News & Events

By in Media & Events Comments Off on Mad River Rye Finished in Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Barrels.

Mad River Rye Finished in Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Barrels.

The Mad River Valley Meets Napa Valley

In the almost-famous Mad River Valley, five villages and two ski areas abut rolling farmland along the flank of Vermont's Green Mountains. And since 2014, the Mad River Valley has become known for whiskey, among other grain-based libations.

Mad River Distillers ferments, distills and bottles a variety of whiskeys at their Warren, VT-based farm for distribution in New England, New York and California. One of the perennial best sellers is Revolution Rye, a whiskey distilled with roasted 'chocolate' rye from the Northeast, which adds a complex and aromatic cocoa/mocha note to the spicy nature of the organic rye grains.

A collaboration between the distillery and Caskforce

In 2018, Nick O’Connell approached Mad River Distillers with the idea for a unique collaborative whiskey, and the distillery jumped at the opportunity. O’Connell is the founder of Caskforce, a Boston-based retailer that curates cask- finished whiskey. He had his eye on some Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon barrels and thought a potential pairing between the wine barrels and Mad River Distillers Revolution Rye would work well together. Silver Oak ages their Cabernet in toasted American oak barrels, which both complements and contrasts the charred American oak in which the whiskey is matured.

O'Connell sourced the barrels and shipped them to Vermont, where Mad River Distillers filled the previous red wine-filled casks with aged Revolution Rye, a unique style whiskey with a rare 100 percent rye mashbill. With only five barrels aged in the Mad River Distillers rickhouse, the new limited release showcases the strengths of both the wine and the whiskey.

“I THOUGHT THE DARK BERRY AND WHITE PEPPER NOTES OF THE SILVER OAK CABERNET CASKS WERE THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO THE RICH COCOA NOTES OF MAD RIVER’S RYE WHISKEY,” O'CONNELL NOTED.

Mad River Distillers head distiller Alex Hilton agreed; ”The Silver Oak Cellars barrels heightened the roasted notes of the chocolate rye in our mashbill, while adding a lush velvet smoothness to the mouthfeel of the whiskey.”

The Mad River Rye Whiskey Finished in Silver Oak Barrels is priced at $54.99 per bottle and available beginning Friday, November 20 in Massachusetts and Vermont.

In MA:

November 20 - Dec 3 Exclusive at at Post Road Liquors in Wayland, Mass., and Upper Falls Beverage in Needham, Mass.

December 4th Onward Post Road Liquors, Wayland, Upper Falls Beverage, Needham, Julio's Liquors, Westborough. Check back for more retailers.

In VT: November 20 Onward

Mad River Taste Place, 89 Mad River Green, Waitsfield, VT 05673. Open Mon-Sat 10 am-6 pm

Mad River Distillers, 137 St. Paul St. Burlington, VT 05401. Open Wed-Sun 2-6 pm

MRD Tasting at The Country Store at Jiminy Peak

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at the Country Store at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Lenox, MA

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 at the Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Lenox, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Addison West Annual Holiday Sale

Join Mad River Distillers on Sunday, November 19th, 2023 at the Addison West in Waitsfield, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 11:00am - 4:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at Ratu's Liquor and Market in Wilmington, VT

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 24th, 2023 at Ratu's Liquor and Market in Wilmington, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Boozy Hot Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 between 2:00pm and 5:00pm at the Lake Champlain Chocolates on Pine Street in Burlington, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits paired with decadent varieties of Lake Champlain Hot Chocolate. A perfect pairing to warm your soul and feed your holiday spirit!  Bottles will be available for purchase.

Mad River Dinner at Black Pond Brews in Dayville, CT

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 2nd starting at 6:00pm (EDT) at Black Pond Brews in Dayville, CT for a Mad River Dinner. Enjoy a four-course chef-inspired dinner while sampling a selection of Mad River Distillers Whiskeys and Rums. Check out the menu and grab your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3stjEvA

By in Blog Comments Off on 2023 Burlington Tasting Room Holiday Gift Guide

2023 Burlington Tasting Room Holiday Gift Guide

The gift giving season has commenced, which means you’re probably working hard to figure out the perfect gift for everyone on your gifting list. If you have a cocktail lover in your life, consider us your one-stop spirits gift shop. The retail section at our Burlington Tasting Room has a variety of items to make an incredible gift basket for your cocktail-loving co-workers, friends or family members. You can find glassware, barware, mixers, bitters, recipe books, apparel, and of course, our spirits. If you’re looking for ideas, check out our Burlington Tasting Room Gift Guide below, and then visit us to quickly get what you need!

