My friend has been meaning to gather a group for the whiskey tasting here for awhile. We finally made it happen even though we ended up being one of their last tasting before their closure. When you get into the tasting room, the whiskeys are all laid out already for you. We sampled 6 glasses from gin to vodka to whiskey. Our host was very informative as he went through each one with us and eventually offering an extra glass. To be real, the drinks were all incredibly strong for me. I had to try washing the taste down with the water, but definitely wished there was some sort of snacks for us (since it seems some others who did the tasting before had some). Anyways, after the quick half an hour or so tasting, we were on our own. The outdoor rooftop area is the true gem of this place. You get a gorgeous skyline view of the SF building although there was a huge crane right in the middle of the view. This place has amazing potential for a rooftop bar. I also loved the way the decor was decorated with the wall plants. Overall, for $37 per person, this tasting was a unique experience. I am definitely paying more for the view here than the actual tasting though. read more

Hotaling & Co - Whiskey Tasting. - Distilleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We went to the Whiskey Wednesday tasting event. Phenomenal! At first I thought it was a little pricey, but it was really worth every penny for the excellent, intimate experience *even for someone who doesn't like whiskey!* Really well-curated experience and excellent presenters. They answered all our questions and more. You can really feel the passion they have. Well done! Can't wait to go back for another event. read more

Made a reservation online for four and had a wonderful time. Got there 15 minutes early and had time to enjoy the view, rooftop garden and take some pictures. We don't make it to SF much from the east bay and the view was breath taking and the weather was perfect. Dan was our guide and was very personable. He was cool with answering any type of question including my nerdy ones regarding the copper equipment and any recommendations for mixed drinks since he was a bartender. He took us through each alcohol and gave us history and interesting fun facts and moved on when he could tell we were ready for the next one! My favorite was the juniper gin. Definitely enjoyed the tasting and the view. Will probably come back and request Dan again! Thank you! read more

Hotaling & Co - Distilleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pros: Now that is what I call a rooftop! Great views, awesome atmosphere, you gotta see it. We also learned a lot about the history of Anchor and alcohol in general. The people that work here are also really nice. Cons: Hard liquor is tough to taste on its own, they provide some crackers and cherries, but I think it needs a mixer for those of us that are new to tasting it. Maybe compare two different types of Manhattans or Martinis...something. Also, there isn't a tour, which is too bad because we would have loved to see the copper stills. If you've never done a liquor tasting and want to try something new, this is the place. Hanging on the rooftop alone is worth the $35. read more

Very informative and interesting spirits tasting! We had a great time for my boyfriend's birthday and got to sit in the rooftop garden overlooking the SF skyline while we finished our drink. read more

Hotaling & Co - Spirits tasting - Distilleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came here yesterday to celebrate my brother's birthday with 18 of our friends. The location is great and provides awesome rooftop views before and after the tasting. The guide was excellent and extremely accommodating for all of our needs. The tastings were great! Some were a little on the stronger tasting side but our guide helped all of us enjoy them to the best of our abilities! Definitely would recommend this place to others and will definitely be returning in the near future! read more

Went there with a couple friends and it was a really pleasant surprise! That rooftop garden and view just can't be beat. Who knew all that was up there? Loved the Junipero Gin and the Old Potrero Rye the best. The host (Dan) and co-host (Morgan) were fun and informative and created a comfortable, chill atmosphere. Wish they could sell their product on-site, but that's against the law, apparently. read more

We did the tasting with James. It was a really fun experience! The penthouse tasting room is great as is their outdoor space. James was not only extremely friendly, but also refreshingly knowledgeable and very patient as we lobbed question after question to him. Definitely an experience to add to your list! read more

Dan is the man, gave a lot of insight during the tasting of the history and process of the different liquors.

My entire experience from making a few phone calls, to speaking with Rhys and emailing back and forth with him, to actually being there, and Dan hosting the tasting event was exceptional. Everyone I spoke with were extremely friendly, attentive and helpful. Rhys's responses to my emails were so prompt and he made the reservations for me and put my mind at ease. The actual location is gorgeous, Dan was highly knowledgeable and again, this turned out to be an incredible experience that I'd highly recommend to others, not to mention that the products we tasted were exceptional and we will be looking to purchasing them from now on. read more

