News & Events

By in Blog Comments Off on Mad River Distillers Welcomes Moira Horan as On-Premise Sales Manager for Massachusetts

Mad River Distillers Welcomes Moira Horan as On-Premise Sales Manager for Massachusetts

Warren, VT – March 4, 2024 – Mad River Distillers, a leader in the craft distilling industry known for its commitment to quality and sustainability, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Moira Horan as On-Premise Sales Manager for Massachusetts and Connecticut. Horan, who previously worked with Mad River Distillers in 2017, returns to the team in a pivotal management role after gaining valuable experience and insights at Fever Tree and Tanteo Tequila.

Moira Horan is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of success in the beverage industry. During her time at Fever Tree and Tanteo Tequila, she developed a deep understanding of the market dynamics and established herself as a key player in driving growth and brand recognition. Her expertise in sales strategy, customer relations, and market penetration will be invaluable to Mad River Distillers as the company seeks to expand its presence and influence in the Massachusetts and Connecticut markets.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Moira back to the Mad River Distillers family," said Maura Connolly, Co-founder of Mad River Distillers. "Her energy, expertise, and passion for the spirits industry are exactly what we need as we look to strengthen our position in the on-premise marketplace. Moira's unique ability to connect with customers and drive sales will be instrumental in achieving our growth objectives in these key regions."

In her new role, Horan will be responsible for leading sales initiatives, cultivating relationships with key accounts, and developing valuable partnerships that will enhance Mad River Distillers' visibility and market share. Her appointment marks a significant step forward in the company's strategic expansion efforts and underscores its commitment to bringing high-quality, artisanal spirits to a wider audience.

“I’m excited to return to the Mad River Distillers team which is a brand based on authenticity and sense of place,” said Moira Horan. “I look forward to being a part of the brand building in the on-premise in Massachusetts and Connecticut."

Mad River Distillers is confident that Horan's return and her leadership in the Massachusetts and Connecticut markets will usher in a new era of growth and innovation for the company.

About Mad River Distillers: Mad River Distillers is a craft distillery based in Warren, Vermont, dedicated to producing high-quality, small-batch spirits with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Founded in 2011, the distillery has garnered acclaim for its diverse portfolio of award-winning products, including whiskey, rum, and brandy. Committed to the craft and community, Mad River Distillers continues to push the boundaries of traditional distilling while honoring the rich heritage of Vermont's distilling legacy.

For further information, contact Mad River Distillers at info@madriverdistillers.com

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

Three bottles of Amaro next to a bottle of Revolution Rye
By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Amaro: A Bittersweet Italian Herbal Liqueur

Amaro: A Bittersweet Italian Herbal Liqueur

You’ve heard how great cocktails have a balance of bitter and sweet. On the bittersweet side of things, Amaro liqueurs are a popular option. Amaro means “bitter” in Italian, and this bittersweet Italian herbal liqueur is traditionally referred to as a digestivo. A digestivo is a liqueur thought to aid in digestion due to its combination of ingredients such as macerated herbs, roots (like gentian), citrus peels, flowers and alcohol. 

Here, we wanted to offer an overview on some of the popular Amaro’s we incorporate in our cocktails, as well as share some cocktail recipes we’ve made using them.

Amaro Nonino®

A 100% vegetal product first created in 1933, Amaro Nonino® is a unique blend of herbs, spices, fruit, berries and roots, all “enriched with ÙE® Nonino Grape Distillate, aged more than 12 months in barriques and small casks” (Amaro Nonino Quintessentia®- the All Natural Italian Amaro, 2023). As a digestivo, you can enjoy this award-winning liqueur on its own at room temperature, but the bittersweet blend of this Amaro works incredibly well in popular cocktails like the Paper Plane, as well. 

Try Amaro Nonino in our recipes below:

PAPER PLANE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-3/4 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of Aperol
-3/4 oz. of Amaro Nonino
-3/4 oz. of Fresh Lemon Juice

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake hard until frost appears on the shaker tin. Double strain the drink into a Coupe or Martini glass.

SPRING FLING
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1 oz. of cinnamon and strawberry infused Aperol
-1 oz. of Amaro Nonino
-3-4 dashes of El Guapo Summer Berries Bitters
-Fever Tree Sparking Pink Grapefruit (to top)
-lemon twist garnish

Instructions:
In a shaker with ice, combine all ingredients except the Fever Tree. Shake for 15 seconds, then double train into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit. Add a straw, and a twist of lemon.

To make cinnamon and strawberry-infused Aperol, add a cinnamon stick to one bottle of Aperol. Give it a shake, then let it sit for one day. After one day, remove the cinnamon. In a Mason jar, combine the cinnamon infused Aperol with a handful of rinsed strawberries. Shake once daily for a week. Strain out the strawberries using a cheesecloth, then store the infused Aperol until ready to use.

Amaro di Angostura®

No doubt you’ve heard of Angostura Bitters—one of the most common bitters added to cocktails. Amaro di Angostura® is made by the same company. They blend alcohol with spices and bitter herbs, which “are left to marry for 3 months” (ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, 2023). On the palate, you’ll pick up on cinnamon and toasted caramel, which adds great flavor to cocktails. It can also be enjoyed alone.

Try Amaro di Angostura in our recipe below:

OVER THE GAP
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon or Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of Amaro di Angostura
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-3/4 oz. of simple syrup
-lime wheel and nutmeg

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a rocks glass over pebbled or crushed ice. Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and freshly grated nutmeg.

Cynar Amaro®

Cynar Amaro® is a product of the Campari Group. The incredibly distinctive flavor of this Amaro is due to the proprietary mix of 13 herbs and botanicals, including artichoke (cynara). Created in 1952, this liqueur “doesn’t really taste like artichoke” but is bittersweet with notes of caramel, toffee and dried fruit (Francesco Muzzopappa, n.d.). It can be enjoyed before a meal as an aperitivo or as a digestivo, but it also makes a great liqueur alternative to Campari.

Try Cynar Amaro in our recipe below:

CYNARA
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1/2 oz. of Cynar Amaro
-1/2 oz. of Linchpin Aperitivo (or Aperol)
-Angostura ice cube

Instructions:
Add an Angostura ice cube to a large rocks glass. Pour the Revolution Rye right over the ice cube, followed by Cynar Amaro then the Aperitivo or Aperol. Twist an orange peel over the top of the glass, then add as a garnish.

To make an Angostura ice cube, add 2-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters to water, and freeze in a large ice cube mold. Note that adding more bitters may prevent freezing.

