Sahara Date Brandy
Sahara Date Brandy is a one-of-a-kind California spirit: a clear, 80-proof brandy distilled from fresh dates farmed in the Coachella Valley, bottled at 40% ABV in a 750mL bottle. Created by Abaled LLC in San Diego County, it ferments the natural sugars of organic Medjool dates, filters out the date fibers, and distills the liquid 16 times for a naturally smooth, unaged brandy with a honeyed date character. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Base: organic Medjool dates from Coachella Valley, California — distilled 16 times, unaged
- Origin: Palm Springs / San Diego County, California — Abaled LLC (Ali Alemohammad)
- Style: clear fruit brandy — naturally smooth, no oak
Dates, Distilled
Founder Ali Alemohammad, a chemical engineer turned San Diego biotech professional, started Sahara in 2017 after noticing that America's date capital had no date-based spirit. He worked with Coachella-based Woodspur Farms dates, developing the recipe at a private-label distillery before bringing production to Spring Valley. The process takes about three weeks: fermentation converts the dates' natural sugar to alcohol, the fibers are filtered out (and sold to farms as livestock feed), and the liquid is distilled 16 times until it mellows. "It's naturally smooth, so we don't hold it in oak barrels," Alemohammad says. The first 600 bottles sold out in months.
Tasting Notes
Clear and bright in the glass. Expect a honeyed, date-driven sweetness — dried fig, caramel, and a gentle nuttiness — with a clean, smooth body and no oak influence. The 16 distillations leave it remarkably soft for 80 proof, with a warm, lingering finish.
How to Enjoy
Sip it neat to taste the date character, or mix it into craft cocktails — Alemohammad recommends pomegranate juice or drinks with sour notes, where the brandy's honeyed sweetness plays against acidity. It also works alongside sweets and desserts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sahara Date Brandy made from?
Fresh organic dates — mainly Medjool — farmed in California's Coachella Valley, fermented and distilled 16 times.
Is Sahara Date Brandy aged?
No — it is bottled clear and unaged; the dates' natural sugars make it smooth without oak.
Where is Sahara made?
In California — dates from the Coachella Valley, distilled in San Diego County by Abaled LLC.
How strong is Sahara Date Brandy?
40% ABV (80 proof).
For more California craft spirits, browse Sahara, and for the wider category see our brandy shelves. Order Sahara Date Brandy online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.