Barr Hill Vodka

Barr Hill Vodka. Caledonia Spirits, Hardwick, Vermont — the world's only vodka finished with raw honey, produced by a Vermont distillery that sources its honey from working beekeepers and applies two simple principles — never heat the honey before fermentation and never distill more than twice — to preserve the wild yeast and rich aromatics of wildflower nectar, delivering a creamy mouthfeel with notes of vanilla and wildflowers unlike any other vodka on the market.

Caledonia Spirits was founded in Hardwick, Vermont, by Todd Hardie — a beekeeper who saw in raw honey both a premium fermentation substrate and a way to honor the hardworking beekeepers of the Northeast. Every bottle of Barr Hill Vodka is a tribute to the beekeeper's season: in late summer, the distillery takes delivery of hundreds of barrels of pure raw honey, the culmination of a season's work by the bees and their keepers that goes into the production of both Barr Hill Vodka and Tom Cat Gin.

The production philosophy is defined by restraint: never heat the honey before fermentation, because heating destroys the wild yeast strains naturally present in raw honey — the same yeasts that give fermented honey mead its distinctive character. Never distill more than twice, because each additional distillation pass strips more of the aromatic compounds that differentiate Barr Hill from neutral grain vodkas. The result is a vodka that genuinely retains the character of its source ingredient: the wildflower fields of Vermont, expressed through honey rather than grain.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Wildflowers and vanilla with a creamy sweetness from the honey base. Distinctly different from grain vodka — more floral, more aromatic, more alive.
• Palate: Creamy mouthfeel that the honey fermentation creates. Notes of vanilla and wildflowers develop through the mid-palate. The double-distillation restraint preserves the honey character rather than stripping it.
• Finish: Soft and creamy with lingering floral honey notes. One of the most distinctive finishes in the American craft vodka category.

Specs

• Distillery: Caledonia Spirits, Hardwick, Vermont
• Founder: Todd Hardie, beekeeper and distiller
• Base: Raw Vermont wildflower honey (never heated before fermentation)
• Distillation: Maximum two distillations (to preserve honey aromatics)
• ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Barr Hill Vodka taste like? Wildflowers and vanilla with creamy sweetness on the nose. Creamy mouthfeel with vanilla and wildflower notes on the palate. Soft, creamy finish with lingering floral honey. Distinctly different from any grain vodka.
• Why does Barr Hill use raw honey instead of grain? Raw honey contains wild yeast strains that create a distinctive fermented character — more floral, more aromatic, and more complex than grain fermentation. Heating honey destroys those yeasts; Caledonia Spirits never heats the honey, preserving the character that makes Barr Hill unique.
• Why only two distillations? Each additional distillation pass removes more impurities but also strips more of the honey's aromatic character. By stopping at two distillations, Barr Hill retains the wildflower and vanilla notes that make it recognizably a honey vodka rather than a neutral grain spirit.
• What cocktails work best with Barr Hill Vodka? Barr Hill Bee's Knees (Barr Hill Vodka + lemon + honey), Honeybee Mule (ginger beer + lemon + honey), or a simple Barr Hill Martini where the floral character can be appreciated. Also exceptional neat over ice as a sipping vodka.