Heritage & Distillery
Ellers Farm Distillery in North Yorkshire has carved out a distinctive niche in the British craft spirits landscape through its commitment to sustainable production and unconventional raw materials. Dutch Barn vodka takes its name from the architectural style of the farm buildings that house the distillery — a pleasingly literal connection between spirit and place. The decision to distil from a blend of British apples and potatoes is both environmentally motivated and flavour-driven, using surplus and imperfect produce that might otherwise go to waste whilst creating a spirit with a character quite unlike anything produced from a single base material.
Production
The fermentation of apples and potatoes together produces a wash of notable complexity — the fruity esters of the apples combining with the starchy richness of the potatoes to create a spirit base that carries more flavour through distillation than either ingredient would achieve alone. Three distillations in copper stills refine the spirit while preserving the distinctive dual-base character, and carbon filtration smooths the final product without removing the qualities that make it interesting.
Tasting Notes
The nose is immediately distinctive — fresh green apple sits alongside earthy potato, accompanied by a subtle orchard blossom note and hints of hay that evoke the farm setting. On the palate, the vodka is smooth and fruity with ripe apple sweetness balanced by earthy potato depth, gentle vanilla, and a clean mineral quality. The interplay between the two base ingredients is the spirit's most interesting feature. The finish is medium in length, clean with lingering apple and a warming peppery close.
The Serve
The apple character makes this vodka a natural companion for cider-based cocktails and autumnal serves. Try it in a Vodka & Apple Juice with a cinnamon stick, or in a Martini where the orchard fruit adds an unexpected dimension.
Verdict
Dutch Barn is a genuinely original craft vodka that demonstrates the possibilities of unconventional base materials. The sustainability credentials are genuine, the flavour is distinctive, and the overall quality justifies the price. A vodka with a story worth telling — and, more importantly, a liquid worth drinking.