Amaro Montenegro®

The complex flavors of Amaro Montenegro® are thanks to their proprietary blend of 40 botanicals, which includes ingredients like orange peels, eucalyptus and vanilla (Montenegro, n.d.). First produced in 1885, this Amaro has a dark brown color with a bitter and spicy flavor.  As with the other Amaro options, the bitter flavor here makes it an obvious choice for a digestivo, but it also adds distinctive flavor to cocktails.

Try Amaro Montenegro in our recipe below:

SPRING SHOWERS
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1.5 oz. of Rum 44
- 1/2 oz. of Amaro Montenegro
- 1/2 oz. of Simple Syrup 
- 3/4 oz. of Fresh Lemon
- 2 Dashes of Peychaud's Bitters

Instructions:
Muddle 3 blackberries with simple syrup. Dry shake all ingredients, then strain the contents over crushed ice. Add a blackberry & lemon peel for garnish.

Amaro Averna Siciliano®

With a history 150 years strong, Amaro Averna is a product of Sicily with a "bittersweet taste, carrying hints of orange and licorice, balanced with notes of myrtle, juniper berries, rosemary and sage” (Amaro Averna: Taste and Tradition of the Sicilian Liqueur | Amaro Averna, 2024). This dark brown Amaro, with a hint of red, can be enjoyed by itself as a digestivo over ice. With the bitter blend of licorice, herbs and citrus, it also adds noteworthy flavor to cocktails.

Try Amaro Averna in our recipes below:

PX PALMETTO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of PX Rum
-1/2 oz. of Carpano Antica
-1/2 oz. of Amaro Averna
-1/2 oz. of Cocchi di Torino
-Luxardo cherry

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir briefly. Strain contents into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

COLD BREW COFFEE NEGRONI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-3/4 oz. of Amaro Averna
-1/2 oz. of Campari
-1/2 oz. of cold brew coffee

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice. Stir for about 10 seconds, then strain into a double rocks glass over a large ice cube. Add an orange peel for garnish.

Fernet-Branca®

This popular Amaro has a strong and distinctive flavor. First created in 1845, Fernet-Branca® is made from a secret blend of 27 herbs and botanicals which is then aged in oak barrels for a year (Homepage, n.d.). It is less sweet than other Amaro options, making it a great liqueur for those who appreciate a bitter flavor. As with all the Amaro’s on our list, it can be enjoyed as a digestivo, or incorporated into cocktails.

Try Fernet-Branca in our recipes below:

TORONTO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-1/4 oz. of Fernet Branca
-1/4 oz. of  simple syrup
-2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, and stir for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Express an orange peel over the glass, then add as a garnish.

A Midday Reviver cocktail on the Mad River Distillers bar with a bottle of First Run Rum and Fernet in the background

MIDDAY REVIVER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of First Run Rum
-3/4 oz. of ginger syrup
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-1 bottle of Fever Tree Ginger Ale
-1/2 oz. of Fernet Branca

Instructions:
Add the First Run Rum, ginger syrup and lime juice to a shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds, then strain into a Collins glass over ice. Top with Fever Tree Ginger Ale, leaving 1 inch at the top of the glass. Garnish with a floater of Fernet Branca.

The alcohol base in an Italian Amaro is typically a neutral spirit, a grape brandy or wine. The alcohol content and flavor profiles on Amaro’s can vary depending on the producer, but given the blend of natural and earthy ingredients, all are considered to aid in digestion. Some Amaro brands have a more bittersweet flavor, while others are more bitter, so you can find an Amaro to suit your preferences.

If you enjoy making cocktails at home, we hope this list of popular Amaro liqueurs—and some cocktails you can make using each—will prove useful as you further explore the great wide world of craft cocktailing. Happy mixing, shaking and sipping!

References:
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia®- the all natural Italian Amaro. (2023, February 2). Grappa Nonino. https://www.grappanonino.it/en/amaro-and-liqueurs/amaro-nonino-quintessentia/

ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters. (2023, November 25). Amaro di ANGOSTURA® - Angostura. Angostura. https://angosturabitters.com/portfolio/amaro-di-angostura/

Francesco Muzzopappa. (n.d.). Cynar. Campari Group. Retrieved January 31, 2026, from https://www.camparigroup.com/en/spiritheque/cynar

Montenegro, A. (n.d.). The Revelation. unearthing pure essence. Amaro Montenegro. https://www.amaromontenegro.com/en

Amaro Averna: Taste and tradition of the Sicilian liqueur | Amaro Averna. (2024, May 28). Amaro Averna. https://www.amaroaverna.com/product/

Homepage. (n.d.). Fernet Branca. https://us.fernetbranca.com/

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on February 2, 2026.

By in Blog Comments Off on Caffeinated Coffee Cocktails

Caffeinated Coffee Cocktails

For those of us who drink coffee, it holds a special and almost ritualistic place in our hearts. Made from roasted coffee beans and sometimes affectionately referred to as “brown bean juice,” this warm (or iced) beverage is often part of a daily morning routine. The routine develops largely due to caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on our bodies. As a stimulant, it helps keep you awake, providing the requisite energy to get you through your work day. As day turns to night, however, caffeine is less desirable for the same reason. 

If you’ve ever wanted just a little bit of caffeine in the evening, consider a coffee cocktail. Most coffee cocktails include just a couple ounces or less, so the caffeine intake is much smaller than a full cup of coffee. An important note about the combination of coffee and alcohol is that because coffee is a stimulant, it can somewhat counteract the depressant effects of alcohol. 

Just as coffee comes in various forms (cappuccino, latte, espresso, etc.), coffee cocktails can come in various forms, as well. Some cocktails are made with hot coffee, some with cold brew coffee, others with espresso, coffee liqueur or coffee powder. Here, we share a collection of our top caffeinated coffee cocktail recipes made with our rum and whiskey spirits:

CAFE SWIZZLE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of First Rum Rum or Vanilla Rum 
-1 oz. of coffee liqueur
-1.5 oz. of coconut cream
-grated nutmeg
-espresso beans

Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients without ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds. Pour contents into a Collins glass over crushed ice and swizzle. Garnish with grated nutmeg and espresso beans.

DIRTY CHAI MARTINI

Ingredients - Yields 4 Cocktails: 
-4 oz. of Rum 44
-4 chai tea bags
-1 cup of filtered water
-1 tablespoon of maple syrup
-2 oz. of cold brew coffee
-1 cup of milk
-Star Anise

Instructions:
Heat the water to almost boiling and steep the tea for 4 minutes. Discard the tea bags. Add in the maple syrup. Stir to combine and set to the side to cool. In a shaker, pour espresso, rum, milk, and cooled chai over ice. Shake for about 8-10 seconds. Double strain into 4 martini glasses, and garnish with star anise.

