Hangar One Vodka 750ml

Hangar One (also styled Hangar 1) traces its beginnings to Jörg Rupf, who grew up among distillers in Germany's Black Forest before settling in California and founding St. George Spirits, the country's first eau de vie distillery, in 1982. In August 2001, Rupf partnered with fellow artisan distiller Ansley Coale to apply eau de vie techniques to vodka production, and Hangar One was founded that year in Alameda, California. The distillery takes its name from the World War II-era aircraft hangar at the former Alameda Naval Air Station where production still takes place today, now under the ownership of Proximo Spirits.

Hangar One's straight vodka is distinguished by its base, which blends a wheat-based neutral spirit with vodka distilled separately from Viognier grapes, an unusual pairing that sets it apart from vodkas relying solely on grain or potato. Production takes place in small Holstein pot stills rather than the large column stills used by most commercial vodka producers, a slower and more labor-intensive method the brand has leaned into as part of its identity. Many of the distillery's flavored expressions extend this approach further, infusing whole fresh fruit directly into the spirit before a second distillation.

The nose is fresh and slightly floral, with a wheat and grain character underscored by a subtle sweetness reminiscent of grape brandy. On the palate, notes of honeysuckle and Asian pear come through, lending the vodka a fruit-forward quality uncommon among grain-based spirits. The finish is smooth and balanced, closing with a light, clean warmth that reflects the influence of the Viognier grape distillate blended into the base.