Here are our top gift recommendations for 2023:

OUR FAVORITES GIFT PACK

Our spirits gift pack includes three of our best-selling Vermont-made spirits in “flask” sized 200ml bottles, including our Straight Bourbon, our Revolution Rye and our Maple Cask Rum. If you aren’t sure which of our spirits someone would like best, this offers a great way for them to try a few of our customer favorites, all of which taste great on their own or in cocktails.

COCKTAILS GIFT PACK

This gift pack includes three cocktails that are ready to pour and sip right away—our Old Fashioned made with Straight Bourbon, our Maple Fig Madhattan made with Maple Cask Rum and Black Fig Vodka, and our Old Fashioned made with Revolution Rye, which is quite distinctive. All you need is the glassware (which you can also find at our Burlington Tasting Room!).

BITTERS, SIPPERS & NIPPERS

Our Burlington Tasting Room boasts a large display of bitters, which are just one way you can experiment with cocktail flavors. There are a few bitters we always recommend to have as staples in your home bar, and we carry those (such as Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters and Peychaud Bitters), but we also carry a wide array of other flavors, including spicy and savory options. 

What else can you find? Vena's Fizz House Spirit Sippers and Nippers, which are made with freeze-dried fruits, herbs, and natural sweeteners. You simply add one of our spirits to a bottle, allow the spirit to sit with the included ingredients for a period of time, and voila… you have yourself a very tasty shot or cocktail!

ALL THE MIXERS

Just like there are a ton of bitter options to create unique cocktail flavors, the same is true with mixers. Simple syrups from plain to fruit-flavored, grenadine, falernum, orgeat… Mixers make the task of creating incredible cocktails an easy one. Plus, we carry some maple syrups, which work great as an alternative to simple syrup. You’ll find barrel aged syrups at our Burlington Tasting Room, including Wood's Bourbon Barrel Aged and Rum Barrel Aged Maple Syrup, and a Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup from Old City Syrup Company.

GARNISH GAME

Every “host with the most” boasts a great garnish game, but it’s not always easy or quick to serve up a beautiful garnish. That’s why we carry these ready-to-use dehydrated garnishes from Vermont-made Slopeside Cocktails. There are a few packaging options for these dehydrated citrus wheels and apple slices, but the glass packaging in particular makes a beautiful gift that can also be repurposed as a rocks glass later!

BARWARE & HOME GOODS

If you know someone just starting out in the cocktail world, they probably need supplies, and we carry a variety to help stock up their home bar. 

You can build a barware set, with shakers, strainers, barspoons, jiggers, mixing glasses, whiskey stones, muddlers and ice cube molds. You can also find glassware options like our best selling rocks glasses, and Vermont-made AO glassware. Need some other home goods? You’ll find cutting boards and coasters!

WEARABLES

Give the gift of local with some cool Mad River Distillers merch, including these super comfy knitted beanies, baseball hats, our cozy hoodies, and a variety of t-shirts. If your loved one loves our Revolution Rye, they’ll probably love our Join The Ryevolution tee!

MAD RIVER SPIRITS

Don't forget the most spirited gift of all, our award-winning spirits! At our Burlington Tasting Room, you can find bottles of our rye, bourbon and rums. And, if you visit us sooner than later, you might just get one of our limited bottles, like this year’s special release of Pandemic Peat, which is only available at our Burlington Tasting Room.

Above are just some of the items you can find at our Burlington Tasting Room. You can also find recipe books, caramel, chocolate and Luxardo Maraschino cherries (which are truly the best cherries out there, trust us). If you have any questions or need advice on a gift, we’re happy to help you assemble a great package for your loved one.  

Visit us at 137 St. Paul Street in Burlington for all your spirits and barware needs, and show your support for local business! If you aren’t local or visiting the area, check out our Purchase page to see how you can buy our spirits online.

Wishing you all a spirited and safe holiday season!

Written by Brianne Lucas and published on November 13, 2023

By in Blog Comments Off on Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

Last year, we shared a few special Thanksgiving recipes to incorporate into your holiday hosting plans. This year, we wanted to share a variety of recipes that would make great cocktails for your Thanksgiving dinner table, no matter the size of your gathering. These recipes incorporate traditional autumn seasonal ingredients with our rum and bourbon spirits, and while most of these will yield one cocktail, you can easily scale them to serve as many cocktails as needed.

