A toast to the bees....

This is a special week for Barr Hill Gin lovers and the bees. Since Gin is my favorite spirit, I am excited about Bees Knees Week which runs from September 23-October 2nd! Have you ever heard someone use that term to describe something that was good? That term was slang during prohibition for "the best." Caledonia Spirits, through a creative marketing campaign has inspired cocktail enthusiasts and environmental stewards to come together and save the bees. During this week restaurants all over the country are serving special bees knees cocktails. For every photo of a bees knees cocktail, or a bottle of Bar Hill Gin that is posted on social media with a #beesknees and tag @barrhillgin; Barr Hill is planting 10 sq ft of new bee habitat to help save the bees.

Barr Hill began in 2011 when Todd, a lifelong beekeeper and Ryan, a fermentation enthusiast and now distiller collaborated on a distilling project. The original distillery was opened in Hardwick, Vermont near the Barr Hill Nature Preserve which is their namesake. Barr Hill Gin is made from raw honey harvested from bees in the Barr Hill Nature Preserve. They have perfected the use of the honey in the distillation process so that the gin reflects the characteristics of the land much like terroir affects the characteristics of wine (the manner which the climate, topography and soil where grapes are grown affect the characteristic taste and flavor of that wine).

There has been a 90% decline in bee colonies since 1962. Much of the research points to intensive farming practices, mono-cropping, excessive use of agricultural chemicals, deadly mites, habitat destruction and higher temperatures associated with climate change. In 2021 alone many beekeepers reported over a 45% loss in their managed bee colonies. According to the United Nations Environment Program Bees are responsible for pollinating 71 of the 100 food crops that 90% of our food comes from. We are dependent on bees for food, yet as a society we often feel like we can have little impact on these types of issues.

Barr Hill has found a way through this Bees Knees Week celebration to increase awareness and help the bee populations within their preserve through this creative marketing campaign. So, go to their website and find a venue in your area that is participating in this sustainable initiative. Enjoy one of the featured Bees Knees Cocktails and post a picture of your cocktail with the #beeskneesweek and tag @barrhillgin. You can also buy a bottle of Barr Hill Gin and make one of the cocktails from my seasonal sippers or Barr Hill's recipe page and you can post that as well. Either way, you will be part of this important sustainability and awareness initiative.. Awareness is a good first step toward changing an outcome. Let's toast to the bees!