THE CRAFT
THE HISTORY + MAKING OF NO. 209
OUR HISTORY
No. 209 was never just a number. It marked a moment - an official seal granted in 1882 to a small distillery nestled among the vines of St. Helena, California - the 209th distillery in the United States. There, with stills, botanicals, and quiet obsession, spirits were born that would travel across oceans, earning a medal in Paris at the Exposition Universelle of 1889.
But even the most celebrated stories sometimes slip into whispers. Over time, No. 209 left the world stage and became San Francisco’s best-kept secret - only shared amongst bartender and beverage enthusiasts.
Today, that secret continues to spill across the country, where mixologists and enthusiasts enjoy the clean, smooth balance of No. 209 neutral spirits and its ritual botanicals. First, citrus, a little spice, notes of juniper. Under the thoughtful eye of Master Distiller Erik Ettner, No. 209 continues to honor the age-old recipe with just enough experimentation to still stir things up.
1882
Founded by Distiller William Shuffler in St. Helena, California
1889
Medaled at the Exposition Universelle in Paris
1999
No. 209 was revived, now crafted at Pier 50, above the water, in San Francisco by Distiller Arne Hillesland
2025
Inspired by the legacy of No. 209, Jeff O’Neill takes responsibility of Distillery No. 209, now with Master Distiller Erik Ettner handmaking and honoring the timeless spirit
FOR THOSE WHO SIP.
FOR THOSE WHO STIR.
NAPA-BORN SINCE 1882
SPIRITS BUILT ON TRADITION, THAT NEVER STOP STIRRING.
THE ORIGINAL DISTILLERY NO. 209 IN NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
NO. 209'S CUSTOM-BUILT COPPER POT STILLS
Precision-crafted through a five-time distillation process, No. 209 achieves exceptional clarity and depth. Each batch begins with a meticulous selection of botanicals, macerated overnight to extract their full essence before being distilled in a custom-built copper pot still. This process results in a gin of remarkable balance, where bright juniper and citrus provide a crisp foundation, warm cardamom and cassia add depth, and bergamot with lemon deliver an elegant floral finish.
OUR PROCESS
JUNIPER
BERGAMOT
CARDAMOM
CASSIA
CORIANDER
LEMON
ANGELICA
ORRIS ROOT
OUR INGREDIENTS
“Crafting gin requires an exacting balance—where each botanical, each step in the process, shapes the character of the final spirit. With No. 209, I aim to preserve its legacy while elevating its future. Every batch is a study in restraint and precision, letting the ingredients speak without overpowering each other. It’s not about making something loud—it’s about making something lasting.”
– MASTER DISTILLER, ERIK ETTNER
TIME-HONORED SPIRITS
