Review: Origen Holistic Spirits Specialty Vodka and Harmony Gin
Origen Holistic Spirits soft-sells its celebrity backing, which boasts wellness entrepreneur Amy Holmwood and actor Woody Harrelson as its faces behind the stills.
The company is (thank God) not making whiskey or tequila but rather flavored white spirits, including vodka and gin. The launch products include one of each — though if you didn’t read the fine print on the very different labels, you might not realize they were made by the same parent company.
Why should you care about these products? Here’s what OHS has to say:
Both disruptors at heart, Holmwood & Harrelson’s mission isn’t just to provide a better way to drink, it’s to showcase something that’s sorely lacking across the industry: transparency around ingredients. Origen and Harmony are infused with a proprietary, natural blend of artichoke leaves, elderberries, green tea leaves, and muscadine grapes, and are non-GMO, contain zero sugar, and no artificial colors or flavors.
We got them both and put them to the test.
Origen Holistic Spirits Specialty Vodka – That’s the formal name, but it doesn’t really say “Specialty Vodka” on the label. Instead it just reads “Vodka with natural flavors and botanical extracts,” as noted above including artichoke, elderberry, green tea, and muscadine grapes. The base distillate is unclear. Aperol-orange in color, the nose is slightly winey with citrus overtones. Ample elderberry in the mix, with a ruddy earthiness beneath that seems likely driven by the artichoke and perhaps whatever the underlying mash is. The mind braces for sweetness but after a small squeeze of fruity orange oil, the palate becomes actually rather drying and tart, showcasing bitter notes of rhubarb and grapefruit peel. The green tea in the mix is especially noticeable as the finish builds, its mix of earth and grassy herbs giving the finish a certain Eastern quality. It’s a rather oddball product that I’m still wrapping my mind around; I presume pairing it with tonic or other mixers is the pro move here. 74 proof. B / $46 [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Origen Holistic Spirits Harmony Gin – A pinkish gin also made with the company’s “patent-pending blend of elderberry, muscadine grape, artichoke and green tea,” the gin adds in more traditional gin botanicals of orris root, hyssop, coriander seed, lemon peel, lime peel, angelica root, and juniper berries. There’s certainly more to grab onto here, not the least of which is a 45% abv that gives things a bolder, racier edge. The nose telegraphs the additional heat, plus the piney punch of juniper and a bold floral character that evokes rose petals and jasmine, alongside a light blood orange note. The gin becomes increasingly perfumed as it develops in the glass. Unlike the vodka, there are no real surprises on the palate, which is florally forward with tons of that rose and jasmine, plus some lilac notes. Fruitier than the gin with a stronger citrus punch, balancing elements of juniper and a touch of mushroom bring the finish down quietly. A hint of warm green tea gives the finish a soothing quality. All told, Harmony Gin is definitely the better spirit of the two, though note the orange color may wreak havoc on your martini. 90 proof. A- / $47 [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
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