Know the difference between Cognac & Brandy? By the very simplest of definitions, Cognac is Brandy…read more Though, to be a Cognac, a Brandy has to be produced only in an authorized region of France & it has to be produced in accordance with specific rules & regulations. For more, check out the Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognac Beyond the literal definitions of Cognac & Brandy, there's also the likely perception that Cognacs are superior to Brandies. Just go down the liquor aisle of any major supermarket. The Cognacs stocked on the shelves are probably higher quality (& more expensive) than the Brandies. & maybe, to a certain extent, Cognacs do tend to be better than Brandies. But that most definitely is not the case with Germain-Robin Brandies. It's not surprising, really. G-R has its roots in Cognac. Instead of France, however, they're in Northern California. This is key. Rather than be bound by Old World dogma, following all those rules & regulations on how to make Cognac, G-R does what we crazy Californians have done all along. Defy convention. Experiment. Innovate. All with incredible effect. G-R Brandies have beaten much pricier Cognacs in blind tastings. I've been a huge fan of G-R's story, philosophy & Brandy for well over a decade now. So when I got the email invite for a tour of their distillery along with some old & rare tastings, I did not hesitate. 1 cheerful phone call later & my place on the tour/ tastings was reserved. The distillery is not easy to find. GPS Nav will only take you so far. You have to keep going down Bel Arbres Dr., past the sign that says private road & look for the driveway on the right. After the short driveway, there's a large gravel parking lot. The building housing the distillery, a squat steel structure, isn't much to look at. It's what's inside that counts. Through the entrance, it's immediately evident that G-R's got some major wood. French Oak barrels fill an expansive, open, high ceiling room, stacked floor to ceiling & wall to wall. Our small tour group congregated near the center of the barrel room until the tour started. Our tour guide, Ansley Coale, is 1 of the guys who got this whole thing started. We started in a side room with the still. There, we got a detailed rundown on the distillation process. After, back where we gathered earlier, the old & rare tastings got underway. & by old & rare, I mean carefully selected/ blended Brandies aged up to 30 years. Everything I tasted was absolutely exquisite. My personal favorite, the GR/30, is the single best spirit, any spirit, I've ever tasted. Amazing. Mind-blowing. While I didn't pony up the $$$$ to get a bottle of GR/30 that day, I reconsider that decision almost every day. It's that good. I'm thinking I need to get it sooner or later. Thank you Ansley Coale & all the folks at Germain-Robin for a great tour of your distillery & some of the finest tastings of my entire life. I've been a huge fan for a long time. Getting to visit the wellspring from which all your astounding elixirs flow was truly special for me.

Dog friendly and a true treat! The staff here are awesome and it is a wonderful spot for anyone…read moretruly serious and appreciative of an outstanding collection of diverse spirits. It was a memorable tasting experience and we respect their art of creating superior treats!!!

Found this burgeoning distillery by a chance search on Yelp on our way up north and once we saw…read moremention of a whiskey, we had to stop and give it a try. The owner was incredibly kind and hospitable allowing hubby and I to sample several established products and a few that were still in the works! It was clear that he and his wife enjoy experimenting with new spirits and flavors and we enjoyed sampling their efforts! We tried a few brandy-based liqueurs (apple, pomegranate, rootbeer), a gin, and a whiskey. The pomegranate brandy was like sipping a tart spiced apple cider and was pretty darn good! I could imagine it over ice or ice cream, or to spike a fall punch or hot toddy. The whiskey was produced using white oak staves that he chars and adds to steel tanks. It wasnt bad, but some additional time or tweaking might soften the bitter woodiness that overtook my palate. I did enjoy the gin in progress... it was herbaceous and subtle, not the kick-you-in-the-teeth juniper flavor that most mainstream gins have. This one was floral, grassy, and delicate and I can see it laying a nice foundation for many different cocktails. At the end of our tasting, our offer of payment was politely declined as our host explained that he just likes sharing his labors with others. I encourage others to visit this business and perhaps find a spirit that calls to you, and I wish its owners luck and success as they continue to develop and refine their products.

Wonderful and idiosyncratic tasting in a warehouse. Small batch and unique spirits served with…read morestories and humor. We had a great time tasting and talking with the owner. I highly recommend a visit.

