Sonoma Brothers Distilling
About the Distillery
Sonoma Brothers Distilling is a family-owned, small-batch distillery in Sonoma County based in Windsor. Founded in 2012 by brothers Chris and Brandon Matthies, the house produces vodka, gin, brandy and whiskey from local ingredients and also offers custom distilling for wineries and breweries. The distillery combines craftsmanship, local rooting, and an open tasting experience for visitors.
History
Since its establishment in 2012, brothers Chris and Brandon Matthies have developed Sonoma Brothers Distilling from a family idea into an active craft distillery in Sonoma County. Chris has taken on ownership and responsibility for finance, distribution and customer relations, while Brandon has handled the recipes, distillation, and operational drift as head distiller and Director of Operations. The family is broadly involved in the operation: Kelly Matthies works with office management and marketing, and Tarryn Matthies handles HR. In the early years, the company expanded both its own portfolio and offered custom distilling services to local producers, cementing its role in the local spirits community.
Raw Materials and Production
Sonoma Brothers works with local ingredients from Sonoma County and California agriculture. Rye whiskeys are made from Californian non-GMO rye, wheat, and specially malted barley; the vodka is made from a blend of Californian grapes and non-GMO corn. Several products are distilled twice in an Arnold Holstein copper pot still, and the vodka is refined further in a 15-foot vodka column and charcoal-filtered. Gin production starts from grape- and grain-based vodka, where four botanicals are distilled separately; they are then blended and rest in stainless steel tanks for over two weeks before bottling. Each batch is described as handmade on-site, and the distillery also offers custom distillation, bottling, barrel aging, and storage services for other brands.
Aging and Barrel Types
The distillery uses several types of American oak for aging. Bourbon is described as aged in charred American oak barrels, rye is aged in Missouri oak barrels for over three years, and brandy releases (including apple brandy) are aged in toasted American Oak barrels for over three years. These wood types and treatments are documented for the respective products and are used to shape the base character of the spirits.
Whiskeys
The portfolio spans small-batch vodka, hand-blended gin, single-barrel brandy, and several whiskey varieties, including rye and bourbon. The products are sold directly from the distillery with the option for online ordering and pickup. In addition to their own labels, Sonoma Brothers offers custom distilling, where they provide consulting, distillation, aging, and bottling services for wineries, breweries, and other customers.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 44 % | Charred American oak barrels | Small-batch bourbon aged in charred American oak barrels; product notes mention caramel, vanilla, and oak. 88.4 proof | 44% alc/vol.; Nose: caramel, vanilla, and oak noted in the product description | |
| Rye Whiskey | Rye | 43 % | Over 3 years | Missouri oak barrels | Double distilled in an Arnold Holstein copper pot still. Made from Californian non-GMO rye, wheat and specially malted barley. Each batch is handmade on-site from grain to bottle. 86 proof | 43% alc/vol. |
| 7-Year Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 7-Year | Product name indicates 7-year aging. Price listed in shop. | In-store pick-up and online ordering with pickup | ||
| Honeycomb Whiskey | In-store pick-up and online ordering with pickup |
Visit the Distillery
The tasting room is open in Windsor and offers a $15 tasting, which includes six handcrafted spirits served neat. On Fridays and Saturdays there are walk-in tastings; Monday to Thursday the venue is open for pickup and online-order purchases. Visitors can take a tour of the distillery's equipment, see hand-applied labels, and follow the packaging flow. Bookings for tastings are made by phone, but there is also the possibility for walk-ins during designated times.
The stated opening hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:30 PM (online order pickup & in-store purchases only); Friday–Saturday 11:00 AM–4:00 PM (walk-in tastings available).
Philosophy and Craft
The company focuses on small-batch craftsmanship, the use of local Sonoma County ingredients, and flexible custom distilling services. The family is central to the operation and decision-making, and the distillery's work emphasizes artisanal quality and collaboration with local producers.