SPANISH NEGRONI

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of PX RUM
-1/2 oz. of Cappelletti
-3/4 oz. of Carpano Antica
-1/4 oz. of cold brew coffee

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir briefly, then strain into a large rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.

RYERISH COFFEE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of demerara syrup
-hot coffee
-2 oz. of whipping cream
-1/2 oz. of Benedictine (or cinnamon syrup)
-cinnamon

Instructions:
In an Irish coffee mug, add the Revolution Rye, demerara syrup and hot coffee. Stir to combine ingredients. In a shaker, combine the whipping cream and Benedictine (or cinnamon syrup), and shake hard for a full minute until whipped cream is formed. Top the coffee with the whipped cream, then grate fresh cinnamon on top.

ESPRESSO MARTINI

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.25 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1/4 oz. of Vermont maple syrup
-1/2 oz. of Maple Creme Liqueur
-2 oz. of cold brew coffee

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with cinnamon or cocoa.

Boozy Dalgona Coffee on a table with a bottle of Vanilla Rum

BOOZY DALGONA COFFEE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-2 tablespoons of instant coffee
-1 tablespoon of espresso powder
-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
-2 tablespoons of hot water
-3 oz. of milk

Instructions:
Combine instant coffee, espresso powder, sugar and hot water in a bowl. Whisk until fluffy. It takes many minutes to get a thick, fluffy consistency, which is important for layering. Combine Vanilla Rum and milk in a shaker over ice, shake lightly. Strain the shaker into a glass, then add the whipped coffee on top.

COLD BREW COFFEE NEGRONI

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-3/4 oz. of Averna
-1/2 oz. of Campari
-1/2 oz. of cold brew coffee

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice. Stir for about 8-12 seconds. Strain into a double rocks glass over a large cube, then add an orange peel for garnish.

As you can see from the recipes above, both rum and whiskey mix incredibly well with coffee. Our Revolution Rye (with hints of coffee and a cocoa finish), adds a distinctive but complementary flavor to coffee. Our Vanilla Rum (infused with Tahitian vanilla beans), adds great aromatics and flavor, which made our Espresso Martini one of our most popular cocktails. You can’t go wrong with any of our spirits, but these two are a great place to start when it comes to making caffeinated coffee cocktails at home. 

Do you have a favorite coffee cocktail recipe? Share yours by tagging us on social @madriverdistillers. Cheers!


Written and published by Brianne Lucas on January 19, 2026.

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Winter Cocktail Ingredients

Winter Cocktail Ingredients

We often talk about seasonal cocktails. What makes a cocktail better suited for one season versus another? It usually has to do with the flavor profile of the ingredients. For example, we typically consider any drink with Orgeat (a sweet almond syrup) to be for warmer season cocktails, since it is commonly used in tropical drinks, which we associate with tiny umbrellas and warm beaches. Well, the same is true for winter cocktails in that certain flavors and spices are commonly associated with colder months. In some cases, the association to winter is obvious. A Hot Toddy, or other hot cocktail, is an obvious choice simply based on the temperature of the drink. However, other ingredients, like cinnamon or cardamom, may remind you of baked goods during the holiday season. 

Here, we share a variety of products that are great ingredients to have on hand when making cocktails during the winter season.

SKI SEASON SANGRIA
The seasonality of this product is built right into the name! What makes this mixer perfect for the winter is its combination of cranberry, orange, cinnamon, clove and allspice. These are popular winter spices for their warming effect. Just mix it with rum, like our versatile silver Rum 44, and you’re ready to go.

WOOD STOVE KITCHEN

MOLE BITTERS
Mole betters combine chocolate with spice to add depth to cocktails. It works great to add a kick of flavor to a spiked hot chocolate, but also complements the complex flavors in cocktails like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned. The Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters combine cocoa, cinnamon and spice for a warming quality that gives it a hint of Mexican chocolate.

Check out our Holy Mole Hot Cocoa recipe which features 1/2 dropper of these bitters.

BITTERMENS BITTERS

CHICORY PECAN BITTERS
These bitters are a Good Food Award winner! These aromatic bitters combine the warming flavors of coffee, chicory, pecan and cinnamon. It works particularly well in brown spirits, and in cocktails like an Old Fashioned, or even in spiced cider drinks.

Check out our Maple Cask Rum Hot Toddy and Earl Grey Hot Toddy recipes, which incorporate 2 dashes of these bitters.

EL GUAPO BITTERS

SPICED DEMERARA
Spiced Demerara by Cocktail & Sons is a syrup made with a variety of baking spices that are sure to remind you of the winter season. Raw sugar combines with peppercorns, allspice, coriander, cassia bark, wild cherry bark and orange peel. As you might have guessed, this makes it a great syrup in an Old Fashioned, but it’s also great in Sazeracs!

Check out our Midnight Shadows cocktail recipe, which incorporates 1/2 ounce of this spiced syrup.

COCKTAIL & SONS

BLACK WALNUT BITTERS
Another Good Food Awards winner, these aromatic bitters add a complex, rich and nutty flavor to cocktails. Made with walnuts and black walnut leaf, as well as clove, roasted cacao nibs, allspice and black peppercorns, the warming spices here make it a great addition to bourbon cocktails like a Manhattan.

Check out our Ginger Cookie cocktail recipe, which incorporates 2 dashes of these bitters.

STRONG WATER

NAUGHTY FIGGY BITTERS
Naughty Figgy Bitters from Bitter Queens is a flavorful blend of figs, cocoa, black walnut, cinnamon, gentian and citrus. We featured these bitters in a riff on a French 75, but they also work great into winter drinks like an egg nog, coquito, and hot buttered rum, as well as in a Manhattan. These seasonal bitters are typically only sold through January.

Check out our PX75 cocktail recipe, which includes a few dashes of these bitters.

BITTER QUEENS

HOT TODDY MIXERS
A Hot Toddy is a winter cocktail staple, typically combining bourbon, hot water, honey and lemon. These mixers from Wood Stove Kitchen make it easy to sip on something warm, because all you need to do is combine them with Bourbon and hot water. The Honey, Lemon & Ginger mixer contains a blend of spices including clove, and the Spiced Apple mixer contains a blend of apple juice, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and orange zest.

WOOD STOVE KITCHEN

BOGARTS & BOKERS BITTERS
Bogarts Bitters are said to have started the cocktail movement, appearing in the first cocktail book ever published, back in 1862. These bitters contain a special warming blend of dark spice, chocolatey coffee and European spices that works well in a variety of cocktails. When Bogarts are unavailable, we recommend Bokers Bitters for its unique blend of warming spices, with a cardamom woody nose and a cardamom, coffee and orange taste.

Check out our Stick Season Hot Toddy recipe, which incorporates 2 dashes of these bitters.

