in your next Bloody Mary or to give your Moscow Mule a real kick.
St. George Terroir Gin
A gin that brings to mind the sensations experienced while driving down California’s West Coast Pacific Highway, this ultra-woodsy gin is packed with botanicals and carries strong notes of Douglas fir, California bay laurel, coastal sage, and roasted coriander.
St. George Single Malt Whiskey
A revolutionary whiskey first produced by St. George Spirits in 2000, each subsequent lot is “akin to visiting an old friend who has a new story for you,” says Smith. The distillery is currently on Lot 22, which gives the whiskey a nose featuring espresso, brown butter, walnut fudge, cherry cobbler, and coriander, and a palate featuring roasted hazelnut, mocha, gingerbread, baklava, and honeydew.
St. George NOLA Coffee Liqueur
A richly complex coffee liqueur that encapsulates a real life love story, this timeless liqueur carries bold flavors of Ethiopian coffee, roasted French chicory, and Madagascar vanilla, revealed little by little with each sip. Enjoy it neat or in a truly extraordinary espresso martini.
St. George Spirits are available from Vintegrity in Kansas and Missouri.
