Hangar One always knew they could make pretty great vodka, but the vodka they wanted to make, they couldn't afford to sell for $20 a bottle. When Grey Goose & Belvedere started selling a ton of vodka at $30 a bottle, they thought, let's give it a try.
This was 2001. Hangar One were two tiny companies, hand-making exquisite brandies & liqueurs in California. Connoisseurs think these brandies are absolutely fabulous, for good reasons: in California, they had access to wonderful fruit & grapes, as well as sophisticated wine-making equipment. Best of all they were free to innovate - but they also had tiny old-fashioned pot stills and did their work informed by centuries of European distillation methods.
Hangar One have a lot of experience making really good products out of genuine ingredients. Jorg Rupf, who spent months developing the actual vodkas, is one of the world's most inventive distillers. But there was another issue - how to exist in the vodka market. A pot still vodka from real fruit costs a lot to make, which meant they wouldn't be able to run advertisements in magazines or cut deals to get displays in stores. But, they thought, people know a lot more than they used to about alcohol, and they are ready for something real.
So they just tell their story and try to get people to taste the vodkas. They named the vodka because of where we make it (the old Alameda Naval Air Station), and put it in a simple bottle because all they really care about is the stuff inside the bottle, Hangar One vodka.
Hangar One Straight
Jorg Rupf and Lance Winters figured out how to make straight vodka taste good.
First they pot-distill a vodka from expensive viognier wine. Then they blend it into an excellent column still wheat vodka. Here's the magic: there's no harsh alcoholic smell or taste, just soft beautiful purity.
Hangar One's 'straight' vodka is a blend of grain (wheat) neutral spirit and a vodka crafted from viognier wine. They use the viognier vodka to diminish the alcoholic overtone found in most other vodkas.
Viognier is an old varietal wine grape that makes a delicious white wine, but it's relatively new to California. Viognier grapes are hard to grow, and they don't produce a whole lot of fruit.
To get the full flavour, you have to pick them when they're perfectly ripe. 'But despite, or perhaps because of, this precariousness [the viognier grape] has the most amazing clear, golden colour and the aroma of flowers and fruits at their freshest.'
Hangar One Mandarin Blossom
Totally fresh tangerines in the infusion, with fresh tangerine flowers added. It's like peeling an actual tangerine, a really good one: the tiny spray of oil that comes up from your thumbnail is exactly what their vodka smells and tastes like.
One night as Lance Winters walked from his apartment to the laundromat, he went by an orange tree in full bloom. The fragrance blew him away. Later he asked a friend if he could pick the flowers off her orange tree. She thought he was kind of crazy, but let him pick a bucketful of blossoms. Lance distilled them right away, and - it came out perfectly. So the Mandarin blossom infusion was the first idea that came to mind when St George Spirits decided to to make a high-end vodka.
Many parts of a citrus tree have the same fragrance and flavour characteristics as the fruit. Hangar One like using the Mandarin flowers because they allow them to capture complex and floral citrus characteristics without having to depend on unstable acids from the fruit's juice.
It takes about 100 pounds of Mandarin blossoms (that's about the size of an oil drum) to do two bottlings of the Mandarin Blossom vodka. It takes someone about an hour to harvest one pound of Mandarin blossoms, and they have to be picked at the height of bloom (which also means there are lots of bees) - so it's a pretty labour-intensive process, but the result is so worth it!
Incidentally, the Mandarin Blossom vodka makes a great perfume.
Hangar One Buddha's Hand
This weird & rare South Asian citrus variety is beautifully aromatic. The lemon flavour is delicate but deep & complex.
Folks in China hang them in their closets to make their clothes smell good. Hangar One can't get them all the time so sometimes they run out.
There are lots of citrus-flavored vodkas, but most are flavoured with highly purified extracts, which means they have only a single note. Hangar One is made with whole fresh fruit, which of course includes seeds, skin, pits, and juice, and all the fresh citrus oils. That's why Hangar One vodkas have far more complex flavours. They hit the palate in more spots. They just taste richer. When you taste the Buddha's Hand, it doesn't have only the focused intensity of, say, a standard lemon. It also has wonderful jasmine overtones, as well as hints of fruitcake spices.
The Buddha's Hand citron is one of the oldest citrus fruits. What's really great about distilling Buddha's Hands is that when you cut one open, they don't have any juice inside; they're entirely pith (that's the white stuff inside the peel). And unlike most citrus, the pith of the Buddha's Hand citron is sweet, not bitter. This allows them to get incredible depth of flavour without having to deal with high-acid citrus juice, which is really hard to stabilise in a bottle and has less complexity.
Rumor has it that Buddha's Hand citrons got their name because they look like the upturned fingers of Buddha statues; the mutation that gave them the fingers started around 200 ad. Buddha's Hands are highly aromatic and are hung to perfume rooms and closets. They also make great candied lemon peel and marmalade.
