Review: Hinterhaus North Grove Vodka
Hinterhaus North Grove Vodka was the first spirit released when Nate and Bonnie Randall opened Hinterhaus Distilling Company in Arnold California March 2020. The distillery built at a 4000 foot altitude in the Arnold Plaza Shopping Center, was named in honor of their German family roots, and the “Hinterland” at their doorsteps in the vast Sierra Nevada wilderness. They currently also craft gin, whiskey, bourbon, and rye. Their son Keagan Randall fills four bottles at a time from an automated dispenser then slides the bottles to three other production workers who seal, label, and box the bottles. North Grove Vodka is made from 100% sulfite free big bodied California red wines including Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from local Calaveras County wineries. It is small batch distilled on a custom hybrid pot still with a 20 plate column still and bottled additive free. The aroma leads with vanilla, banana peel, ripe apple, and white pepper. The sweet grape entry is joined by vanilla building to a baked caramel apple peak. It fades with creamy vanilla, and finishes with caramel, banana, red grape, and a sprinkle of white pepper. This is one of California’s finest craft vodka’s, and I might be so bold as to say, one of the 20 best vodka’s crafted in the US.
Made in Arnold California
40% Alcohol
Score: 94
Award: Gold Medal