Barr Hill gin: what it is and where to buy in Westford

Barr Hill gin is a honey-and-juniper gin from Vermont, and CBC Liquors in Westford carries it. You can find the full Barr Hill selection here, from the classic gin to the barrel-aged Tom Cat, and pick it up at 142 Littleton Rd or have it delivered.

What is Barr Hill gin?

Barr Hill is a gin made by a Vermont distillery, built around two ingredients: juniper and raw honey. Juniper is what makes any gin a gin. Barr Hill's twist is that it uses honey as part of how it is made, rather than leaving it out as most gins do.

The result sits in the juniper-forward, London dry neighborhood but reads rounder and a little softer than a sharp, piney gin. If you have found some gins too biting, this is one worth trying.

At CBC Liquors you can browse Barr Hill Gin alongside the rest of the gin section, so you can set it next to the styles you already know.

What does Barr Hill gin taste like?

Expect juniper first, as with any good gin, followed by a gentle floral sweetness that comes from the honey. It is not a sweet gin in the way a liqueur is. The honey shows up as roundness and a lingering finish more than as sugar.

Because of that softness, it works well in drinks where you want the gin to be noticed. A heavily spiced or very bitter mixer can bury it, so lighter pairings suit it better.

If you are comparing it to a dry gin you already like, think of it as the same family with the corners sanded down.

How should you drink Barr Hill gin?

The simplest way is a gin and tonic with a squeeze of lemon, which lets the juniper and honey come through without much else going on. Pick a clean, not overly sweet tonic from the mixers shelf and go easy on the ice so the drink does not water down quickly.

The honey character makes it a natural fit for a bee's knees, the classic mix of gin, lemon juice and honey syrup. It also makes a good martini for anyone who prefers a smoother, less aggressive gin. Stirred with dry vermouth and a lemon twist, it keeps its character.

If you are mixing for friends, keep drinks measured and enjoy them at an easy pace.

What is Barr Hill Tom Cat gin?

Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin is the barrel-aged version. Where the standard gin is clear, Tom Cat spends time resting in new oak, which gives it a pale golden color and adds notes of vanilla and light wood spice on top of the juniper.

That makes it a good bridge for whiskey drinkers curious about gin. It can be sipped over a large cube of ice, or used in place of whiskey or standard gin in a negroni or an old fashioned-style drink where you want more depth.

It is the one to reach for when you want gin to feel like a slower, colder-weather pour.

What else does Barr Hill make?

Barr Hill is not only gin. CBC Liquors also carries Barr Hill Vodka, which follows the same honey-based approach and tends to taste a touch rounder than a grain vodka. If you are choosing between spirits for a cocktail night, the vodka shelf has plenty of company for it.

For whiskey drinkers there is Barr Hill Phyllis Rye Whiskey. Rye is a style made mostly from rye grain and is known for a drier, spicier character than bourbon. If you like to explore, the rye section shows what else sits in that style.

Taken together, you can build a small Barr Hill shelf at home: the gin for the long drinks, Tom Cat for sipping, vodka for something neutral and rye for stirred drinks.

Where can you buy Barr Hill gin in Westford?

CBC Liquors is at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. The store is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The shop has a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 339 Google reviews, and it stocks 4,613 products across 1,888 brands, so a bottle of Barr Hill sits among a wide range rather than a narrow shelf.

If you live in Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Carlisle or Lowell, the store is a short drive. Our liquor store near me page has more about finding us on Littleton Rd.

Can you get Barr Hill gin delivered or picked up?

Yes. Besides walking in, CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup follows the store hours above. Delivery runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM.

Delivery town pages are available for Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Lowell and more, and the main delivery areas page lists every town.

If you are planning a larger gathering, the party planner is a handy place to start. You can also read about alcohol delivered from CBC Liquors in Westford for how it works.