Hotaling & Co.
Overview of the Distillery
Hotaling & Co. combines own distillation at Pier 50 in San Francisco with a comprehensive import- and brand-building role. The company gathers both its own products such as Old Potrero Rye and international brands in one portfolio. The company highlights copper pot distillation, in-house distillers and an artisanal approach to building and curating spirit brands.
History
Hotaling & Co. was established in 1993 and made its mark early by reintroducing copper pot distillation to American gin and rye. The creators behind the development developed Junipero Gin and Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, two products that have been central to the company's profile and artisanal identity. Since its founding, Hotaling & Co. has combined own production at Pier 50 in San Francisco with import and building of international brands. This dual role as producer and curator has shaped the company into a family-oriented collection of 'like-minded spirits' with roots in San Francisco history.
Raw Materials and Production
On the production side, Hotaling & Co. works with copper pot distillation, a method explicitly mentioned in connection with gin and rye production. There is an internal team of distillers (in-house distillers) attached to the company, and the firm runs a distillery at Pier 50 in San Francisco. In addition to their own distillation, Hotaling & Co. also acts as importer and brand-builder for a number of foreign producers, meaning the portfolio includes both in-house produced spirits and curated international editions.
Maturation and Cask Types
The available material mentions concrete examples of cask treatment: some products have extra 'marriage' in their own wood, for example a limited Nikka edition with up to six months of extra marriage. There are also special editions, such as Old Potrero California Cellar Series #03, finished with a Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer finish. These examples show the use of wine casks and extra marriage as part of the maturation approach for individual products.
Whiskeys
The portfolio ranges from Hotaling & Co.'s own products such as Junipero Gin and Old Potrero Rye to a number of imported brands: Nikka, Luxardo, Kavalan, Hirsch, Convite Mezcal and Denizen Rum are highlighted among others. The range includes both core products and limited editions and covers gin, whiskey/rye, mezcal, rum, liqueurs and premium imports. The company presents itself as a partner in brand-building, emphasizing both own production and curating of international specialty items.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Potrero Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | Core Range | ||
| Old Potrero California Cellar Series #03 Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer Finish | Rye Whiskey | Wine finish; finish: Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer Finish | ||
| Hirsch The Cask Strength | ||||
| Nikka From The Barrel Extra Marriage | Marriage in its own wood; finish: up to 6 months of extra marriage in its own wood | Limited edition to mark the 40th anniversary of From the Barrel; the edition has up to six months of extra marriage in its own wood, described as a doubling of the marriage time.; Aftertaste: described as with a longer finish after the extra marriage | Limited |
Philosophy and Craft
Hotaling & Co. articulates a clear value around artisanal quality: 'artisanal' is described as more than just premium and associated with passion, care and craftsmanship. The company combines own distillation with import and partner work to develop and build brands, and emphasizes a family- and San Francisco-rooted identity in its approach to spirits.
Awards and Recognitions
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Platinum Medal, 94 Points (2025, Platinum Medal, 94 Points, Hirsch The Cask Strength)
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Gold Medal, 91 Points (2025, Gold Medal, 91 Points, Old Potrero California Cellar Series #03 Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer Finish)
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Gold Medal (2025, Gold Medal)