USA TODAY 10Best
Long Road Distillers named Best Craft Brandy Distillery
Best Craft Brandy Distillery (2019)
Brandy is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to renewed interest in classic cocktail recipes. The term "brandy" refers primarily to spirits distilled from wine, and more broadly to spirits distilled from fruits (also called eau de vie). Many of these distilleries work in small batches using locally-sourced ingredients, including apples, pears and other fruits grown on nearby orchards or in partnership with local wineries.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Craft Brandy Distillery are as follows:
- Napa Valley Distillery - Napa, Calif.
- Watershed Distillery - Columbus, Ohio
- Dorćol Distilling & Brewing Company - San Antonio
- Sonoma Brothers Distilling - Windsor, Calif.
- Huber's Starlight Distillery - Starlight, Ind.
- Bluebird Distilling - Phoenixville, Penn.
- Korbel Brandy - Guerneville, Calif.
- Driftless Glen Distillery - Baraboo, Wis.
- AFT Distillery - Luling, Texas
- Long Road Distillers - Grand Rapids, Mich.
Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Distillery
No. 10:
Napa Valley Distillery was the first distillery to open in the region since Prohibition, and it’s no surprise that a distillery in the heart of California Wine Country makes excellent brandy. One of the signature spirits is the Napa Reserve Neutral Brandy, made from single-distilled Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Other offerings include cherry, sweet basil, plum and pear brandies.
Photo courtesy of Watershed Distillery
No. 9:
Watershed Distillery’s apple brandy starts with all Ohio apples that are pressed, fermented, distilled and aged onsite. The result is a mild and slightly dry brandy with the aroma of red apple and hints of apple peel.
Photo courtesy of Dorćol Distilling + Brewing Co.
No. 8:
The star spirit from Dorćol Distilling & Brewing Company in San Antonio is Kinsman Small Batch Apricot Rakia, a natural brandy made from Serbian apricots picked at their peak of ripeness. The spirit is distilled in a copper pot and bottled at 84 proof for a full-bodied fruit flavor.
Photo courtesy of Sonoma Brothers Distilling
No. 7:
Sonoma Brothers Distilling only makes their limited release brandies once per year. The first starts with fresh apples from a century-old organic orchard in west Sonoma County, fermented, distilled and aged in Russian River Valley Pinot barrels. A grape brandy is also in the works.
Photo courtesy of Huber's Starlight Distillery
No. 6:
Located at Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards, Huber's Starlight Distillery uses estate-bottled wines to produce artisan European-style brandies and ports. Fresh blueberry juice is distilled into a wonderful blueberry liqueur that gets aged in red wine barrels for five to ten years, while a small-batch peach brandy is distilled from home-grown peaches.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Malkovstock
No. 5:
Blueberry brandy, a limited release from Pennsylvania’s Bluebird Distilling, is made from fruit sourced from a local farm in Hammonton, New Jersey. Berries are crushed, fermented and distilled onsite before sitting for more than two years in charred new American oak barrels.
Photo courtesy of Korbel Brandy
No. 4:
Korbel has been producing California brandy since 1889. This award-winning spirit is made from California grapes, distilled in small batches and aged in fire-charred oak barrels to produce a golden brandy with a rich butterscotch nose and a smooth finish.
Photo courtesy of Driftless Glen Distillery
No. 3:
The 5 Year Reserve Brandy from Driftless Glen Distillery in Wisconsin starts in France, where grapes are barreled and aged onsite for five years in French oak. The spirit is then brought to Wisconsin, where it’s cask-finished in bourbon barrels to add depth of flavor and color.
Photo courtesy of AFT Distillery
No. 2:
Edelbrand translates to “noble brandy” — a spirit from the alpine regions of Europe made from fruit, yeast and water. This small Texas distillery makes their own version of apple, cherry and Williams pear edelbrands made from whole single variety fruits. Texas Oak Reserve bottles spend time in toasted white American oak.
Photo courtesy of Long Road Distillers
No. 1:
Long Road Distillers makes a small-batch brandy from fresh local apples sourced from the Fruit Ridge of West Michigan. The brandy spends nearly a year in used whiskey barrels to allow the flavors to develop and mellow.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning distilleries!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Brian Christensen
Brian Christensen is the co-founder of Artisan... Read More
Brian Christensen is the co-founder of Artisan Spirit Magazine, the most trusted distilling trade journal in America, and the Still Talking Podcast, an irreverent distilling podcast his wife won’t even listen to. He is a member of multiple industry committees, advisor boards, and spirits competitions around the country. Brian is lucky enough to spend his days working with distillers, suppliers, state guilds, and industry associations around the world to tell stories that both inform and educate.
Brian Christensen
Brian Christensen is the co-founder of Artisan Spirit Magazine, the most trusted distilling trade journal in America, and the Still Talking Podcast, an irreverent distilling podcast his wife won’t even listen to. He is a member of multiple industry committees, advisor boards, and spirits competitions around the country. Brian is lucky enough to spend his days working with distillers, suppliers, state guilds, and industry associations around the world to tell stories that both inform and educate.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Jack Robertiello
Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about... Read More
Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about spirits, wine, food and restaurants for most of his adult life, for many publications. He speaks frequently at conferences and meetings, and judges at numerous competitions, including the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Robertiello also gives private classes and seminars on tasting wine and spirits, and has advised producers, importers, marketers and publicists about the field. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Jack Robertiello
Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about spirits, wine, food and restaurants for most of his adult life, for many publications. He speaks frequently at conferences and meetings, and judges at numerous competitions, including the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Robertiello also gives private classes and seminars on tasting wine and spirits, and has advised producers, importers, marketers and publicists about the field. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Wayne Curtis
Wayne Curtis is the author of And a Bottle of Rum:... Read More
Wayne Curtis is the author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails, which was updated and re-released in 2018. He has written about cocktails, spirits, travel and history for many publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He currently covers spirits and cocktails for The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun, Spirited, Distiller and 750 Daily. He lives in New Orleans except during the yellow fever.
Wayne Curtis
Wayne Curtis is the author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails, which was updated and re-released in 2018. He has written about cocktails, spirits, travel and history for many publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He currently covers spirits and cocktails for The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun, Spirited, Distiller and 750 Daily. He lives in New Orleans except during the yellow fever.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy... Read More
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
