Boisset Collection Debuts Calistoga Depot Distillery Spirits

Photo by Kurt Gonzalez

Jean-Charles Boisset has done it again. The renowned vintner and bon vivant added a distillery to his vast portfolio of historic and unique California and French wineries. Located in the heart of the town of Calistoga in California’s Napa Valley region, his Calistoga Depot Distillery honors the 19th century entrepreneur Samuel Brannan, Calistoga’s rich history, and the city’s ties to some of the finest spirits and wines.

Jean-Charles Boisset. Photo by Lowell Downey

“The debut of the Calistoga Depot Distillery spirits portfolio is a culmination of the years of work that it took to develop a collection that portrays the best in artisan distilling in Northern California interwoven with our unique savoir-faire,” said Boisset. “This is expressed through our expertise in terroir, the art of refining spirits in our own wine barrels, and a deep passion for the history of distilling in the region. We are stewards of history – both in the spirits we create and in the destination that inspired them.” 

Boisset’s vast wine knowledge is imbued into each small batch expression through the blending, tasting, and finishing processes. He is assisted by renowned distillers including Ashby and Timo Marshall, Crispin Cain, and others. Both French and American oak wine-casks that once housed Boisset Collection’s premium Napa Valley and Sonoma County wines are used in the finishing process to infuse distinctive wine flavors for a smooth and complex spirit. The product line includes: 

Photo by Kurt Gonzalez

* Prosperous and Penniless: Brannan’s life was marked with both spectacular prosperity and magnificent failure. He gained much acclaim before falling victim to financial ruin, and this portfolio of expertly crafted whiskeys and a barrel-aged gin made with Master Distiller Crispin Cain pays homage to the entrepreneurial spirit of Brannan’s original Calistoga Distillery, founded more than 150 years ago. (SRPs $200-$300) 

* The First Millionaire: A line of malted barley whiskeys named for the fortune Samuel Brannan amassed during the Gold Rush in 1848. Instead of mining for gold, he built a profitable business by selling mining equipment to miners in the area, making him the first millionaire in San Francisco. (SRPs $75-$125)

* Fame & Misfortune: This portfolio of rye-forward whiskeys is named after the bohemian temptress Lola Montez, known for her fiery temper and irresistible charm. (SRPs $150-$200)

Photo by Kurt Gonzalez

* The Calistoga Star: Inspired by The California Star, San Francisco’s first newspaper founded by Samuel Brannan, this is a line of barrel-aged fine brandies, (SRPs $75-$400) 

* Calistoga Depot Distillery 1868: A line of distillery-exclusive spirits, inclusive of gin, vodka, and rum, that pays tribute to 1868, the year that Samuel Brannan built a railroad, making it easier for tourists to reach the destination. 

Calistoga Depot Distillery’s ultra-premium, barrel-aged and wine-cask finished spirits portfolio has garnered 34 awards including a Double Gold and Gold from The Fifty Best and the Master Medal (reserved for truly outstanding spirits) from The Spirits Business’ American Whiskey Masters. 

Calistoga Depot Distillery. Photo courtesy of Calistoga Depot Distillery

The product line is sold across a majority of the US in retail locations, bars, and restaurants.