Montpelier, VT – March 19, 2025 – Barr Hill, the buzz worthy gin of the northeast, has re-routed its path to market in all major Northeast markets. The most recent is a five-state distribution deal with Martignetti Companies, New England’s leading distributor of wines and spirits.
“We’re thrilled to see this partnership come together. The strength and storytelling capabilities of the Martignetti team is sure to unlock great opportunities for the Barr Hill brand in our major backyard markets.” Said Ryan Christiansen, President and Head Distiller, “It’s a really exciting time for our team and our farming partners.”
Barr Hill Gin entered the spirits market in 2011, thriving at Vermont farmers markets before expanding into broader territories. The brand has grown significantly in its home state, now outselling any other gin on the shelf - a trend that’s taking hold in other Northeast markets and across the nation. Barr Hill has also been credited with the resurgence of the Bee’s Knees cocktails on bar menus throughout the country.
“It’s a story we’re really proud of," said Christiansen, “What started with a couple of bee hives and a 15 gallon still has grown into the largest independently owned premium gin in America. We’re committed to the quality of our spirits, the connectivity to our community, and the importance of our mission to support bees.”
The five-state distribution deal with Martignetti will expand the reach of the high velocity brand in MA, RI, CT, NH, and ME and includes Barr Hill’s core portfolio and its bartender-created Gin & Tonic Canned Cocktail. This partnership comes just one year after joining Empire Merchants in New York, and Fedway in New Jersey.
“This partnership with Barr Hill exemplifies our commitment to bringing exceptional brands to customers across New England,” said Jim Hickey, Senior Vice President of Spirits at Martignetti Companies. “By combining Martignetti's extensive distribution network with Barr Hill's commitment to quality and community-driven ethos, we're poised to expand the reach of their premium spirits across New England. This collaboration will not only enhance our spirits portfolio but also provide customers with a unique offering that resonates with local tastes and preferences while also celebrating craftsmanship and community.”
About Barr Hill
Barr Hill Gin is an award-winning, super-premium spirit made by the Montpelier, Vermont-based distillery, Caledonia Spirits. Founded by a Vermont beekeeper, the distillery uses raw honey as the key ingredient in making its spirits. Now led by its entrepreneurial Head Distiller & President, Ryan Christiansen, Caledonia Spirits produces Barr Hill Gin, Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin, and Barr Hill Vodka — at its state-of-the-art, solar power-enhanced distillery in Montpelier. Barr Hill’s distillery, located on a street aptly named “Gin Lane'' in Montpelier, Vermont, is dedicated to crafting world class spirits and educating consumers on the connection between agriculture and cocktail culture with eco-friendly practices; the brand hosts Bee's Knees Week, the spirits industry’s biggest sustainability initiative that creates new habitat for endangered pollinators from June 13-22, 2025. The distillery’s Landcrafted® approach honors the bounty of the land, the labor of farmers and the pivotal role of bees in agriculture and the source of all honey - the contributor of botanical depth in Barr Hill’s spirits.
About Martignetti
Established in 1908, Martignetti Companies is the sixth largest wine & spirits distributor in the country and the leading distributor of beer in New England. Based in Taunton, Massachusetts, the Company currently operates in six New England states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
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