19 November, 2018 - Sonoma Distilling Co & Don Landis, The Olive Guy

 Tonight is Slow Living Radio's tribute to two of Sonoma County's artisans - a distiller and an olive aficianado. Adam Spiegel, of Sonoma Distilling Co. and Don Landis, affectionately called the Olive Guy, bring us their own taste of paradise in Sonoma.

Sonoma Distilling Company Looks Ahead – the Evolution of a Craft Brand  Pioneering Northern California Craft Whiskey House Heads into a Busy Fourth Quarter with Refreshed Branding, Seasonal 'Distiller’s Edition' Releases and an Expanded Production Facility Now in its eighth year, Northern California grain-to-glass whiskey pioneer, Sonoma Distilling Company (formerly Sonoma County Distilling Co) announces several key company developments in the final quarter of the year, speaking to the brand’s continued growth and evolution in the national craft spirits arena. From the roll-out of refined packaging and the launch of an annual 'Distiller’s Edition' series of seasonal whiskey releases, to an expanded production facility and steady growth plan, Sonoma Distilling Company is primed for a new chapter, one which solidifies its long-term commitment to being California’s premier whiskey producer. Refreshed look and feel. This month, the brand rolls out new branding, designed by award-winning Central California-based beverage branding team Makers & Allies (San Luis Obispo). The new bottle design, labels and assets communicate the craft luxury nature of Sonoma Distilling Company’s Premium California Whiskeys and a connection and commitment to a “sense of place" – taking design cues from the unique blend of both industrial and agricultural (including winemaking) surroundings of the Sonoma County-based distillery (among the first in wine country). Textures and colors like copper, metal, wood, grains, and water are presented with bold, vintage-inspired fonts, fusing modern and innovative with traditional – synonymous with the Sonoma region and, importantly, with Sonoma Distilling Company’s approach to its craft. The result is a look and feel which reflects the brand’s journey and ethos: established and high-quality luxury, yet artisanal and sustainably-minded. “After eight years of focusing entirely on refining and improving the whiskey in our bottles, we were ready to shift to packaging which reflected the maturation of both the company and brand and our commitment to continued leadership as a premier Sonoma-based California whiskey house,” states Adam Spiegel, Sonoma Distilling Company Founder and Whiskeymaker. “With an established and growing distribution channel (CA, NY, IL, MN, FL and throughout Europe), we were looking for packaging which would speak for itself in the market as a high-quality, luxury craft whiskey brand, yet one with its roots in this artisan-focused community of Sonoma. The packaging created by Makers & Allies reflects our values and craft, while expressing the nuances which make our whiskey – and our production heritage and origins – unique.” The Distillery uses Copper Pot Stills The Portfolio: new seasonal bottlings, product names and release dates.  Well-timed to the fall and holiday season ahead, the brand has launched this month two highly regarded expressions:  Sonoma Cherrywood Smoked Bourbon (formerly West of Kentucky #1, awarded 95 points by Jim Murray in the 2018 Whiskey Bible) and Sonoma Cherrywood Rye Whiskey, which together comprise the new 'Distiller’s Edition' seasonal releases (both offered at $49.99 SRP nationally) -- expressive products that give the small distillery a chance to create uniquely flavorful and distinctive whiskeys that aren’t found anywhere else. Given the new packaging launch, the Distillery has rolled out the duo together for the holiday season ahead, but beginning in 2019, the Sonoma Cherrywood Rye Whiskey will be released each spring and the Sonoma Cherrywood Smoked Bourbon will be the Distillery’s special annual fall release. The brand’s flagship expressions, Sonoma Rye Whiskey and Sonoma Bourbon Whiskey, will continue to be offered annually, in 750 ml and – new this fall - 1 Liter format (for on-premise only).  About Sonoma Distilling Company

