Bites Nearby: St. George Spirits Tasting Room

Today's column should really be titled “Sips Nearby,” because you won't find much in the way of solid food at the tasting room of the St. George Spirits distillery, located in an former airplane hangar—Hangar One, to be exact—in Alameda.

The artisan distillers at St. George Spirits are best known for their Hangar One vodka, found on the top shelf of many Bay Area bars and restaurants. The distillery also makes whiskey, brandies, liqueurs, tequila and even the recently-legal-again absinthe.

Despite my Russian blood, I never really enjoyed vodka. Until I tried it here. The straight vodka is as it should be—smooth and nearly tasteless—but the pride and joy of St. George are the whole fruit infusions they create with Buddha's Hand lemons, mandarin blossoms, spiced pears, raspberries and Kaffir limes.

If you're a liquor drinker, you'll be hard pressed find anything you can't appreciate, only items that you prefer more, or less. If you're a beer and wine kinda guy, beware—as the sun sets over San Francisco, many skeptics walk out clutching their souvenir tasting glasses, completely transformed.

A regular tasting will set you back $10, but I recommend adding the extra $5 to try the Absinthe Verte at least once.

Several times a year, Hangar One also throws parties complete with a theme, snacks, cocktail tickets and a shuttle to BART. The smaller events have a tendency to sell out, and the best way to keep up on the latest happenings, as well as freshly released liquors, is to subscribe to its newsletter.

Visit the tasting room at 2601 Monarch St., Alameda, Wednesday through Saturday between noon and 7 p.m., and on Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. Groups of five or more require a reservation at 510-864-0635.