St George
St. George Spirits is a pioneering American craft distillery based in Alameda, California, widely regarded as one of the founding forces of the modern craft spirits movement in the United States. Founded in 1982 by Jörg Rupf, a German immigrant, the distillery began by making eau de vie—fruit brandies distilled in the European tradition—before expanding into a diverse portfolio of gins, vodkas, whiskeys, liqueurs, and absinthe.
Operating out of a former airplane hangar at Alameda Point, St. George is known for its hands-on, experimental approach and commitment to quality. The distillery gained wider recognition after being one of the first to legally produce absinthe in the U.S. following its 2007 legalization, and today it remains a benchmark for artisanal American distilling.
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St. George Spirits is a pioneering American craft distillery based in Alameda, California, widely regarded as one of the founding forces of the modern craft spirits movement in the United States. Founded in 1982 by Jörg Rupf, a German immigrant, the distillery began by making eau de vie—fruit brandies distilled in the European tradition—before expanding into a diverse portfolio of gins, vodkas, whiskeys, liqueurs, and absinthe.
Operating out of a former airplane hangar at Alameda Point, St. George is known for its hands-on, experimental approach and commitment to quality. The distillery gained wider recognition after being one of the first to legally produce absinthe in the U.S. following its 2007 legalization, and today it remains a benchmark for artisanal American distilling.
History and House Style
St. George Spirits was established in 1982 by Jörg Rupf, a classically trained distiller who brought Old World eau de vie techniques to California. Over the decades, master distiller Lance Winters—who joined in the mid-1990s and later took over creative leadership—helped broaden the range while preserving the distillery's fruit-forward, craft-driven ethos.
The house style emphasizes distinctive aromatics, careful sourcing of ingredients, and a willingness to experiment rather than replicate mass-market spirits. Whether it's a botanically complex gin or a smoky single malt, St. George products are made in relatively small batches with a focus on character over uniformity.
The distillery's independence and craft roots have made it influential well beyond its size, inspiring a generation of American distillers who followed in its footsteps.
The Range and What to Expect
St. George offers several notable lines across categories. Its gin portfolio includes the aromatic Terroir Gin, inspired by the flavors of the California wilderness, along with Botanivore and Dry Rye Gin—each with a very different botanical profile. In vodka, St. George produces a range that includes the neutral St. George Vodka and flavored expressions such as California Citrus and Green Chile.
The distillery is also known for its whiskeys, including single malt releases, and for pioneering American absinthe with St. George Absinthe Verte. Additional offerings include NOLA Coffee Liqueur, Bruto Americano (a bitter aperitivo), pear brandy, and a rotating cast of eaux de vie and limited seasonal bottlings.
Because St. George embraces experimentation, expect variety and evolving expressions rather than a single flagship product. Bottles are widely sought by cocktail enthusiasts and collectors of American craft spirits.
Buying and Serving Tips
When choosing a St. George spirit, consider the intended use. The gins shine in classic cocktails like the Martini and Negroni, with each expression lending a distinct character—Terroir for earthy notes, Botanivore for bright complexity, and Dry Rye for a spicy backbone. The flavored vodkas, especially Green Chile, are popular for Bloody Marys and adventurous mixed drinks.
Spirits like the pear brandy and eaux de vie are best enjoyed neat or slightly chilled to appreciate their fruit intensity, while Bruto Americano works beautifully as an aperitif or in spritzes. St. George Absinthe Verte is traditionally served with the classic louche method, diluted slowly with cold water over a sugar cube.
We ship St. George Spirits nationwide where permitted. Availability of specific expressions can vary, as some are seasonal or produced in limited quantities, so it's worth ordering favorites when you find them in stock.