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes:

MAPLE PUMPKIN SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-1 oz. of lemon juice
-1 oz. of Woods Pumpkin Spice Maple Syrup
-2 dashes of Bittermens Tiki Bitters
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Add all ingredients except Angostura Bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Top with 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters as a float.

AUTUMN SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Maple Cask Rum or Straight Bourbon
-½ oz. of Cream Sherry
-½ oz. of lemon juice
-½ oz. of simple syrup
-1 Tbsp. of Pumpkin Butter
-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake the contents and strain them over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange peel.

CRANBERRY BOG

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
- 1.5 oz. Rum 44
- 1 oz. Unsweetened cranberry juice
- 3/4 oz. simple syrup
- 1/2 oz. lime juice
- 3 dashes of Floyd Wild Plum Bitters
- Fever Tree Tonic

Ingredients - Yields 12 Cocktails
- 18 oz. Rum 44
- 12 oz. unsweetened cranberry
- 9 oz. simple syrup
- 6 oz. lime juice
- 36 dashes of Floyd Wild Plum Bitters
- Fever Tree Tonic

Instructions:
To make a single cocktail, shake all ingredients (except the tonic) with ice, then strain into a stemless glass with fresh ice. Top with the Fever Tree Tonic, and garnish with a candied cranberry (cranberry rolled in sugar), a dried orange wheel, and fresh mint. For a beautiful presentation, leave enough room in your glass so that the candied cranberry does not sit in the cocktail.

To make a party punch, add all ingredients (except the tonic) in a punch bowl and stir well to combine. When serving individual glasses, serve over ice and then top each glass with Fever Tree Tonic to allow for full effervescence.

How To Make Candied Cranberries:
When making your simple syrup, add a handful of whole cranberries into the saucepan. Let them simmer for 3 -5 minutes on low heat, then cool the cranberries for one hour on parchment paper. Once they have cooled, toss them in granulated sugar.

Autumn Revolution cocktail with autumn decorations around it

AUTUMN REVOLUTION

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-½ oz. of Orange Curacao
-½ oz. of honey ginger syrup
-½ oz. of lemon juice
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds. Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass. Strain over the large ice cube into the glass. Express a lemon peel over the top, then add as a garnish.

CIDER PUNCH

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
- 1.5 oz. Maple Cask Rum
- 2 oz. Champlain Orchard’s Fresh Apple Cider
- 1/4 oz. maple syrup
- 1/2 oz. lemon juice
- 1/2 oz. orange juice
- 5 dashes Angostura Bitters
- Stowe Cider Dry & High (hard cider to top)

Ingredients - Yields 12 Cocktails:
- 12 oz. Maple Cask Rum
- 24 oz. Champlain Orchard’s Fresh Apple Cider
- 3 oz. maple syrup
- 6 oz. lemon juice
- 6 oz. orange juice
- 1 Tbsp Angostura Bitters
- Stowe Cider Dry & High (hard cider to top)

To make a single cocktail, combine all ingredients, except the hard cider, in a shaker with ice. Strain into a Collins glass, then top the glass with hard cider. (If you can’t find Stowe Cider Dry & High, another hard dry cider will work). Then, add an orange and lemon wedge for garnish. 

To make a party punch, combine all ingredients in a large bowl, except for the hard cider. Mix well. Serve into a punch cup and top with the hard cider, then garnish each glass as above. 

Stolen Gold cocktail with lemons, honey, bitters and a bottle of corn whisky

STOLEN GOLD

Instructions - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Corn Whiskey
-1 oz. of Turmeric Honey Syrup
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-3 dashes of Vena’s Garam Masala Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except the Garam Masala Bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake, then double strain into a large rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with 3 dashes of the bitters.

GINGER COOKIE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 2 oz. Vanilla Rum
- 1 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth
- 1/4 oz. Disaronno amaretto 
- 1/4 oz. Ginger syrup
- 2 dashes Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
- 2 dashes Bokers Cardamom and Citrus Peel Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a small stem glass. Then, top the rim with a gingerbread cookie garnish and enjoy!

AUTUMN SWEATER

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-1 oz. of lime juice
-1 oz. of cinnamon syrup
-½ oz. of Fernet
-lime wheel

Instructions:
Add ice to a coupe glass to chill. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake well. Dump ice from the coupe glass, then strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe. Garnish with a lime wheel, and enjoy!

