It’s that time of the year when we’re bombarded with making New Year’s resolutions and ways to make our lives better—improving our financial situation, getting healthier, personal improvement—grand plans on how to do everything better.
Thankfully, The New Yorker magazine comes to the rescue with “more reasonable resolutions,” especially one we can really get behind: drink better alcohol.
On January 20 and 21, Truxton’s American Bistro will help you adopt and stick to this resolution at events with Hanson of Sonoma Organic Vodka, one of our favorite California producers of small-batch spirits. We’ll give you the opportunity to taste four varieties of Hanson Vodka, complemented by four courses of small plates. More on that later.
Hanson brothers Brandon (who will be leading the tastings at Truxton’s Westchester and Santa Monica) and Chris took the idea for a grape-based vodka to their father Scott Ross, an artist who, with his wife Judy, owns a gallery in Sausalito. Brandon and Chris had been following the success of Ciroc, made in France with Bordeaux grapes, but no one else in the U.S. was doing a vodka with premium California grapes that was also sustainable and socially responsible. The concept evolved into a family affair, with everyone including Hanson son Darrell and daughter Alanna also joining the team.
The family crafted their vodka from premium California grapes (unlike most vodkas, which are made from potatoes or grains) and Sonoma Valley Artesian well water. The Hansons teamed with the California Certified Organic Farmers, the Gluten Intolerance Group, the Non-GMO Project and 1% For The Planet to ensure the quality of the grapes, ingredients, their facility and business practices, resulting in their vodka being USDA-certified organic, non-GMO verified, gluten-free and with nothing artificial.
Every member of the family is personally involved every step of the way—from distillation to fruit infusions, filtration, bottling, hand labeling and sales. Each bottle is hand-stamped, numbered, signed and approved by a Hanson family member. The Hansons’ dedication has paid off in recognition, with two gold medals and two silver medals in the Vodka Masters competition in London as well as two platinum medals, including best vodka of show, at the Spirits International Prestige awards. This year, Hanson Vodka won the San Francisco World Spirits competition, and one gold and two bronze awards from the American Distilling Institute in Seattle.
Liquor.com says, “Crafted in the heart of California wine country using a mixture of the region’s grape varietals, Hanson of Sonoma has become an envelope-pushing role model within the world of sustainable small-batch vodka. The grapes, which are of course USDA certified, bring a sweet, deeply fruity note to the spirit while maintaining a buoyancy that lends itself to sipping neat.”
At Truxton’s, we agree that Hanson is delicious and one of the best ways to “drink better,” whether sipping or in handcrafted cocktails.
JOIN US FOR HANSON TASTING EVENTS ON JANUARY 20 and 21
Join Brandon Hanson at special tasting events with small plates and specialty Hanson drinks, Friday, January 20th at Truxton’s Westchester and Saturday, January 21st at Truxton’s Santa Monica, from 7 – 9 pm each evening. $60 per person, tax and gratuity included.
Reservations: Nichole Van Court at truxtonsmarketing@gmail.com or 424.625.8474
