The Calistoga Star XO Brandy
The Calistoga Star XO Brandy is an 80-proof (40% ABV) 750mL California XO brandy from Boisset Collection's Calistoga Depot Distillery — a blend of eau-de-vies aged 10 to 20 years, with 40% column-distilled in used bourbon barrels and 60% alembic-distilled in French oak. Inspired by Samuel Brannan's 1860s Calistoga Distillery and his newspaper The California Star, it took 96 points and the Chairman's Trophy at the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge in its debut year. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof) — per the official distillery specification
- Size: 750mL
- Age: XO — eau-de-vies aged 10–20 years (official spec)
- Distillation/casks: 40% column-distilled, used bourbon barrels; 60% alembic-distilled, French oak
- Grapes: Barbera + Ugni Blanc, California's Central Valley
- Distillery: Calistoga Depot Distillery, Calistoga, California — Boisset Collection (launched Nov 2023)
Napa Valley's New Old Brandy House
The Calistoga Star is Boisset Collection's own spirits brand, launched in November 2023 from the Calistoga Depot Distillery at 1458 Lincoln Avenue — a deliberate revival of Samuel Brannan's 1860s Calistoga Distillery, down to the name borrowed from his newspaper, The California Star. The XO blends two distillation traditions: column-distilled eau-de-vie resting in used bourbon barrels and alembic-distilled spirit in French oak, with the oldest components at twenty years. It has already collected Gold at the USA Spirits Ratings, Gold at the 2025 SIP Awards, and 96 points with a Chairman's Trophy from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. See the Calistoga Star collection and more premium brandy and cognac at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Candied citrus, vanilla, and nutmeg on the nose over stewed cranberries; the palate moves to dried figs, toffee, and espresso with charred citrus on a long, warming finish. Two decades of the oldest stock shows as depth, not weight.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a tulip glass or snifter to catch the citrus-and-espresso arc; a serious XO for brandy drinkers and a credible California answer to cognac.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is The Calistoga Star XO Brandy?
80 proof (40% ABV) per the official distillery specification — a shelf talker from the parent company has shown 85 proof, so check the label if it matters to you.
How old is Calistoga Star XO?
The official specification is a blend of eau-de-vies aged 10 to 20 years.
Is Calistoga Star a private label?
No — it is Boisset Collection's own brand, made at their Calistoga Depot Distillery in Calistoga, California.
California XO with a 19th-century namesake — order The Calistoga Star XO Brandy online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.