Earl Grey Tea Old Fashioned with citrus, 18.21 Bitters and Burnt Rock Bourbon

EARL GREY TEA OLD FASHIONED

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-½ oz. of honey simple syrup
-2 droppers of 18.21 Earl Grey Bitters
-1 lemon and 1 orange twist

Instructions:
In a mixing glass with ice, stir the Burnt Rock Bourbon with honey simple syrup and the Earl Grey Bitters. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Twist both an orange and a lemon peel over the glass, then rub each citrus around the rim of the glass before adding to the drink.

ROSEMARY’S DAIQUIRI

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of First Run RUm
¾ oz. of Rosemary Syrup
-1 oz. of lime juice
-fresh rosemary sprig

Instructions:
In a shaker with ice, add all ingredients. Shake for 15 seconds, then strain into a coupe glass. Add a rosemary sprig for garnish.

To make a Rosemary Syrup:
In a Mason Jar, take 8-10 sprigs of rosemary and place in 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep (like a tea) for five minutes, then add 1.5 cups sugar and stir until dissolved. Seal the jar and let it sit for 8-12 hours, then strain out sprigs.

If you’re working on your Thanksgiving to-do list, be sure to put our Burlington Tasting Room on your list of places to stop by, in addition to the grocery store. Not only can you find our spirits there, but you can find a variety of other cocktail-making supplies like syrups, bitters, and even glassware. Plus, you can give yourself a little cocktail break in the process, and order something tasty from our bar.

If you make one or more of our recipes above, feel free to share and tag us on social @madriverdistillers. From all of us at Mad River Distillers, we wish you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday! Cheers!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on November 13, 2023.

MRD Tasting at Luke's Liquors in Rockland, MA

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 1st, 2023 at the Luke's Liquors in Rockland, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at I.M. Gan Discount Liquors

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 at the I.M. Gan Discount Liquors in Warwick, RI. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

By in Burnt Rock Bourbon, Cocktails Comments Off on Autumn Sweater

Autumn Sweater

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Autumn Sweater

No reviews
  • Author: Mad River Distillers
  • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Print Recipe

Description

The perfect sweater weather companion, this cocktail combines our smoky Burnt Rock Bourbon with Fernet, lime juice and cinnamon syrup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
  • 1 oz. of lime juice
  • 1 oz. of cinnamon syrup
  • 1/2 oz. of Fernet
  • lime wheel garnish

Instructions

  1. Add ice to a coupe glass to chill.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
  3. Shake well. Dump ice from the coupe, then strain into the chilled coupe glass.
  4. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Featured Spirit

Buy Online
Buy In Stores

Keywords: Mad River Distillers, craft cocktails, Burnt Rock Bourbon, sweater weather, Autumn Sweater, Fernet, lime juice, cinnamon syrup

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Sugarbush Holiday Craft Bazaar

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 for the Sugarbush Holiday Craft Bazaar at the Lincoln Peak Gate House Lodge in Warren, VT. This event will feature a variety of local Vermont crafters and makers showcasing their wares from 10:00AM – 3:00PM (EDT). We will be offering bottle sales and complimentary tastings from our line of spirits.  Come shop for last-minute holiday gifts and unique, handmade keepsakes!

Good Trade Makers Market at Hula Lakeside

Find us at Hula Lakeside on Saturday, December 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd from noon to 6:00 PM (EDT) for the Good Trade Makers Market.  This event brings together over 90 of the country's greatest independent makers and manufacturers under one roof for a weekend of shopping just in time for the holidays!

UPDATE!!! General Admission tickets are sold out. However, tickets will be available at the door after 3pm on Saturday and Sunday for $8. Each ticket includes a complimentary small beer, cocktail, or non-alcoholic beverage from one of the event sponsors. We’ll be there offering tastings, so be sure to stop by our table!

MRD Tasting at Ryan & Casey Liquors in Greenfield

Join Mad River Distillers on Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at Ryan and Casey Liquors in Greenfield, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at Cordially Yours in Killington

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 15th, 2023 at Cordially Yours in Killington, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at Ernie's Liquors in Bellingham

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 15th, 2023 at Ernie's Liquors in Bellingham, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at Liquors 44 in Northampton

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 15th, 2023 at the Liquors 44 location in Northampton, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

MRD Tasting at Curtis Liquors Grand Tasting Event in Cohasset

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at the Curtis Liquors in Cohasset, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.