Hangar One Kaffir Lime
Unusual & knobbly Indonesian lime. Hangar One use the leaves too - they are the ones you see in Thai cuisine. Great fresh lime taste, without any of that artificial overtones that spoil so many lime products.
Normally, lime is really hard to distill without ending up with something that smells artificial and candy-like. That's why Hangar One turned to Kaffir lime, which goes in directions that standard lime or key lime cannot. Kaffir limes and leaves are mainstays of Thai cuisine because of their high aromatic oil content and intense flavour. There are notes of wood, white pepper and cucumber. Hangar One infuse Kaffir leaves with the fruit to increase the richness and complexity.
At one point, they owned every commercially available Kaffir lime leaf in North America. Since they're an East Asian plant, there aren't tons grown in the US. Hangar One were going gangbusters with the lime vodka, and then realised that they had tapped out the supply channel. An internet search turned up a nursery that had bought way too many Kaffir lime trees after a Sunset Magazine article had made it sound like they were the next big thing. Their trees aren't selling, but they keep growing, so from time to time they go out and prune the leaves and send them to Hangar One.
They now have a few devoted growers in California's Sacramento Central Valley who have planted Kaffir lime trees just for Hangar One. They planted a few trees of their own right next to the distillery.
Hangar One Fraser River Raspberry
People get excited about the Fraser River Raspberry vodka because it's just like fresh raspberries, not the bubblegum chemical compound you expect from "raspberry flavored" products. We don't add sugar. We don't add anything. It's just raspberries and vodka.
We macerate and distill the berries, then we blend in raspberry juice. The juice adds complexity and a natural color. We had a totally fabulous design for our raspberry bottle, but when we put the finished product in it, the fresh juice didn't like the UV rays that came through the clear glass. Now we use a green bottle that gives full UV protection, so we can keep distilling what we think is a truly exceptional spirit.
We buy red Meeker raspberries from some folks up in Washington state's Fraser River valley. Try the vodka with some dark chocolate
Hangar One Spiced Pear
Made by combining a select blend of our vodka base, our most aromatic pear eau de vie, fresh pear juices and distillates of assorted spices, it is made only once a year and in very limited batches.
The vodka enters the palate like a pear tart, soft, warm and buttery with lots of sweet and bright pear. The mid-palate suggests the rich fullness of caramelized pear juice dripping down the side of a pie pan. It finishes with the lingering woody, spicy, and deep essences of a lovely Calvados.
The Hangar One Spiced Pear is perfect on the rocks.
Hangar One Alchemist Series No 3
Hangar One Distiller Lance Winters experiments constantly. Every once in a while he makes something so incredible that a small batch is made and bottled. They never know how much they will have, or when they will appear.
A Bloody Mary needs vodka of real substance. Mass produced pepper vodka could never fit the bill, as the people who make them think that the only quality a pepper has is heat. Lance set out to make a vodka that had all the characteristics of great peppers.
Starting with Jalapeño's and Fresno chilli peppers, they are chopped and added to high proof wheat vodka. After sitting for several days, the peppers and alcohol are added to the still to create a base that has both sweetness and vegetal qualities; this helps make up the identities of the pepper.
A second separate infusion and distillation of smoked peppers, both jalapeno and bell is carried out. To get the heat balance just right, a judicious amount of Habanero infusion is added.
The finished product has the sweetness and substance of nicely smoked meat, the vegetal qualities of a fresh pepper and just the right amount of heat.
26 reviews of Hangar One Vodka
The smoothest, best tasting vodka I've ever experienced. Drinkable straight even at room temperature. No burn. Great mouth feel. six stars out of five.
Reviewer: David Haynes | Score: 5
Without a doubt the finest tasting vodka I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. Kettle and Goose were at the top of my list until this stuff! Clarity, smoothness, and flavour that kills the Goose and pokes a hole in the Kettle!!! If you haven't tried this do yourself a favour and find the nearest retailer!!! Just Awesome!!
Reviewer: Jerry | Score: 5
This is a GREAT VODKA! Tried my first Hangar One while on vacation a few weeks ago. The bar had a vast assortment of vodkas some of which I had not heard of. I asked the bartender about a few of them and he highly recommended that I try Hangar One. Boy, was he right! I was a dyed in the wool Grey Goose fan before, but not any longer. Hangar One Straight is the vodka for me. Smooth as silk. These guys are also wine makers, so they take great care with their product. Hangar One is truly insanely great vodka!!! You will not be disappointed.
Reviewer: Janet B. Ross | Score: 5
INASNITY RULES!! You would have to be crazy not to try this vodka. You would have to be insane not to like it!! I balked at the price but was convinced to buy one and am sorry I didn't buy every bottle in the store! SMOOOOOTH!, TASTY, NO BURN...NO GOING BLIND! Share this one with only you best friends.
Reviewer: Brad S. | Score: 5
This is the greatest vodka ever made. A good friend of mine owns a liquor store and always sends me the newest and best vodkas. This is the best, its smooth and has great flavour. Better than Grey Goose, Belvidere, Vox, etc.