THE BITTER TRUTH

These are just some of the products we typically carry at our Burlington Tasting Room that work great in winter cocktails. For specific winter cocktail recipe ideas, be sure to check out our Winter Cocktail Recipes blog post. While our Straight Bourbon, Burnt Rock Bourbon and Revolution Rye are popular go-to spirits in the winter, there are plenty of rum options to get you through the cold months as well. Check out our Rum In The Cold Season blog post for rum recipes featuring our Vanilla Rum, Rum 44, Maple Cask Rum, First Run Rum, and PX Rum. Also, If you ever visit our retail section and are looking for recommendations, our team is always happy to help! 

Happy sipping!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on January 21, 2025. Updated on January 18, 2026.

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Our Top 10 Tropical Drinks to Escape the Winter Cold

Our Top 10 Tropical Drinks to Escape the Winter Cold

Every year, after the warm embrace of the holiday season has passed, and the freezing cold from the darkest days of winter sets deep into your bones, it happens: you start daydreaming. You aren’t daydreaming of the slopes, with its crowded lift lines and hardpack conditions. No, you start daydreaming of the sun-toasted sand beneath your toes, the quiet tranquility of the ocean tides gently sweeping across an uncrowded beach, and the tropical flavors of a tasty beverage garnished with the cutest, most colorful umbrella.

Winters can be hard and long in the northern climates, so up here, tropical daydreams are as familiar as potholes on a heavily salted road. While you may not be able to travel south this winter for a much-needed break from the cold, you can always give yourself a warming taste of the tropics with a delicious vacation-inspired cocktail at home. 

Certain cocktails, with their flavors of pineapple, coconut and orgeat, are almost synonymous with the word vacation. Rum is no different. When it comes to tropical drinks, rum reigns king as the most common base spirit. Though we call the great northern state of Vermont home, at Mad River Distillers, we produce a handful of different rums, including First Run Rum, Vanilla Rum, Maple Cask Rum, PX Rum and Rum 44. These rums all make a great base for a tropical cocktail, especially when combined with some requisite ingredients like fruit juices, sweeteners and coconut.

For juices, pineapple, orange, mango and fresh citrus are most common. While simple syrup is common for a sweetener, popular tropical sweeteners include grenadine (for its beautiful red color), Orgeat (which is an almond sweetener) and Falernum (a spiced syrup). Some tropical beverages incorporate the creamy texture of coconut cream or coconut milk, as well. Examples of tropical drinks include the Mai Tai (made with rum, orange curaçao, lime and water) and Rum Punch (made with a mix of rums and fruit juices).  

Below are our Top 10 Tropical Drink recommendations to help you escape the cold this winter:

PAINKILLER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of First Run Rum
-4 oz. of pineapple juice
-1 oz. of orange juice
-1 oz. of Coco Lopez

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard, then strain over fresh ice. Garnish with grated nutmeg.

MAD JUNGLE BIRD
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of First Run Rum
-3/4 oz. of Campari
-1.5 oz. of pineapple juice
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-1/2 oz. of simple syrup
-2-3 dashes of Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds, then strain into a tropical mug. Garnish with a cocktail umbrella, lime wheel and edible flowers.

MAI TAI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
- 2 oz. First Run Rum
- 1/4 oz. Orgeat
- 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
- 1 oz. Lime Juice
- 4 Dashes Angostura Bitters
- Mint Garnish
- Lemon Wheel

Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients, except for bitters, with ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds. Strain contents into a tropical mug. Dash bitters on top of the cocktail. Add a lemon wheel and mint sprig for garnish. Note: if preferred, you can shake the bitters with the rest of the ingredients.

COCONUT FIZZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-2 oz. of unsweetened coconut puree cream
-1 oz. of simple syrup
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-1/2 oz. of pineapple juice
-4 drops of Fee Brothers Orange Flower Water

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, and do a dry shake. Next, add ice and shake again then strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass. Grate fresh lime zest over the top, and enjoy!

FAT-WASHED VANILLA TROPICS
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Coconut Fat-Washed Mad River Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of Coconut Water
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-1/4 oz. of passionfruit syrup

Instructions:
To make a Coconut Oil Fat-Washed Vanilla Rum, first add 8 ounces of Vanilla Rum and 3 tablespoons of melted (liquid) unrefined coconut oil to a Mason jar. Shake the ingredients 2-3 times within 5 minutes. Then, let the rum mix sit for 30 minutes. The oil should start to separate. Place the jar in the freezer for 24 hours. The coconut oil will solidify on top. Remove the solidified coconut oil from the jar, and the rum will be ready to use. To make the cocktail, combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and double strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

CAIPIRINHA
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of Demerara syrup
-half a lime (squeezed)

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a Double Old Fashioned glass. Stir, then top with crushed ice.

THE EXPAT
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
-1/4 oz. of lime juice
-1/4 oz. of lime oleo-saccharum
-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel, and enjoy!

If you need to make the lime oleo-saccharum, first remove the zest from 4 lime skins (just the zest, and none of the white pith). In a bowl, combine the zest with 8 oz. of raw cane sugar. Muddle the sugar and lime zest together for several minutes to release oils from the zest, then place it in a closed container overnight. After infusing overnight, add 8 oz. of hot water and dissolve the sugar. Strain the liquid to remove all lime zests.

PX PINEAPPLE DAIQUIRI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of PX Rum
-3/4 oz. of pineapple juice
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-1/2 oz. of demerara syrup

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for about 10 seconds, then strain into a coupe glass. Add a fresh flower for garnish.

BURLINGTON SWIZZLE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of cinnamon syrup
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-1 oz. of pineapple juice
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
-pineapple prawn

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake dry for about 15 seconds. Pour the contents over crushed ice in a Collins glass. Top with Angostura and Peychaud’s Bitters. Garnish with a pineapple prawn.

glass of Rum Punch with straw and lime wedge on bar counter

RUM PUNCH
Ingredients - Yields 5 Cocktails:
-1 container Newman’s Own Orange Mango Tango juice
-3 oz. of Rum 44
-3 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1 oz. of PX Rum
-1 oz. of Angostura Bitters
-1 oz. of lime juice
-1.5 oz. of lemon juice
-12 dashes of Grapefruit Bitters

Instructions:
In a large glass jar or pitcher, combine all ingredients. Give the ingredients a gentle shake, then store in the refrigerator overnight. Serve in a tall glass filled with ice, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Bring more than tropical daydreams into your life. Give yourself a sip of the tropics from wherever you are hunkered down this winter! Visit the recipes section of our website for even more tropical cocktail recipes. If you need ingredients beyond fresh juices, be sure to stop by our Burlington Tasting Room where you can pick up bottles of our spirits, as well as the flavorful syrups and bitters you’ll need to mix up a taste of the tropics from the comfort of your warm home. Cheers!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on January 6, 2026.

