Barr Hill Gin
Barr Hill Gin is a 750mL Vermont gin bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) by Caledonia Spirits of Montpelier — distilled once in a custom-built botanical extraction still with juniper as the only distilled botanical, then finished with raw regional honey added after distillation, never heated. It is the producer's self-described ode to the hardworking bees of the Northeast, and one of the most decorated American gins of its generation. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Origin: Caledonia Spirits, Montpelier, Vermont
- Botanicals: Juniper (hand-crushed) — the only distilled botanical
- Finish: Raw regional honey, added after distillation and never heated
- Distillery: Founded by beekeeper Todd Hardie; distilling at 116 Gin Lane, Montpelier since 2019
A Beekeeper's Gin
Caledonia Spirits was founded by Todd Hardie, a career beekeeper, and Barr Hill is built the way a beekeeper would build it: radically simple, and entirely dependent on the quality of two ingredients. The gin is distilled once, with hand-crushed juniper in a custom botanical extraction still — no long botanical list to hide behind — and the raw honey goes in after distillation, unheated, so the wildflower character the bees collected survives into the bottle. The distillery moved from Hardwick to 116 Gin Lane in Montpelier in 2019, address and all. The producer's badges include a SIP Awards Double Gold and Consumers' Choice in 2023, and a 100-point score with Spirit of the Year at the 2020 USA Spirits Ratings. Browse the range on the Barr Hill vendor page and in our spirits collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the producer: juniper-forward botanicals brought to a perfect balance by the floral depth of the raw honey — soft wildflower nectars over bright pine and juniper, a smooth, rounded texture from the honey, and a clean finish where the juniper lingers last.
How to Enjoy
The Bee's Knees was practically invented for this bottle — honey and lemon are already in its DNA — and it makes a luminous gin and tonic with a less-sweet tonic, or a Martinez with real depth. Find more cocktail spirits in our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What botanicals are in Barr Hill Gin?
Just two elements: juniper, hand-crushed and distilled in a custom botanical extraction still, and raw honey added after distillation. There is no coriander, citrus peel or angelica — the complexity comes from the honey's wildflower depth.
Is Barr Hill Gin sweet?
Gently — the raw honey gives a floral softness and a rounder texture rather than syrup sweetness, and the juniper stays in charge. It drinks like a classic juniper gin with a honeyed finish.
Who makes Barr Hill Gin?
Caledonia Spirits of Montpelier, Vermont — founded by beekeeper Todd Hardie and named for the hill where the original Hardwick distillery stood.
Two ingredients, one hive's worth of character — order Barr Hill Gin online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, and taste what raw honey does to juniper.