We came for one of the expert-led tastings- First off, the venue is beautiful. A roof top garden and event space is really hard to find, and they have done a wonderful job with it. Jon was our guide for the tasting and he was fun, super knowledgeable, and answered everyones questions. The tasting is very well organized and included a few fun extras. Doing the tasking at the bar with the view of the city in the background was a one of a kind experience. I highly recommend the tasting flight or the venue for events. read more

The environment alone is worth five stars, it's a beautiful building with an amazing rooftop bar and the view is top notch. The tasting itself was lead by Dan who did a great job of keeping it casual yet informative and all of the spirits we tasted I would buy a whole bottle of, they were unique and flavorful but not too powerful. This was a really fun activity to do on a beautiful San Francisco day and I will definitely do it again. read more

We took the EXPERT-LED TASTING session, it was reasonably priced. You need to make the reservation online. Bar tender (He is more than a bar tender), was very knowledgeable. He's a cocktail pro. I highly recommend this tasting. read more

The show room and tour are amazing. The antique oak furniture and motif are beautiful. It was great learning about the beer making process and seeing all the beautiful copper. I cannot wait for the tap room to open next month. read more

Great experience at Hotaling! The spirits were very good, the conversation was great, and the views can't be beat. Highly recommended!

This place is unique. To get to the tasting room requires a few flights and sights. You go past the reception area, grain warehouse, and the brewery to the room and patio area. The patio and bar look over the city, where you can see the ball park, bridge, and cityscape. We were lucky enough to be the only ones there and our spirit master, Mick, held our interest while he was giving us a very interesting presentation. The pours are good and featured what I was interested in. My only complaint, and it's nothing they can control, was that the liquor could not be purchased there--state law. Parking was readily available--and that deserves an extra star! read more

The tasting at Anchor Distilling was incredibly informative and enjoyable. I am not very knowledgable about gin(s) and it was great to learn about the differences. I also enjoyed tasting their whiskeys. The guide was very friendly and energetic and the setting was lovely. read more

A group of us did the Whiskey Wednesday whiskey tasting, and had a blast. Bruce, the master distiller, is a legend, and we all nerded out pretty hard. This is a really fun and super interesting thing for a group of friends to do in SF. Beautiful rooftop garden too, for the win! read more

Fun experience to try and learn about local spirits. Beautiful roof top with amazing city view.

Hi! A group of my colleagues and I attended a tasting at Hotaling Distillery this March. It was a fascinating experience with a fabulous view. Located in the top story of the Anchor Brewing building in San Francisco with a lovely patio. We were walked through a tasting of six types of distilled liquors, including gin, vodka, and whiskey. Our expert, Dan, was just that, and everyone in my group left with a newfound appreciation for the process of distilling. I would recommend it to any group or individual who enjoys delicious high-quality products made in San Francisco, and is looking for a chance to learn more about how spirits are produced. Thanks, Dan! read more

Who know there was an Anchor Distilling Company in the same building as the beer brewery? I took the brewery tour years before the Distillery opened, and I highly recommend both the Brewery tour and the Distillery tasting. Six different spirits were offered - Junipero Gin, Old Tom Gin, Genevieve Gin, Hophead Vodka, Old Potrero 18th Century Whiskey, and Old Potrero Rye. All excellent, the Rye being my favorite. (I wish Anchor would brew at least one ages rum, though.) Knowledgeable host, fun atmosphere, fantastic view from the penthouse bar. Loved it. Fun fact - the penthouse was Fritz Maytag's apartment when he owned the brewery and distillery. Absolutely worth the fee but don't be late - the tour leaves right on time! read more

We were at Anchor Distilling yesterday for a company event and we had the best time. We did the private tasting in the penthouse overlooking the entire city. Rhys was on top of everything and was extremely accommodating for all our needs. James did an excellent job explaining the tastings and helping out with everything! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a rooftop event space in the city. read more

Our guide was very knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining. Definitely recommend the last tasting of the night, as the city (at least in winter) is lit up and provides for a great view. read more

Great beers and great spirits! Did the rooftop whiskey tasting this year and the atmosphere and the service was tremendous! Beautiful view over the city too! read more

We had a great time. The tasting was informative and fun. Learned a lot about how Anchor Distilling is different from others making vodka, gin and whiskey. You can't purchase the products on site but they will give you names of local vendors. The outdoor garden and view is very nice. Would be great to have a event there. Will return for the brewery tour. read more

What a great place for a team offsite! The tasting room is gorgeous- it has a rooftop garden, indoor/outdoor space and views of the city. I would love to host a party up there because its that great! The tasting was super fun- led by a knowledgable and personable guide. My entire team had a blast! We'll be back! read more