By in Blog Comments Off on What is a Hot Toddy?

What is a Hot Toddy?

If you believe in the healing properties of certain drinks, and especially if you live in a colder climate, chances are you’ve heard of the ever-cozy Hot Toddy. A classic Hot Toddy is a warm cocktail that combines bourbon with hot water or tea, honey and fresh lemon juice. As with most cocktails, there are variations to the core recipe, sometimes including different spirits such as Rum or Brandy, sometimes including spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise or ginger. 

A typical Hot Toddy is prepared in a mug. You combine the spirit, sweetener, lemon juice and any spices, then add hot water or hot tea over the top. You stir all the ingredients until the sweetener is well incorporated, and then add a garnish such as a lemon wedge or cinnamon stick. With all Hot Toddy variations, there is a common theme: a warm cocktail made with soothing ingredients.

Considering its soothing ingredients, the most accepted understanding of the Hot Toddy is that it was created for medicinal use. The real origin, however, is contested. According to Vinepair, some believe the Hot Toddy got its start in British-controlled India, where “taddy” was a Hindi word describing a drink made from fermented palm sap (Hines, 2021). By the late 1700’s, the word “taddy” was defined as a “beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices.” (Hines, 2021). It is believed that the British later introduced this beverage to the colder climates of England and Scotland, but an alternate history describes an Irish doctor by the name of “Robert Bentley Todd, who ordered his patients to drink hot brandy, cinnamon and sugar water” (Hines, 2021). 

However it started, the Hot Toddy eventually found its way to America. As Hines (2021) discovered in a local Burlington Free Press article from 1837, the Hot Toddy was referred to as a “cure-all” for those with colds. Today, you’re likely to find a Hot Toddy featured on craft cocktail menus during the cold seasons, not just for the potential medicinal properties, but for its warming qualities. 

As a distiller located in a cold northern climate, we’re no strangers to the many benefits of a Hot Toddy, and we’re happy to share a few of our favorite recipes below:

MAPLE CASK RUM HOT TODDY

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1/2 oz. of honey ginger syrup
-2 dashes of El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters
-2 dashes of Vena’s Aromatic Bitters
-hot water

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in your favorite mug. Top off with hot water. Stir and garnish with candied ginger and a lemon peel.

STICK SEASON TODDY

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon or Maple Cask Rum
-1/4 oz. of honey
-1/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 dashes of Cardamom or Bokers Bitters
-hot cider
-orange twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (except hot cider) in an Irish coffee mug. Stir to incorporate, then top with hot cider. Garnish with an orange twist.

TOASTED EARL GREY HOT TODDY

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1/2 oz. of honey ginger syrup
-2 dashes of El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters
-2 dashes of 18.21 Earl Grey Bitters
-hot water

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in your favorite mug and stir well to incorporate. Top off with hot water. Stir again, and garnish with a lemon peel.

For our Hot Toddy recipes, we lean toward Bourbon or our Maple Cask Rum. Fresh lemon juice is a staple ingredient, and for a sweetener we tend to lean toward honey or a honey ginger syrup. Of course, both honey and ginger are known for its medicinal properties, so we think it's worth the effort to make a fresh syrup from home. To make your own honey ginger syrup, combine 1/2 cup of raw honey with 1 oz. of ginger (sliced or grated) and 1/2 cup of water in a pan. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 40-60 minutes. Strain out the ginger pieces, then enjoy. You can store the syrup for up to a few weeks.

Wishing you all good health and cozy good sips this long winter season. Cheers!

References: Hines, N. (2021, May 7). The history of the Hot Toddy. VinePair. https://vinepair.com/articles/history-of-hot-toddy/

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on January 6, 2026.

Mad Eggnog on the Burlington Tasting Room bar
By in Blog Comments Off on Holiday Cocktails At Home

Holiday Cocktails At Home

It’s the season for celebrations, and a little extra time at home with our loved ones. While the weather may be chilly outside, inside our homes are cozy and filled with the familiar smells and flavors of the holiday season. Flavors such as peppermint, cinnamon and gingerbread taste amazing in baked goods, they’re also incredible in cocktails! This holiday season, we’re sharing some seasonal cocktails featuring traditional holiday flavors that you can enjoy right from the comfort of your home, so you can toast to the holidays and a great new year while staying toasty warm inside.

Mad River Grasshopper on a table with a sprig of mint

MAD RIVER GRASSHOPPER

You’ll have a merry time combining the sweet chocolate flavor of Crème de Cacao with heavy cream and our Rum 44 infused with candy canes.

Ingredients
- 1 oz. green peppermint candy cane infused Rum 44
- 1 oz. Crème de Cacao
- 3/4 oz. heavy cream

In a shaker with ice, combine the peppermint infused Rum 44, Crème de cacao and heavy cream. Shake well, then double strain and garnish with fresh mint. 

To make the green peppermint candy cane infused Rum 44:
add 2 standard size green striped candy canes to a bottle with 16 ounces of Rum 44. Leave the candy canes in the container until they dissolve.

Brandy Alexander cocktail along with Mad Apple Brandy, Crème De Cocoa

BRANDY ALEXANDER

Featuring Crème De Cocoa along with our Mad Apple Brandy and cream, this Brandy Alexander recipe is not only simple to make, it’s satisfying like any great holiday dessert.

Ingredients
- 1 oz. Mad Apple Brandy
- 1 oz. Crème De Cocoa 
- 1/2 oz. Cream

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, then shake with ice and double strain into a coupe or brandy glass. Optional: grate some fresh nutmeg on top!

A bottle of Bourbon and First Run Rum with a cup of eggnog on the tasting room bar

MAD EGGNOG

This is the ideal time of year for Eggnog. Make this recipe now so you can enjoy the deliciousness as soon as possible. Our recipe makes a batch that’s big enough to share with family and friends!

Ingredients
- 12 large eggs
- 1 pound white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
- 1 pint of half and half
- 1 pint of whole milk
- 1 pint of cream
- 1.5 cups of First Run Rum
- 1.5 cups of Straight Bourbon
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Separate egg yolks from whites. Combine the yolks with sugar and nutmeg in a mixer. Whisk together until the mixture falls off the beater in a silky ribbon. Combine dairy with spirits, and slowly add mixture to the sugar and egg ingredients until thoroughly combined. Store in a sealable glass container. You can let the eggnog age in the refrigerator for 2 weeks to no more than 2 months. Serve chilled with fresh nutmeg and cinnamon grated on top.

