Hinterhaus Winter Hut Holiday Spirit Review (2024 Release)

 

Hinterhaus Distilling is located in Arnold, California. That’s about 4000 feet above sea level in the Sierra Mountains. Nate Randall and his wife, Bonnie, are the owners, and they specialize in gin, vodka, liqueurs, and a selection of whiskeys.

 

Hinterhaus is an unusual name. Its origin seems German, meaning rear building or house at the back. Nate and Bonnie chose the name in 2020 to honor everything the Sierra Mountains provide them. Hinterhaus works closely with its neighbors to obtain casks and ingredients for its spirits.

 

Hinterhaus has a holiday spirit called Warming Hut, named for Alpine huts. It is a limited-edition blend of Bourbon, Port wine, and honey. Warming Hut is packaged at 38% ABV (76°) and is sold in 375ml for $27.99. It can be purchased from Hinterhaus’s website. It is available for purchase beginning today.

 

Before we #DrinkCurious, I must thank Hinterhaus for providing me with a sample of Warming Hut in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

On a side note, giving the bottle a gentle shake before serving is recommended, as settling may have occurred.

 

Appearance: Having no clue what glass is appropriate to sip from, I chose my trusty Glencairn and poured this cordial neat. I observed a reddish-orange spirit forming a massive rim and medium-spaced tears.

 

Nose: As I allowed this cordial to rest, my whiskey library filled with a lovely smell of chocolate silk pie – whipped cream, graham cracker crust, and all. When I brought it just under my nose, I noticed bold butterscotch, which was then overwhelmed by more chocolate. Drawing the air into my mouth allowed me to experience milk chocolate and whipped cream.

 

Palate: The texture was thick and creamy. There was some warmth to remind me that this was an adult beverage, but nothing that I would describe as hot. I tasted honey, whipped cream, milk chocolate, and spiced nuts. I don’t believe this could be broken down into front, middle, and back.

 

Finish: There was, however, a finish. While it only lasted 37 seconds, it was enough to leave chocolate and honey on my tongue and throat.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Frankly, I could have stopped at the nosing and been perfectly content. Mrs. Whiskeyfellow came to ask me a question, and I handed her the glass. Her eyes slowly rolled back with pleasure.

 

Ending things at the nosing would have been a grave mistake because what was in my mouth was pure magic. The texture, flavors, and finish were enchanting. It was challenging not to reach for the third pour. If I had one complaint, it would be that I wish the finish were longer.

 

Warming Hut is a dessert cordial. If we had a fireplace, I would enjoy this in front of it and think about Christmas. It is also one of those drinks you don’t care what it costs. You want a Bottle of this; I have two, and they’re all mine. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.