Barr Hill Turns to Sherry Casks In Latest Tom Cat Gin Release
Caledonia Spirits’ Barr Hill Gin elevates its popular Tom Cat expression with Oloroso Sherry casks. (Photo: Barr Hill Gin)
Barr Hill, known for its award-winning gin, has unveiled a limited release called Sherry Barrel Tom Cat Gin as part of its Distillery Selection series. This special expression is available exclusively at the Barr Hill distillery on Gin Lane in Montpelier, Vermont.
Sherry Barrel Tom Cat Gin begins its aging process in new American oak barrels for one year, similar to the method used for the brand’s classic Tom Cat expression. After achieving the desired rich depth and character, the gin is further aged in Oloroso Sherry casks for slightly over a year, which imparts flavors of baking spices, toasted walnuts, caramel, dried fruit and a dry finish, Barr Hill shared in a press release.
Finally, the distillery’s team samples the contents from each of these finishing barrels and then bottles the liquid at unique proof levels, adding custom quantities of Barr Hill’s iconic ingredient: raw honey sourced from the “Northeast’s busiest hives.”
“This Sherry Barrel Tom Cat Gin is the epitome of our commitment to pushing the boundaries of craft distillation, and we are fortunate to have preserved some truly remarkable finishing barrels of Tom Cat Gin over the years to do so,” said Patrick Amice, hospitality manager of Barr Hill.
“Exemplifying the remarkable breadth and complexity of our barrel-aged gin, these bottlings hold a special place in our hearts and are a delight to share with our guests on Gin Lane. It’s a harmonious fusion of tradition and innovation, where the mastery of our distillers meets the artistry of the bees.”
Sherry Barrel Tom Cat Gin is exclusively available at the distillery’s shop, priced at $99.99 per bottle. The brand also distributes its other expressions — Barr Hill Gin, Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin and Barr Hill Vodka — to various US markets and offers shipping nationwide through its website.
Barr Hill is known for its commitment to using raw honey as a key ingredient in its spirits and for its eco-friendly practices. The distillery’s “Landcrafted” approach emphasizes the importance of the land, farmers’ labor and the role of bees in agriculture and honey production. The spirit producer is also known for running the booze industry’s largest sustainability initiative, Bee’s Knees Week. First launched in 2017, the September event helps raise funds for expanding the habitat of bees, Earth’s most important pollinators.
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