The Barrel-Proof Bottling of this New Gin is a Cue from the Whiskey World
Barrels proof spirits are a hot trend in the whiskey industry. This trend is gaining some traction in other industries, however. gin category, as demonstrated by the release Barr Hill Tom Cat Kingdom Strength.
Barr Hill Gin is produced at Montpelier, Vermont’s Caledonia Spirits distillery, and stands out from the many entries in the American gin category in that only two ingredients are used as flavoring—juniper and honey. While the first ingredient is what defines any gin’s character, the second is essential for this particular gin’s unique flavor. The raw honey actually captures the spirit of the many botanicals encountered by the bees that produce it, so it’s sort of a one-stop shop for natural flavors. The Tom Cat version of the distillery’s gin is aged for six months in new American oak barrels, the same way that bourbon is aged, and this new expression is bottled at barrel proof.
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Barr Hill Tom Cat Kingdom Strength is the first in the distillery’s new Distillery Selection series, so presumably there will be more spirits added to this collection in the coming years. The gin is bottled at a hefty 113 proof, much higher than its counterpart’s 86 proof. Official tasting notes include “sweet, brown aromatics, hints of vanilla and smoky oak, as well as a touch of juniper that cuts through the bright citrus and cedar notes.” Try this in a cocktail, or sip it neat with an ice cube if you’d like to tamp down the ABV a bit.
Tommyrotter Distillery Cask Strength Bourbon Barrel Gin is one of the few American barrel proof gins available. Then there are navy strength expressions like NY Distilling’s Perry Tot Gin, and from across the pond you can find Plymouth Gin Navy Strength and Sipsmith V.J.O.P. These high ABV gin are not barrel proof. This is because a gin must be aged in a barrel before it can be considered a “barrel proof”. All that being said, if you want to try the new Kingdom Strength Gin for yourself, you’ll have to head north to the distillery as it’s only available to purchase there are the moment (SRP $79.99).
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