PX75

We wish you a Merry Christmas with a figgy cocktail instead of figgy pudding. The PX75 combines our distinctive PX Rum with simple syrup, lemon juice and Bitter Queens seasonal Naughty Figgy Bitters.

Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. of PX Rum
- 1/2 oz. of lemon juice
- 1/2 oz. of simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes of Bitter Queens Figgy bitters

Combine all ingredients, except the Prosecco, in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a flute glass. Top with chilled Prosecco, and garnish with a lemon twist.

MRD COQUITO

Our vegan version of the Coquito, a Puerto Rican egg nog recipe, is made with infused Rum 44. This recipe is batched to make 20-22 servings, which makes it perfect for a holiday gathering.

Ingredients
- (1) 750ml bottle of Rum 44
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 8 oz. of mixed raisins
- (1) 15 oz. can of Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut
- (1) 14 oz. can of unsweetened coconut cream
- (1) 11.25 oz. of sweetened condensed coconut milk
- (1) 48 oz. bottle of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp. Nutmeg
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
- ½ tsp. Vanilla

Combine the Coco Lopez cream of coconut, unsweetened coconut cream, sweetened condensed coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined. Next, combine the cream mixture with the Rum 44 infusion to make the Coquito. 

To make one cocktail, add 4 oz. of Coquito and ice to a shaker, and shake for 10-15 seconds. Double train into your favorite holiday glass. Grate fresh nutmeg on top. Add 5 rum-soaked raisins to a cocktail pick, then rest over the glass as a garnish, and enjoy!

To make the Rum 44 infusion:
Add the raisins and cinnamon sticks to a 750ml bottle of Rum 44. Allow the raisins and cinnamon sticks to infuse overnight, shaking a few times. After a day, strain the raisins and cinnamon sticks from the Rum 44. Set the raisins aside to be used as a garnish later.

An Earl Grey Tea Old Fashioned on the tasting room bar with a bottle of Burnt Rock Bourbon and 18.21 Bitters

EARL GREY TEA OLD FASHIONED

It’s the cold season, so you probably have boxes of tea sitting in your cupboards. If you love tea, but you’re really in the mood for a cocktail, then try our Earl Grey Tea Old Fashioned made with Burnt Rock Bourbon!

Ingredients
- 2 oz. Burnt Rock Bourbon
- 1/2 oz. of honey simple syrup
- Two droppers of 18.21 Earl Grey Bitters
- 1 lemon and 1 orange twist

In a mixing glass with ice, stir the Burnt Rock Bourbon with honey syrup and 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.

To make the honey simple syrup: Heat one part water with one part honey until the honey is fully integrated, then allow the syrup to cool. Store it in the refrigerator for up to one week. We recommend using local honey.

Need some Earl Grey Bitters? Find them at our Burlington Tasting Room!

Mad River Stinger on the tasting room bar with a bottle of Mad Apple Brandy

MAD RIVER STINGER

In our holiday version of the traditional Stinger cocktail, we combine our Mad Apple Brandy with Rum 44 that’s been infused with candy canes. 

Ingredients
- 2 oz. Mad Apple Brandy
- 1 oz. green peppermint candy cane infused Rum 44

In a mixing glass with ice, combine the Mad Apply Brandy with peppermint infused Rum 44. Stir well, then strain over crushed ice. Garnish with fresh mint and orange zest.

To make the green peppermint candy cane infused Rum 44:
add 2 standard size green striped candy canes to a bottle with 16 ounces of Rum 44. Leave the candy canes in the container until they dissolve.

GINGER COOKIE

Gingerbread houses and ginger cookies are great, but a ginger cocktail takes way less effort and delivers all the ginger flavor you could want. Combining our Vanilla Rum along with Amaretto, Dry Vermouth, ginger syrup and bitters, this cookie-inspired sipper is definitely worth trying this holiday season.

Ingredients
- 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

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!

CHOCOLATE REVOLUTION

As an alternative to chocolate pudding pie, try our Chocolate Revolution Rye cocktail. This sweet treat combines the cocoa flavors of our Revolution Rye along with chocolate liqueur, creme de cocoa, half & half and chocolate bitters.

Ingredients
- 1 oz. of Revolution Rye
- 1 oz. of Chocolat deluxe chocolate liqueur
- 1 oz. of crème de cocoa
- 1/2 oz. of half & half
- 2 dashes of chocolate bitters

Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with shaved or grated chocolate.

HOLY MOLE HOT COCOA

Another holiday chocolate classic is a hot cocoa, but this boozy version has a hint of spice combining our Vanilla Rum with cinnamon and xocolatl mole bitters.

Ingredients
- 6 oz. of prepared hot chocolate
- 1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
- ½ dropper of Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters
- cinnamon stick

Measure and pour the Vanilla Rum into your coffee mug.  Prepare 6 oz. of hot chocolate mix and add it to the mug. Add the mole bitters, then stir all ingredients in the mug. Top with whipped cream, freshly grated cinnamon, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Do you have a favorite cocktail during the holiday season? We’d love to hear from you! At Mad River Distillers, we’re always experimenting with bitters and syrups to make new and interesting cocktail creations. If you make any of our holiday cocktail recipes above, or if you make a riff of your own using one of our spirits, we’d love to see it! Feel free to share your favorite cocktail on social and tag us @madriverdistillers. As always, please enjoy responsibly. 

Wishing you a very joyous holiday season with family and friends, and a wonderful New Year. From all of us at Mad River Distillers—cheers!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on December 18 2022. Updated on December 7, 2025.

By in Blog Comments Off on 2025 Burlington Tasting Room Holiday Gift Guide

2025 Burlington Tasting Room Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season can be a magical time of year, especially as we spend more time with friends and family. Since it's also the gift-giving season, it can be a little stressful as well, especially if you have someone to shop for but no idea what to get them. If the recipients on your gift list enjoy spirits or a great cocktail or mocktail, then we have a lot of ideas to help you check off your holiday shopping list. The retail section at our Burlington Tasting Room offers a ton of options to make an incredible cocktail-themed gift basket, or to simply help someone expand their home bar. Read below for our 2025 Burlington Tasting Room Gift Guide, then stop in to sip on something delicious while you stock up on what you need.

Here are our top gift recommendations for 2025:

MAD RIVER GIFT SETS

We have 3 gift sets available, each with 3 "flask" size 200 ml bottles. One gift set includes our best-selling spirits, our Straight Bourbon, Maple Cask Rum and Revolution Rye. Another gift set includes 3 ready-to-drink cocktails, including our Bourbon Old Fashioned, our Rye Old Fashioned and our Maple Fig Madhattan. Our latest gift set is a Bourbon trio, featuring our Straight Bourbon, Burnt Rock Bourbon, and Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey. These gift sets are a great way to introduce someone to our craft spirits.