Reviewer: Hemal Patel | Score: 5
Last night, at some party, I had my first Hangar One vodka (it was a flavoured one, mandarin infused). I am still thinking about it -- what an unbelievably smooth vodka! I'm buying one today.
Reviewer: Pavle | Score: 5
Tried the lime flavour last night and it was WONDERFUL!!! I tasted it before I added a touch of juice, and had I been more adventurous, could have had it on the rocks......it was THAT smooth! No hangover the next morning, either.
Reviewer: G. D. | Score: 5
Above and beyond any Vodka on the shelf these days. This stuff is so smooth and delicious you would think that it was mixed with another liqueur, but it is just that good.
Reviewer: Adeola Akinola | Score: 5
This is undoubtedly the BEST vodka I have ever tasted! I am a bartender in Chicago and every time I suggest a patron try Hangar One, they are just astounded by the smoothness and flavour. Try the Citron with Chambord in a martini (sugar rim). it's excellent.
Reviewer: Kathryn | Score: 5
One of the smoothest Vodka's I have tasted in a Martini- elegant, no burn, very neutral, but refreshing. Pricey? Yes, but worth it.
Reviewer: Peter | Score: 5
Had the Lime in a cosmo, just lime vodka, pure cranberry & cointreau. WOW. Had to get on the net and see other reviews to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
Reviewer: B. | Score: 5
The old Grey Goose just ain't what she used to be. Hangar One is so smooth, you'll swear it is water.
Reviewer: Ray | Score: 5
I am not rich, but it is hard to stop indulging in this luxury. I first tried it straight and tepid and was astounded. I could not help thinking at that moment, it must be that no one has made vodka quite correctly before.
Reviewer: T. J. | Score: 5
Hangar One came on from my local store where I buy my Belvedere or Chopin. I tend to stay with Polish vodkas but NO More. I have since bought all the flavours and have yet to be disappointed. If you get the chance indulge yourself. You will not be sorry but will probably end up spending more time at home unless your local bar carries this fantastic drink. And please do not mix it, I could not see doing this to such a great product. Best regards, tony
Reviewer: tony | Score: 5
Hangar One is excellent. A "misto" spray of dry vermouth on the martini glass was the only mix and I'm sorry I added that. Completely smooth - the warmth without the burn. I'll be buying more all too soon.
Reviewer: Jim | Score: 5
Tried the raspberry infused Hangar One last evening. What a wonderful drink, smooth as silk. Don't care what it costs.
Reviewer: Frank Ambrose | Score: 5
I waited with bated breath to try this vodka in New York. When the precious fluid touched my palate, I knew that my anticipation was well deserved. It was the best martini I've ever had. I've sampled everything from Belvedere, Chopin, Grey Goose, Luksusowa, Ketel One, Three Olives, Absolut, Stoli, and more, but this one takes the cake. Only take Hangar One with a hint of vermouth; otherwise you'll miss out on the distinct but subtle flavour and texture. There is absolutely nothing about this vodka that anyone could call distasteful.
Reviewer: Matt L. | Score: 5
Finally!!!!!!! Vodka that has arrived, the Tiger Woods of Vodka, the Detroit Pistons of Vodka, WOW!!!
Reviewer: Ray Abraham | Score: 5
The best vodka I have ever had. Hangar One's 'fruit infused' vodkas (the mandarin blossom & Fraser River raspberry are my favourites...for now!) are delicious and great straight or in cocktails. I would give them 10 stars if I could. Always perfect!
Reviewer: CosmoGirlinNapa | Score: 5
Drinks like water, I was flabbergasted
Reviewer: Cliff Martinet | Score: 5
Very smooth, and pretty tasty, but it has a subtle slighty-too-sweet, cotton candy sort of note to it. Overall very good, but this flavour is just not quite what I would like to be tasting...
Reviewer: Julian | Score: 4
One of the finest. A little hard to find. Has no hint of ethyl. A flavour like no other. Neutral but bold. This being said, I am a fan of Grey Goose. I like neutral Vodkas. If you are a Grey Gosse fan this Vodka will delight.
Reviewer: Ari Mouratides | Score: 4
Pour a generous cold shot of this vodka and savour it's gentle qualities with very little burn and wonder how they did it so wonderfully. Remember the phrase, "Insanely Great Vodka". I could not have summed it up better.
Reviewer: Crystal Holton | Score: 5
Very smooth with a wonderful tingle on the tongue. A perfect sipping Vodka served straight from the freezer. The perfect Vodka for those rainy days
Reviewer: Barry Broom | Score: 5
It's true. It's the best. They aren't kidding. It does not burn. Even at room temperature. It's made partly from distilled Viognier grapes. How did they do this?? Makes every other vodka I've ever had pale in comparison. Nothing comes close. I can't wait to try their flavoured varieties!
Reviewer: RC | Score: 5
