Caledonia Spirits is a craft distillery in Montpelier, Vermont. The distillery is known for its Barr Hill-brand spirits, including gin, vodka, and an Old Tom gin called Tom Cat. The company's flagship product is its Barr Hill Gin, which is the top-selling Vermont-made spirit and the most awarded gin made in the US.[1]
The distillery was originally located in Hardwick in Vermont's Caledonia County (in the Northeast Kingdom). It was founded by Todd Hardie, a lifelong beekeeper who wanted to popularize honey-based beverages and highlight the important and threatened role of bees in the environment. Ryan Christiansen serves as the company's president and head distiller.[1] The two met in 2011, while Hardie was using raw honey in his small production winery at the time.[2] In the 2010s, the company moved to Montpelier, opening a 27,000-square-foot distillery. In 2019, the company expanded its presence there, opening a cocktail bar and retail store.[1]
Operations
The distillery distributes in 32 U.S. states, as well as Montreal, and other foreign cities with cocktail cultures. Product volume tripled from 2015 to 2019 and continues to grow rapidly, leading to about 60,000 4.5L cases shipped per year.[1]
Each year since 2017, Caledonia Spirits has hosted a Bee's Knees Week, an event to raise funds to plant pollinator habitats across the U.S. The event, hosted in late September each year, is an effort to combat pollinator decline. The 2021 fundraiser had a goal of planting 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of bee habitats.[2]
Products
The company's Barr Hill Gin uses raw honey sourced from Vermont. The raw honey maintains aromatics from the bees' foraging practices, with an estimated 100 to 115 different pollen and plant particles found in their raw honey.[2]
The company's vodka is distilled from only raw honey sourced from a 250-mile radius around the Barr Hill distillery. The process requires 4 lb (1.8 kg) of honey per 750 mL bottle. The honey is not heated prior to fermentation, preserving natural aromatics. The vodka is also distilled only one to two times, keeping flavors that could otherwise be removed through subsequent distillations.[3][2]
Reception
Caledonia Spirits' gin is well-received. In a Forbes review of top gins in 2019, Barr Hill was listed first, recommended for its botanical notes and for use in a white Negroni.[4]
References
^ abcdPasanen, Melissa (July 3, 2019). "Caledonia Spirits Distillery Expands in Montpelier, Adding Bar and Store". Seven Days. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
^ abcdDara, Jillian (August 30, 2021). "This Vermont Distillery Creates Spirits from Raw Honey: Here's How It Uses Them to Support Bee Colonies Across the Country". Forbes. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
^Harten, Duke (September 6, 2022). "13 Best Vodkas for a Screwdriver". Tasting Table. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
^Alarcón, Claudia (June 27, 2019). "Why These 7 Unique Gins Should Be In Your Home Bar Right Now". Forbes. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
caledonia, spirits, craft, distillery, montpelier, vermont, distillery, known, barr, hill, brand, spirits, including, vodka, called, company, flagship, product, barr, hill, which, selling, vermont, made, spirit, most, awarded, made, foundedc, 2011headquarters1. Caledonia Spirits is a craft distillery in Montpelier Vermont The distillery is known for its Barr Hill brand spirits including gin vodka and an Old Tom gin called Tom Cat The company s flagship product is its Barr Hill Gin which is the top selling Vermont made spirit and the most awarded gin made in the US 1 Caledonia SpiritsFoundedc 2011Headquarters116 Gin Lane Montpelier VermontProductsGin vodkaWebsitecaledoniaspirits wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Operations 2 1 Products 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe distillery was originally located in Hardwick in Vermont s Caledonia County in the Northeast Kingdom It was founded by Todd Hardie a lifelong beekeeper who wanted to popularize honey based beverages and highlight the important and threatened role of bees in the environment Ryan Christiansen serves as the company s president and head distiller 1 The two met in 2011 while Hardie was using raw honey in his small production winery at the time 2 In the 2010s the company moved to Montpelier opening a 27 000 square foot distillery In 2019 the company expanded its presence there opening a cocktail bar and retail store 1 Operations EditThe distillery distributes in 32 U S states as well as Montreal and other foreign cities with cocktail cultures Product volume tripled from 2015 to 2019 and continues to grow rapidly leading to about 60 000 4 5L cases shipped per year 1 Each year since 2017 Caledonia Spirits has hosted a Bee s Knees Week an event to raise funds to plant pollinator habitats across the U S The event hosted in late September each year is an effort to combat pollinator decline The 2021 fundraiser had a goal of planting 50 000 square feet 4 600 m2 of bee habitats 2 Products Edit The company s Barr Hill Gin uses raw honey sourced from Vermont The raw honey maintains aromatics from the bees foraging practices with an estimated 100 to 115 different pollen and plant particles found in their raw honey 2 The company s vodka is distilled from only raw honey sourced from a 250 mile radius around the Barr Hill distillery The process requires 4 lb 1 8 kg of honey per 750 mL bottle The honey is not heated prior to fermentation preserving natural aromatics The vodka is also distilled only one to two times keeping flavors that could otherwise be removed through subsequent distillations 3 2 Reception EditCaledonia Spirits gin is well received In a Forbes review of top gins in 2019 Barr Hill was listed first recommended for its botanical notes and for use in a white Negroni 4 References Edit a b c d Pasanen Melissa July 3 2019 Caledonia Spirits Distillery Expands in Montpelier Adding Bar and Store Seven Days Retrieved December 30 2022 a b c d Dara Jillian August 30 2021 This Vermont Distillery Creates Spirits from Raw Honey Here s How It Uses Them to Support Bee Colonies Across the Country Forbes Retrieved December 30 2022 Harten Duke September 6 2022 13 Best Vodkas for a Screwdriver Tasting Table Retrieved December 30 2022 Alarcon Claudia June 27 2019 Why These 7 Unique Gins Should Be In Your Home Bar Right Now Forbes Retrieved December 30 2022 External links EditOfficial websitePortals Liquor Vermont Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caledonia Spirits amp oldid 1130538081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