Founded in 2010 by San Francisco native Adam Spiegel, Sonoma Distilling Company is one of the first 200 distilleries in the country, a pioneer whiskey producer in California, and one of the very first in Sonoma wine country. Spiegel discovered his passion for creating spirits in 2008, while assisting a distiller friend in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County. From there, Sonoma Distilling Company was born. Spiegel and his team focus on handcrafting small batch-produced whiskey, from grain-to-glass, using old-school style stills to create whiskeys that are authentic and unpretentious, steeped in traditional values, but fueled by the evolved needs of the modern palate. Since its inception, Sonoma Distilling Company has employed sustainable processes as a core part of its business model, using natural resources like wind and ambient temperature of their location so as to have less of an ecological footprint. Every level of production at Sonoma Distilling Company is handled in-house, including the milling, mashing and fermentation of grains, handmade copper alembic pot distillation, American oak barrel aging, bottling and labeling. Sourcing only the finest non-GMO grains from California farmers and from around the world, Sonoma Distilling Company takes great pride in using the power of the dollar to work with those with whom they share a matching ideology. Through a mindful approach, hard work, and time-honored techniques, Spiegel and his team have pledged their enduring commitment to producing world-class whiskeys. Sonoma Distilling Company is California’s Premium Whiskey. Visit www.sonomadistillingcompany.com for further information.

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Don Landis Don’s Olives Directly off the tree, olives taste bitter. Don Landis has been de-bittering olives for all of us to eat for nearly two decades. Growing up on Long Island, N.Y., he thought like most folks that “olives” were either the green ones stuffed with the red thing (pimento) or the black ones that came in a can. In the mid 1990’s, Don and his wife Marian (AKA Oliveoyl) were at a pot luck dinner in Sonoma, California – a place where olives are grown in abundance. One of the diners brought a two-quart jar of her uncle’s home-made Olives. No one had tasted Olives like these before, including Don. With an Olive tree in his yard it was easy for Don to proclaim “I’m going to make Olives!” Thus started Don’s journey into the world of Olives. He started learning and de-bittering. The first jog in the journey was three years later when Don was happy with his creations and started to share the Olives he de-bittered. Always looking for other “Olive people,” Don found like-minded folks in Northern California who knew what is so natural and understood all across the Mediterranean basin – that Olive making is lots of fun. The search for more Olive people soon brought Don to the Sonoma Valley Olive Festival, but the festival turned out to be Olive Oil oriented. So with his knowledge of Olives and home de-bittering techniques, Don started presenting and earned a reputation and nickname of “The Olive Guy.” One of Don’s other passions is sharing knowledge. Don found that many, many people had the desire to learn about Olives. So during the Sonoma Valley Olive Festival Don started to present Olive De-Bittering workshops. Year by year the crowds for his presentations grew. More event promoters and community groups asked Don to present his workshops. Now, Don fuels his strong passion for Olives by offering several workshops during the year, private and public. He also provides consultations for those in need of Olive knowledge. It provides Don with joy and happiness that balances out the stress of work and life’s obligations. His signature salutation says it all… ”Happy Olives!”

26 November, 2018 - The Hanson of Sonoma Distillery Story

Slow Living Radio is always delighted to welcome guests who have found a passion as a family, producing something that is mindful of the environment and our health.  Such a story is the Hanson family who have created a range of artisanal  grape-based Vodka that is the first in the US to gain organic and non-GMO certification.  Their story will delight you, and leave you thirsty to run out and try one or all of their exquisitely crafted Vodkas.

Brandon and Alanna Hanson
Hanson of Sonoma Distillery 

Hanson of Sonoma is an all-organic wine-based vodka distillery, the only such one in the country. In July, Hanson opened up a tasting room in the Los Carneros Appellation of Sonoma. A first of its kind in Wine Country, the tasting room offers a unique experience to visitors that, in addition to vodka flights and expertly-crafted cocktails, also gives an educational behind-the-scenes look at the distillery, grape sourcing and harvesting (through short films to be shown in the theater).