Stopped by Ukiah in the late '90's I think. Like everyone says, the shop was small and hard to find…read morebut it was recommended by the Marketing Director when we visited Dry Creek winery. Sampling was one-on-one and generous. I remember sampling 'Havana' - blended specifically with a very short finish so as to not to conflict with a puff on your cigar. I have been drinking Germaine-Robin since both regular and XO. It is now very hard to find in Southern Oregon... so I am out. Last of the XO finished in April 2020.

Super hard to find but worth it. The tasting was very interesting. A lot of unique stuff and…read morereally high quality. The decor was a pleasant surprise. Alot of unique, Americana and antique items that all had great stories behind them. Could have spent hours in there.

Wow! Super fun tastings and very knowledgeable and friendly staff! This place is a highlight of the…read moretown and really brings the local flair to a classic craft. Definitely recommend this place!

Had a great time tasting all the different options here! The candy cap whisky, apple moonshine, and…read moresmoked salmon vodka were definite standouts and were all delicious. I tried the smoked salmon vodka in a Bloody Mary and it was delicious! The staff are super knowledgeable and very friendly. Definitely work checking out!

I must have driven by this winery a hundred times always meaning to stop and never doing it. Sunday…read moreI was traveling back from Glen County and decided it was time knowing I needed birthday presents and the chance to chat with a new friend. The property and building is immaculate, like an Erin Hanson original painting. While pristine, the staff makes you feel welcome the second you arrive. Their knowledge and passion for the product is evident all the way up to the head wine craftsman Anton, growing is local legend. The wines are all fabulous, the one pictured might be my favorite. I highly recommend you check these folks out, you won't regret it.

About a 45 minute drive north of Santa Rosa you'll find this winery on the west side of the…read morefreeway. If you miss the sign it looks like a beautiful old house sitting above HWY 101 overlooking well maintained vineyards. We've been wine club members here for a while. We keep coming back for the great wine and great service and hospitality from the tasting room staff. Today Brook and Monica were super attentive and made us feel right at home. Our favorite wine ones here are the Jaxzin, Hales Zinfandel, Wedding Cake Primitivo. Walk up the flagstone steps to the entrance and on a nice day sit out on the deck enjoying the views overlooking the vineyards. Don't forget to bring a picnic or charcuterie board when visiting.

Walked in for a tasting and had an amazing time and a great chat with Jason. Got to learn a lot…read moreabout the process and experimentation that goes into making their spirits. They've got everything I love about small-scale craft places: passionate people, great spirits, and no pretentiousness. They're also not afraid to recommend and promote the wineries and tasting rooms around them. Got some nice recommendations from Jason. If you're staying at Dry Creek Inn and like all things whiskey, gin, and brandy, you gotta pop in.

Great little tasting room just off the downtown area in Healdsburg! We were greeted by Alec, who…read morehosted us--and he was fantastic. He walked us through the different whiskeys, gin, bourbon, bitters, and brandy they make there, and even gave us a tour of the fermentation process. We visited for my dad's birthday, and they had a "Happy Birthday" sign set up, which made the whole experience feel extra special. The pours were generous and the price was super reasonable. It made for a really memorable birthday. We'll definitely be back!

Key highlights - Really friendly and knowledgeable bartender, casual and fun space to hang out with…read morefree board games, fantastic gins. Will be back next time we are in the area!

Gotta go there every time we're in Healdsburg. Great selection and the mixologist (gal) was…read moreimpressive. Actually adjusted our drink after straw test. Impressive attention to detail.

If heaven opened a restaurant and taught it how to distill , this place would be it. Nestled in the…read moreheart of the kind of quaint little town where flower baskets sway from every lamp post and strangers still wave at you from porches, this restaurant and distillery feels less like a business and more like a family The lighting is warm and inviting enough to make everyone look like they've just returned from a European vacation, and the staff somehow manages to be both impossibly professional and genuinely charming. The food? Absurd. Borderline offensive to every other meal I've ever eaten. I ordered one dish and ended up emotionally attached to it. Every bite tasted like a chef looked deep into my soul and said, "I can fix you." The wings and Caesar salad are impeccable. And the town itself? Storybook levels of adorable, tiny boutique shops, tasting rooms and, sweet locals. You half expect a folk band to appear in the square at sunset while someone offers you something. 11/10. I would fake a birthday, anniversary, or minor personal crisis just to have an excuse to go back.

My partner and I love this spot! Great service, the best beer on tap and yummy grub. Definitely…read morewill be returning. I do miss the burrata salad though lol :/