MAPLE SYRUPS

Not only is Vermont maple syrup a great way to gift local, it's also a great substitute for simple syrup in cocktails! We love the holiday infusions from Runamok, including their Pumpkin Spice and Holiday Spice infusions. We also carry Wood’s Rum Barrel Aged syrup, which is aged for several months in newly emptied rum barrels that we provide, in addition to Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup from Old City Syrup Company, which aged in our newly emptied bourbon barrels.

BITTERS SETS

Our Burlington Tasting Room has probably the biggest selection of bitters in the state of Vermont. Bitters are a great way to add flavor to your favorite cocktails, and a lot of cocktails call for some popular options like Angostura, Orange or Peychaud's bitters. But there are so many other bitters flavors you can experiment with, like Lavender, Walnut, Cacao and more. We offer a variety of bitters sets, each containing several flavors from brands such as Crude, Strong Water, Bitter Queens, The Bitter Housewife, Scrappy’s & more.

MIXERS

Another way to add a lot of flavor to cocktails is through mixers. With most mixers, making a cocktail is incredibly easy. You simply combine the mixer and the spirit before serving. You'll find various mixer options at our Burlington Tasting Room, but among our favorites are the mixers from Wood Stove Kitchen. These options include their Hot Toddy (with honey, lemon and ginger), their Ski Season Sangria (with orange, cranberry and spices), their Espresso Martini and their Glitter Mimosa.

CRANBERRY SHRUB

Shrubs also fall into the mixer category, but they're in a pretty unique category as a fruit mixer made with vinegar. Shrubs can be used in mocktails or cocktails, and this one from Tait Farm is a great option for the holidays. It makes a tart, sweet & tangy addition to highballs, sangrias & more.

BARWARE

If you know someone new to cocktailing, or someone who already has a home bar but is looking to expand their supplies, we carry all the items someone would need to make an enviable home bar. Build a barware set with shakers, strainers, jiggers, barspoons and mixing glasses. You can also find rocks glasses, tiki mugs, flasks, whiskey stones, coasters and more.

MOCKTAIL KITS

Mixers aren't just great for making cocktails. Most mixers are alcohol-free and serve as a great base for making mocktails. But if you're looking for an intentionally made craft mocktail, you need to check out Blue Stern Mocktail kits. We carry two flavor options, their Thyme Rosemary Ginger Cocktail and Molly's Fire Cider Turmeric Mule.

MAD APPLE

Get our limited release European-style dry apple brandy, distilled from Vermont apples. This aromatic brandy has fresh apple notes on the nose with oak spice and vanilla on the palate, followed by a crisp apple finish. Mad Apple is great for sipping, but also in classic brandy cocktails like the Jack Rose or the Sidecar.

HOODIES

Another way to gift local and support local business is with Mad River Distillers merch. We carry hats, comfy tees and super cozy hoodies (which are ideal through the Vermont cold seasons). You can find our hoodies in sizes S-2XL.

DIY GIFT SET

The Old Fashioned is a tried-and-true classic that would make a great gift for any cocktail lover. This year for a DIY Old Fashioned gift set, we recommend a holiday version made with our Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey, Regan's Orange Bitters and Black Walnut Bitters. If you're looking to add more to your gift, you can also find rocks glasses and large ice cube molds.

MAD RIVER SPIRITS

Last, but certainly not least, we have the most spirited gift of all... Our award-winning spirits! At our Burlington Tasting Room, you can find bottles of our Straight Bourbon, Burnt Rock Bourbon, Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey, Revolution Rye, First Run Rum, Maple Cask Rum, Vanilla Rum, Rum 44 and PX Rum. Many of our spirits are available in two sizes. If you aren't sure which spirit to buy, you can order a Tasting at our bar!

These are just some spirited gift-giving ideas to get you going on your holiday shopping list this year, but there's always more to be found in the retail section of our Burlington Tasting Room. You can also find cocktail books, cocktail cherries, cocktail picks and more. If you have any questions or need any advice on a gift, we’re always happy to help with ideas so you can assemble a great DIY package for your loved ones.

Stop into our Tasting Room at 137 St. Paul Street in Burlington for all your spirits and barware needs, and show your support for local business! While you’re there, you can order a tasting or a cocktail from our bar, and even a snack if you need a break.

Wishing you safe, spirited and joyful holiday season!

Written by Brianne Lucas and published on November 22, 2025

By in Blog Comments Off on Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipes

Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipes

The whiskey sour is a cocktail that combines whiskey with lemon juice and a sweetener (such as maple syrup or a simple syrup). It’s a slightly sweet but citrus-forward (and tart) drink that originates back to the late 1800’s. Given the lemon juice, these cocktails are always shaken, which awakens the citrus. A typical garnish for a Whiskey (or Bourbon) Sour would be an orange slice and a cocktail cherry, but there are always opportunities to add new flavors and aromas to your cocktail by experimenting and creating your own riff. We’ve made a variety of whiskey sour cocktail riffs at our Burlington Tasting Room over the years, and here are some you can try from home. 

Before you get started, make sure you have some maple syrup and/or simple syrup on hand, as well as some fresh lemon juice, and of course, a bottle of our Straight Bourbon, Burnt Rock Bourbon and Revolution Rye Whiskey.

ROSEMARY’S WHISKEY SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of lemon juice
-1/2 oz. of Vermont Maple Syrup
-1/2 oz. of Rosemary Syrup
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
To make the cocktail–
In a shaker, add all ingredients with ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds.Strain contents into a daiquiri 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 the rosemary 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.

NY SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of or Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. simple syrup
-1 oz. lemon juice
-1/3 dropper of Ms. Better’s Bitters Miraculous Foamer
-1/2 oz. of red wine

Instructions:
Add the Bourbon, simple syrup, lemon juice and foamer to a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a large rocks glass over a large ice cube. A foam will form on the top. Insert a bar spoon upside down in the glass, bringing it into the foam a little bit. Slowly pour the red wine over the spoon, then enjoy!

Rye & Cocoa Sour

COCOA AND RYE SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of Lemon Juice
-1 oz. of Simple Syrup
-4 dashes of Angostura Cocoa Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for about 8-12 seconds. Double strain contents into a chilled coupe glass.

