Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Reserve Tom Cat Gin
Barr Hill · Caledonia Spirits
Tom Cat proves that barrel-aged gin can be more than a novelty. The interplay between raw northern honey, juniper, and new American oak creates something genuinely distinctive — part gin, part whiskey-adjacent sipper, wholly itself. Vermont's cold winters slow the aging, building complexity without sacrificing botanical clarity.
Nose
Juniper and raw honey greet you first, quickly joined by warm vanilla and cassia bark. There's a waxy, herbaceous quality to the juniper that gives it depth, with subtle floral notes emerging as it opens.
Palate
Honeyed sweetness balanced by resinous juniper and baking spices. The barrel aging contributes a warm vanilla and oak character without overwhelming the botanical core. Mid-palate delivers gentle ginger warmth and a hint of orris root earthiness.
Finish
Medium-long with lingering juniper, honey, and a spicy cassia bark warmth that echoes pleasantly.
- Style
- Barrel-Aged American Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, raw northern honey
- Base Spirit
- Grain neutral spirit
- Distillation
- Pot distillation with juniper; raw honey added post-distillation before barrel aging
Cocktail Suggestion
Barrel Bee's Knees — 2 oz Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz raw honey syrup · Shake vigorously with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lemon twist and a few drops of Angostura bitters on top.
Food Pairing
Aged cheddar with honeycomb and walnuts
Beekeeper-turned-distiller Todd Hardie founded Caledonia Spirits in northern Vermont, using raw honey from his own apiaries and water drawn from the Hardwick granite aquifer to produce a gin rooted in place.
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