My Visit to J.J. Pfister Distilling Co.

I am so excited to share this post with you all! Right before the holidays really got going, I had the chance to get off the grid to visit J.J. Pfister Distilling, right here in Sacramento! YES, you read that right. J.J. Pfister is the only organic craft distillery in the region, and it is family owned and operated! J.J. Pfister truly embodies the “farm-to-glass” methodology and it was such an honor to meet so many integral parts of the team, and witness some of the magic myself. 

The History behind the brand

The distillery is named after family patriarch and founder of J.J. Pfister Knitting,  J.J. Pfister, a company whose signature garment was the knit shoulder-to knee-swimsuit worn at San Francisco’s Sutro Baths. The new tasting room actual J.J. Pfister knit good products, including the famous swimming suits which were the precursor to today’s wetsuits, catalogs from over 100 years ago, and more. The sewing machine charm is affixed to every bottle to pay homage to the company’s origins.

The Tasting Experience

I was so excited to sample a couple of cocktails on site, utilizing J.J. Pfister gin and vodka. I enjoyed a small gin gimlet as well as a Moscow mule. Both were smooth and the gin had that rich botanical taste and fragrance that I love. If you are into gin, then you definitely want to try J.J. Pfister. Many Sacramento restaurants carry it, so just ask when you are dining (most recently spotted at Kru and Camden Spit & Larder).

Learning about the Process

I have to be honest with you. Prior to this visit, I hadn’t given much thought to the process of how a couple of my favorite spirits are made enough to truly appreciate it, and not just made, but the quality of ingredients that go into creating them. It was amazing to have a casual chat with the J.J. Pfister distillers and see, smell and touch the ingredients. I was able to see the various stages of distilling and having done the tour after I tasted the spirits was even more special. Each bottle is handcrafted and tested and tested until the end result is near perfection. I appreciate the extra care the distillers put into the finished product and I’m excited that they are producing a brandy soon!

Visiting the Distillery

You, too, can visit J.J. Pfister and experience all of the magic. They offer tours on Fridays from 3-6pm and Saturdays 12-6pm. They also host private events in the tasting room and museum. Contact them for more information, and be sure to follow them on Instagram, too.

Cheers!

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Photos by Nicolette Lovell

Thank you to the J.J. Pfister team for inviting me in!