Barr Hill Tom Cat Reserve Gin

About Barr Hill Tom Cat Reserve Gin

Tom Cat Reserve Gin begins its life as Barr Hill Gin, a London dry-style gin that, unlike other gins, uses only one botanical during distillation: juniper.  The rest of its complex, gentle flavor profile comes from the raw honey, which is added during a second distillation. “Honey is incredibly expensive to harvest,” Hardie notes, and harder still to ferment. “Even with a Bachelor’s of Science in agriculture, I didn’t know that the way you’re taking care of your bees and your people goes into every product — every bottle,”he says. “With a strict science background, they don’t teach you that, but it’s true. The consumer will know the difference between a good and a mediocre product.”

Following distillation, which occurs in a 25-gallon recycled stainless steel still (a testament to Hardie’s commitment to environmental sustainability), the gin is matured for three to four months in new American oak casks. “While resting in the barrels, the gin is constantly transforming,” says Hardie. “The charred barrels contribute to the brown color of the spirit and give our Barr Hill Reserve Tom Cat its complex flavor.” Tom Cat Reserve has also has notes of juniper and ginger, but has touches of caramel, vanilla and honey that are robust and bountiful.

“The best fertilizer is always the footprint of a farmer,” Hardie says.

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About Gin

According to Winston Churchill, “The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives and minds than all the doctors in the Empire,” referring to the British officers using it to treat malaria in India.

Initially made for medicinal purposes, gin gets most of its flavor from the juniper berries added after the distillation process. It sure has come a long way from the Middle Ages, with the introduction of new botanicals, fruits, and spices, bringing it closer to people of all flavor varieties.