The Hanson Family

Hanson of Sonoma has garnered loyal fans across the country since it launched four years ago. Founded by brothers Chris and Brandon Hanson, Hanson of Sonoma is truly a family-owned and operated business. Chris and Brandon convinced their father Scott to join the company, and soon after sister Alanna and brother Darren joined as well. With five mainstay flavors – Original, Cucumber, Ginger, Mandarin, and Habañero – Hanson’s grape-based vodkas are distilled using a custom-designed double pot and 50-plate column still (assembled at the distillery by the Hansons) and infused with all-organic hand-selected ingredients. Working in partnership with neighboring Ceja Vineyards, the Hanson team sources a variety of organic grapes to first produce a wine which is then distilled using traditional distillation methods. Using grapes gives Hanson of Sonoma vodkas a smooth mouthfeel and a distinct slightly sweet flavor profile. Seasonal flavors like Boysenberry and Espresso are also available in limited quantities, and the tasting room offers additional exclusive flavors for tasting and purchase only at the distillery.

Krzysztof Pawlik, who spent 10 years with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group as general manager and beverage director, leads operations at the Hanson tasting room and developed the initial cocktail program. Highlighting the versatility of the product line and showcasing the bounty of ingredients from the surrounding area, the cocktail list rotates with the seasons. There are no shot glasses, but rather the spirits are served in carefully sourced Old-Fashioned glasses. In the coming months, the tasting room will also add cocktail classes and guest bartender events.

Scott Hanson, who spent the first half of his career as an artist, building and running galleries across the country, worked in collaboration with local metal fabricator Andrew Bradford to design the tasting room and cocktail bar. The walls are flanked with reclaimed hardwood, and custom-designed blackened natural steel bottle shelving behind the bar gives it an industrial edge. The countertop at the bar is made from honed Calcutta marble while the back bar tops are clad in brushed copper. The Hansons installed the highest quality bar equipment including custom built Tobin Ellis cocktail stations, a Kold-Draft ice machine and a Nordaq FRESH water filtration system designed to be a superior palate cleanser. Bar stools allow for seating at the bar and there are high-top tables and chairs for additional seating. An outdoor courtyard, perfect for picnics and cocktails during the warmer months and for hosting large events and gatherings, surrounds a pond that uses reclaimed water from the distillery (and also irrigates the vineyards and landscaping).

The Hanson of Sonoma Distillery and tasting room is open 7 days a week from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and is located at 22985 Burndale Road, Sonoma, CA 95476. More information can be found at HansonofSonoma.com or by calling 707-343-1805. Follow Hanson of Sonoma on Instagram @hansonorganicvodka.

 

Brandon Hanson

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Alanna Hanson

Alanna Hanson Bio

Alanna Hanson, Marketing Director at Hanson of Sonoma Organic Vodka, is the creative mind behind the company’s fresh approach to creating community around spirits. The family-run business produces small-batch, grape-based vodka made with organic ingredients, and introduced the first certified non-GMO spirit produced in the USA. Alanna is passionate about supporting organics, community involvement, and innovative business and marketing practices.

Raised in Northern California’s Marin County, Alanna and her three brothers grew up around farmers markets and their surplus of organic produce, in close proximity to Wine Country. In 2009, she headed south to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles and became the first female undergraduate student to receive the school’s Sun Cinematography Award. While at USC, Alanna developed her knack for design, marketing, and project management, lending a hand to a few small businesses, including her brothers’ nascent craft distillery. She began working at Sony Pictures in 2013, but soon joined the vodka company full-time, her creative vision quickly becoming an indispensable part of the business.

Today, 27-year old Alanna works alongside her parents and three brothers at Hanson of Sonoma managing marketing, events, and the company’s many collaborations. The position allows her inventive nature to shine: she prefers a different tack to the usual type kind of spirits industry marketing, choosing a grassroots approach that more faithfully reflects the Hanson’s brand. Through initiatives like a winemaker series, bartender collaborations, involvement with local maker festivals, and hosting Hanson’s own speaker series, she’s created a community space to empower creatives, and celebrate producers and organics.  

Alanna currently splits her time between Sonoma and Marin County. When she’s not at the distillery or working in her own vegetable garden, she designs her own textiles with techniques like marble dye and indigo. Alanna and her boyfriend have recently been experimenting with building out custom travel vans, outfitting the vehicles for life on the road in style. As for vodka, her current favorite is Hanson’s habanero vodka -- she loves its spiciness and fresh, rounded pepper flavor -- usually paired with the simple addition of fresh lemonade.