Owner Todd Hardie spent over four decades as a beekeeper before deciding to incorporate his raw, Vermont honey into craft spirits. His first honey house, which required a $1,000 down payment and had a mortgage of $133 per month, was home to 180 colonies. Today, on the banks of the Lamoille River in Hardwick, Vermont (population: 3,174), Caledonia Spirits remains rooted in the traditions of sustainability and Vermont agriculture.
Barr Hill Gin is a London dry-style gin that, unlike other gins, uses only one botanical during distillation — juniper. The rest of its complex, gentle flavor profile comes from the raw honey (made at one of Hardie's now 1,900 colonies), which is added during a second distillation.
The distillery's 25-gallon still is made from recycled stainless steel and is a testament to Hardie's commitment to environmental sustainability. The bottles, which are filled and labeled by hand, are sealed with beeswax (what else did you expect?) cut from a huge hunk of luminous lemon-yellow wax from Singing Cedar Apiaries.
Barr Hill Gin has earned numerous accolades, including a Platinum Medal at the 2020 SIP Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition. "The best fertilizer is always the footprint of a farmer,"Hardie says. This gin has his footprint all over it.
Bottle Size: 750mL
