The name.Bull of the Woods was made at the request of Timberfest, the lumberjack festival in Kittitas, for a vodka with a local story. Bull of the Woods is what loggers used to call the lead man on a crew — the one in charge in the woods. It's also the name for the dominant bull elk in a herd. The previous owner of the farm where Elk Heights now stands shot the largest known elk in Alaska; that's the elk on the bottle.
The bees.The vodka itself starts with a 100% corn base distilled to grain-neutral, leaving a clean canvas with no flavor character of its own. We then finish it with 2% of our own honey — and because there's nothing underneath to fight with, what comes through in the glass is the honey itself. Our bees are Carniolan-Italian hybrid colonies kept in Kittitas County, foraging primarily on alfalfa. Each season's vodka tastes a little different depending on what the bees brought home.
Tasting Notes
Nose Soft, delicate honey right up front — not sugary, but floral and warm, reflecting the alfalfa-fed honey base. Light vanilla and fresh-cut grain from the corn sit underneath, with faint wildflower notes from the Carniolan-Italian hybrid hives.
Palate Clean and silky sweetness. The honey doesn't dominate — it integrates. Soft, rounded, almost cushiony mouthfeel.
Finish Honeycomb warmth that fades into a grain-sweet finish. No artificial sweetness — just the quiet echo of real honey from real hives.
Closing note
Serve it cold. Neat in a small glass, or in a martini that lets the honey lead. Or a Honey Bee Mule — vodka, lime, ginger beer, and a spoon of Elk Heights Barrel Aged Honey — for warm nights on the porch.
