A little holiday trip to the Sierra Foothills led me to a surprise find – Hinterhaus Distillery in tiny Arnold, California. My crew and I stopped in for a tasting after a little hike at nearby Calaveras Big Trees State Park (worth a trip to the region all on its own) along with a disproportionally large crowd considering the town’s population of about 2100 – and found a diamond in the spirits world. The North Grove Vodka is a grape based vodka, and it’s a great one. It noses with crisp mountain spring minerality, a touch of vanilla and hint of sweetness. The palate is clean, bright and balanced, with a creamy viscosity that avoids any cloying character thanks to a sweet pepper-ish bite in the finish. It’s not neutral, which I appreciate. You’ll find that it adds depth to your favorite vodka cocktails, and you may find that it needs no accompaniment – just chill a bit and sip away. Bravo! 96
Reviewed by Rich Cook
https://www.hinterhausdistilling.com
Brand – Hinterhaus
Spirit Type – Vodka
Other Designation – North Grove
Country of Origin – USA
ABV – 40%
Bottle Size – 750ml
Price – $31
Score – 96
Date Reviewed – 12/29/2023