photo by BarrHill.com
Caledonia Spirits founder Todd Hardie and Head Distiller Ryan Christiansen stand in a field of rye at Thornhill Farm, Greensboro Bend. Grain from the farm is used for Caledonia Spirits rye whiskey.
MONTPELIER — Bar Hill Cocktail Bar in Montpelier has been named an Outstanding Bar as a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist. The bar at the Caledonia Spirits headquarters and distillery features the company’s Barr Hill gin and Barr Hill vodka.
Founder and Head Distiller Ryan Christiansen, has said, “It’s easy to make great spirits when you start with great raw ingredients.”
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
Caledonia Spirits got its start in a 6,000 square foot facility on Log Yard Drive in Hardwick, where Todd Hardie had been developing mead, a honey-based alcoholic beverage. Christiansen worked with Hardie to co-create Barr Hill Gin. The gin featured Hardie’s raw honey.
That very successful product, now billing itself as “America’s Most Awarded Gin,” won its first big award with a Double Gold at the 2012 New York International Spirits Competition.
Early success led to the company’s 2019 move from Hardwick into a newly built distillery on Gin Lane in Montpelier, where they restored a long neglected brownfield site on the banks of the Winooski River. Their new home was designed from the ground up, emphasizing sustainability, eco-friendly design and renewable energy in every facet of the building and the distillation process.
Following the James Beard Awards’ announcement, Hardie wrote, “I have been delighted with the growth of Caledonia Spirits. They have built a great team and continue to support programs that help honey bees. Caledonia Spirits has changed grain farming in Vermont with their commitment to organic grain for their whiskey program!”
“As we continue to grow and expand our reach, we remain committed to our principles of sustainability and community. We believe that by working with the land and with each other, we can create a better world and better spirits,” Caledonia Spirits writes of the company.
Cara Chigazola Tobin of Honey Road and Micah Tavelli of Paradiso Hi-Fi, both in Burlington, were named as semifinalists for the Best Chef: Northeast Award.
From the Award finalists, nominees will be announced on April 3, then the winner will be crowned at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10.
