Barr Hill gin. This is a delicious craft gin from a distillery in Vermont. I previously raved about the barrel-aged version of this gin (one of my fave unique gins in my collection), so I was super excited to get a bottle of their standard non-aged gin.

Lots of craft gins these days incorporate a mélange of botanicals, but Barr Hill keeps it very simple, using only juniper (a requirement to be considered a gin) and raw honey. The company was founded by a beekeeper with over 30 years of experience in the beekeeping industry, so when he ventured into distilling, he sought to join his worlds by incorporating raw, unprocessed, unpasteurized honey into his spirits.

In this gin, the honey is added post distillation (so never heated/pasteurized), and adds a floral, slightly sweet viscosity to the spirit. The gin tastes more complex than you’d think, influenced by the myriad of flavor complexities from the raw honey. As the honey is not processed, it will vary seasonally (depending on what the bees are pollinating!), so each batch of the gin may be a little different (both in color and flavor).

This week, Barr Hill Gin is sponsoring Bee’s Knees Week, aimed to raise funds and awareness to protect the declining bee population. Participating bars will feature cocktails to benefit the cause, so here’s a reason to go out for some drinks! Find a bar near you at beeskneesweek.com.