Did the gin and whiskey tasting this past Sunday with my family. We had an awesome time, learned a ton and really enjoyed ourselves. Dan, our host, was great. Really cool guy, interesting, and really knows his stuff. Would recommend the tasting and especially Dan to anybody. Will definitely do this again when I'm in SF. Plus the gins and whiskeys were great too read more

My groomsdudes and I came here for a tasting and it was the highlight to a perfect day. Mick was our host and was very friendly, knowledgeable, and relaxed. It was an altogether enjoyable experience taking in the San Francisco Skyline on a perfect weather day while sipping and tasting some excellent Gin, Vodka, and Whiskeys. Mick made us very comfortable and feel like we we're doing this tasting in my home living room. It's nice to go and learn about something where people aren't snobbish about their particular craft. I look forward to going back again! read more

My name is Dan - which means I know good Dans and bad Dans - and the Dan you guys have is one of the best. Dan knows his stuff and made the tasting a blast! read more

I went for their tasting and it was a great experience. James, our guide, was very friendly and knowledgeable about all kinds of spirits. Learned some interesting history about the distillery and spirit development in California in general. And the view was absolutely stunning. We did the tour at 6:30pm on a Thursday and there were just us so felt like a private tour. Highly recommended. read more

One of the best kept secret rooftops is now open to the public! It is not to be missed on your trip to San Francisco. The Tasting Experience offers unique insight into the world of spirits and gives you an appreciation for the art of small batch craft spirits. An amazing experience rich with history and VIEWS FOR MILES. read more

We recently threw our 50th wedding anniversary party on the Anchor Brewery rooftop. It was a great party. Rhys helped us plan every detail, offering clear advice, and the bar and general staff on the day of the event were friendly, made great drinks, played our playlist for dancing for us, and met every need. Rhys coordinated with our food, wine and equipment suppliers perfectly. The venue, about 40% indoor bar and 60% outdoor terrace, has spectacular views of the city, We comfortably had about fifty very happy people and were lucky that we had good weather on top of all else. We highly recommend this place and its services. read more

Had a great time, make sure though if you want a tour to do the brewery, the distaillery tasting is what it says you immediately walk up to the roof where the botanical garden is and take in the many scents, then your taken through a brief background of the company and each liquor as you taste it, there was three different gins as well as a vodka and two whiskeys im not a gin fan but I still tasted them and had a great time. Definetly recommend to a friend at the very least the view is worth the price. read more

Dan was an awesome host, couldn't have asked for better. Many of the sprits we had were amazing, and we learned so much about the history and making of them during our tasting. The view alone would have been worth the price of admission at most places, but I barely noticed it for the quality of the rest of the experience. Totally solid, and would highly recommend it to anyone. We will be looking into private event hosting in the near future. read more

This is an experience you will not forget. I was looking for an activity with my buddy and this experience came highly recommended. Like many of the recent reviews, Dan was our man. He was super knowledgeable and patient with my many questions. The view was spectacular and the rooftop garden (maintained by Dan) was clearly a passion project for him. Parking was also fairly easy to find for a Saturday. read more

The distillery tasting was fantastic! The location on the rooftop deck had an amazing view of the city and added to the fun of the tasting. We got to try 3 gins, 1 vodka, and 2 whiskeys, along with some amazing italian maraschino cherries. Our tasting guide was so knowledgeable about the history and process of making the spirits. He taught us a lot and was very pleasant. Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys alcohol. read more

Beautiful scenery and delicious samples. James, our Spirits Expert, was very informative, sociable and knowledgeable as well. Highly recommend! read more

We love the ales and the venue, but the loud obnoxious music is a total turnoff. Tone it down and put on some classy jazz or something tasteful. Loud sucks! read more

A special hidden gem on top of Anchor Brewing. Enjoy the rooftop garden on a nice day and inside bar with great views for the tasting. In addition, you can learn about the distilling process and enjoy several different spirits - gin, vodka and whiskey. read more

My husband and I were very impressed by the distillery tasting given by James. James was very knowledgeable about the distilling processes for each spirit, and we learned a lot - plus got to taste 6 great spirits! The view from the tasting room is fantastic, and the whole setup is great. A really cool spot and very fun activity to do for a date or with a group. Can't wait to do the brewery tasting & tour next! read more