Claudine threw a birthday party for Danny over at St. George Spirits in Alameda this weekend. If you know your spirits, you might be familiar with their Hanger One Vodka or Absinthe Verte, the first American-made absinthe on the market after it was re-legalized in the US.

We got a very informative and amusing tour of the distillery, and then had a private “Cocktail Education” in their Pilot’s Lounge. Using a variety of St. George Spirits’ spirits, they showed us how to make “Tasty Like Cheesecake” with their pear liqueur and kirsch eau de vie, “Thai Me Up” with their kaffir lime vodka, “Pear Side Car” with their single malt whiskey and pear liqueur, “The Enlightened Cosmo” with their unusual white tea liqueur, and “The Root of All Evil” with their absinthe.

It was a very cool time, and definitely a reminder (as if I needed reminding) of the amazing things being produced within a stone’s throw from where we live.