{"title":"Bentwing","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"bentwing-brandy-750ml","title":"Bentwing Brandy 750ML","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBentwing Brandy 750ML\u003c\/strong\u003e is a 40% ABV American brandy that blends French Chenin Blanc-style brandy with California floral brandy, finished in charred American whiskey barrels. Good Spirits News awarded it an A rating and called it \"one of the best American brandies to come out this century\" — a bold endorsement that reflects the spirit's genuinely distinctive approach to the category.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Alameda, California, USA  |  Whiskey Barrel-Finished Blend  |  Distillery: Hangar One\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBentwing is produced at Hangar One Distillery in Alameda, California, a facility known for its meticulous distilling programs. The liquid begins as two separate components: a French brandy made in the Chenin Blanc tradition and a floral brandy distilled from a blend of California-grown grape varietals. After blending, the combined spirit is finished in charred American whiskey barrels — a step the producers describe as marrying \"new American know-how with Old World eau de vie blending techniques.\" That whiskey-barrel finishing is the key differentiator, lending a warm, toasted character rarely found in traditional grape brandies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light and inviting, opening with white flowers and orange blossom before settling into darker dried-fruit notes of currants and dates. A subtle honeyed sweetness ties the aromatics together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is gently sweet, with vanilla and caramel arriving early from the whiskey-barrel influence. At mid-palate, deeper layers develop — currant, prune, dark brown sugar, and milk chocolate. The mouthfeel is well-rounded, carrying notes of deep caramelized sugar, tobacco leaf, and seasoned oak through to the peak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medium in length with a fruity, refreshing quality that belies the richness of the palate. Toasted oak and a faint rum-raisin sweetness linger as the finish fades cleanly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Bentwing\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeat or with a single large ice cube is the most rewarding way to explore Bentwing's layered profile; the whiskey-barrel character opens up beautifully with a small drop of water. Its hybrid personality — part Old World grape brandy, part American barrel-aged spirit — also makes it exceptionally versatile in cocktails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSidecar:\u003c\/strong\u003e The caramel and vanilla backbone stands up to Cointreau and lemon without losing its fruit complexity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrandy Old Fashioned:\u003c\/strong\u003e The charred-barrel notes mirror bourbon's role in this classic, while the grape-brandy base adds a dried-fruit dimension that brown sugar and bitters amplify.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVieux Carré:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bentwing's tobacco-leaf undertones and toasted oak integrate naturally alongside sweet vermouth and Bénédictine in this spirit-forward New Orleans staple.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBourbon drinkers curious about brandy who want familiar barrel-aged warmth with something new\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting a spirits enthusiast who already owns the usual suspects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilding a modern American brandy shelf alongside domestic craft releases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpgrading a home cocktail bar with a versatile, barrel-influenced base spirit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Bentwing taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bentwing delivers a lightly sweet palate of vanilla, caramel, and dark brown sugar layered over dried currant, prune, and toasted oak. The charred whiskey-barrel finish adds a warm, tobacco-tinged depth that sets it apart from traditional grape brandies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Bentwing compare to Bertoux Brandy?\u003c\/strong\u003e Both are 80-proof California brandies positioned to appeal to whiskey drinkers, but they take different paths: Bertoux is made entirely from California wine grapes and tends toward a bigger, bolder profile, while Bentwing blends French Chenin Blanc-style brandy with California varietals and finishes the blend in charred whiskey barrels for added complexity. Tasters generally find Bentwing smoother and more layered thanks to its dual-origin blend and barrel finishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Bentwing good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — at 40% ABV it is approachable enough to drink neat, and the whiskey-barrel finishing gives it a warmth and structure that reward slow, contemplative sipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Bentwing made?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bentwing is produced at Hangar One Distillery in Alameda, California, located on the San Francisco Bay. The spirit incorporates both French brandy and California-distilled brandy, blended and barrel-finished on site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Bentwing?\u003c\/strong\u003e Dark chocolate truffles complement the milk-chocolate and caramel notes. Aged hard cheeses like Comté or Manchego mirror the toasted-oak character. Dried fruit and nut boards echo the currant and date aromas. Crème brûlée's caramelized sugar top resonates with the brandy's brown-sugar sweetness. Smoked duck or charcuterie pairs well with the tobacco-leaf undertones from barrel aging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Bentwing come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bentwing Brandy is available in the standard 750ML bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Bentwing worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bentwing positions itself as a premium American brandy, and the dual-origin blend plus whiskey-barrel finishing give it a production profile that punches above typical spirits in its price tier. An A rating from Good Spirits News reinforces that it delivers strong value relative to both domestic craft brandies and imported Cognacs at similar price points.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Bentwing?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes Bentwing genuinely unusual is the convergence of two brandy traditions in a single bottle — French Chenin Blanc-style distillation meets California varietal distillation, and both are unified by finishing in charred American whiskey barrels. That production pathway has no direct analog in the brandy category. Good Spirits News' A rating and its description as one of the best American brandies of the century speak to the quality of execution. For drinkers who find traditional Cognac too restrained and bourbon too grain-forward, Bentwing occupies a compelling middle ground that rewards both neat sipping and cocktail experimentation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bentwing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44837805457577,"sku":"9051","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/1024\/6313\/files\/Bentwing-Brandy__60085.jpg?v=1730495112"}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/bentwing.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}