Stout Sour cocktail on the Burlington Tasting Room bar

STOUT SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of lemon juice
-2 oz. of stout simple syrup (we made ours using
2-16 oz. cans of Guinness)

Instructions:
To make the cocktail with the stout simple syrup–
Combine all ingredients above in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

To make the stout simple syrup–
In a saucepan, bring 2-16 oz. cans of stout to just below a rolling simmer. Heat for 2-3 hours, whisking every 1/2 hour. Remove the froth that forms at the top. Once you have reduced the stout to about half (16 oz.), add 2-2.5 cups of sugar and stir until it is fully dissolved. Set the simple syrup aside to cool before using, and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

AUTUMN SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon (or Maple Cask Rum)
-1/2 oz Cream Sherry (Lustau Solera Sherry)
-1/2 oz Lemon juice 
-1/2 oz simple syrup
-1 TBSP of Pumpkin Butter
-4 dashes Angostura bitters

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

TRINIDAD SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of Orgeat
-3/4 oz. of Lemon Juice
-1/2 oz. of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine in a shaker over ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into a small wine glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

MAPLE BOURBON SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Vermont Maple Syrup
-1 oz. of Lemon Juice
-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into a Double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with Angostura Bitters.

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.

Glass filled with Rye Gold Rush cocktail on a bar counter

RYE GOLD RUSH

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of Honey Simple Syrup
-1 oz. of fresh squeezed lemon juice
-lemon twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, and shake. Strain contents in a glass, over a large ice cube. Add a twist of lemon for garnish.

PAPER PLANE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-3/4 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of Aperol
-3/4 oz. of Amaro Nonino
-3/4 oz. of fresh Lemon Juice

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake hard until frost appears on the shaker tin. Double strain the drink into a Coupe or Martini glass.

MAPLE STOUT SOUR

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
To make the stout simple syrup–
-2 - 16 oz. cans of 14th Star Brewing Maple Breakfast Stout
-2 to 2.5 cups sugar

To make the cocktail–
-2 oz. Straight Bourbon (or Maple Cask Rum)
-1.5 oz. stout simple syrup
-1 oz. lemon juice

Instructions:
To make the stout simple syrup–
In a saucepan, bring 2 - 16 oz. cans of the Maple Breakfast Stout to just below a rolling simmer.* Heat for 2-3 hours, whisking every 1/2 hour. Remove the froth that forms at the top. Once you have reduced the stout to about half (16 oz.), add sugar and stir until it is fully dissolved. Set the simple syrup aside to cool. 

To make the cocktail–
In a shaker, combine Straight Bourbon or Maple Cask Rum, the stout simple syrup and lemon juice. Add ice to the shaker, and shake hard for about 15 seconds. Strain contents into a chilled coupe, and enjoy!

Did you know you could make a whiskey sour cocktail using beer? If not, now you do! To experiment with your own riffs, you just need to be creative. Be sure to keep the main ingredients the same, but swap in variations. For example, for the whiskey, you can use our Straight Bourbon or our Revolution Rye. For the sweetener, you can experiment with a flavored maple or simple syrup. For the garnish, herbs (like the Rosemary recipe above) can add a whole new flavor and aroma when compared to a slice of orange. 

For spirits, bitters, syrups or other cocktail ingredients, be sure to check out our Burlington Tasting Room.

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on August 21, 2023. Updated on November 9, 2025.

By in Blog Comments Off on Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

If you're searching for some tasty Thanksgiving cocktail recipes to incorporate into your holiday hosting plans this year, then you're in luck. Here, we 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 ingredients such as pumpkin spice, cider, cranberry spices and more, along with our rum and bourbon spirits. While most of these recipes will yield one cocktail, you can easily scale them to serve as many cocktails as needed.

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes:

STICK SEASON TODDY

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon or Maple Cask Rum
-1/4 oz. of honey
-1/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 dashes of bitters (we recommend Cardamom or Bokers)
-hot cider
-orange twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except the hot cider in an Irish coffee mug. Stir to incorporate, then top with hot cider. Garnish with an orange twist.

Maple Mule next to a bottle of Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey

MAPLE MULE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey
-1/2 oz. of fresh squeezed lime juice
-ginger beer
-lime wheel

Instructions:
In a copper mug with ice, add the Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey, then lime juice. Top with ginger beer. Add a lime wheel for garnish.

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 cocktail and ingredients on a table

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.

HOT SPICED CIDER

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1/4 oz. of Orgeat (or Falernum)
-2 dashes of Dash Crude Attawanhood Bitters (cherry, clove, cinnamon)
-2 dashes of orange bitters
-hot cider
-cinnamon stick
-lemon twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (except hot cider) in an Irish coffee mug. Stir to incorporate, then top with hot cider. Add a cinnamon stick and lemon twist as garnish.

OVER THE GAP

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 1/2 oz. of Corn Whisky, Bourbon or Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of Angostura Amaro
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-3/4 oz. of simple syrup
-lime wheel
-nutmeg

Instructions:
Add the Corn Whisky, Angostura Amaro, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into a rocks glass over pebbled or crushed ice. Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and freshly grated nutmeg.

Ginger Cookie cocktail with ingredients on a table

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.

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. Updated on November 9, 2025.

By in Blog Comments Off on Top 5 Orange Curaçao Cocktails

Top 5 Orange Curaçao Cocktails

Orange Curaçao is a popular orange-flavored liqueur, made from dried Laraha orange peels native to the island Curaçao. The original Orange Curaçao is sweet and comes in many color options (thanks to food coloring), however the Dry Orange Curaçao is a less sweet option with some nuanced flavors including vanilla and spice. 

Curaçao is similar to, and often used as a substitute for, Triple Sec. There are other orange liqueurs you may hear of as well, including Cointreau, Gran Marnier and Gran Gala. Across these options, there are variations in sweetness and in the alcohol used to make the liqueur. For example, while Curaçao is made with sugar cane alcohol, Gran Marnier is made with Brandy, and those differences can influence the flavor of your cocktail.

In cocktails, Curaçao is an ingredient that can add incredible flavor. It’s an important ingredient in Margaritas, Mai Tai’s, Cosmopolitans, Sidecars and more. Those cocktails simply wouldn’t taste the same without this crucial orange flavor. At Mad River Distillers, we have our own favorite cocktails utilizing this particular liqueur.

Here are our top 5 favorite Orange Curaçao cocktail recipes you can make at home:

Autumn Revolution cocktail with autumn decorations around it

AUTUMN REVOLUTION

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

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.

MAD MARGE

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of First Run Rum
-1.5 oz. of fresh squeezed orange juice
-1 oz. of Orange Curaçao
-1 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/2 oz. of Orgeat syrup
-Mexican citrus seasoning
-orange slice

Instructions:
First, dip the rim of your glass in lime juice, then in the Mexican citrus seasoning (we used La Anita Clasico Seasoning). Set the glass aside. In a shaker, add the First Run Rum, orange juice, lime juice, Orange Curaçao and Orgeat. Add ice to the shaker, and shake for about 30 seconds. Add ice to your prepared glass, then strain the margarita into the glass. Take an orange wedge and dip it into the same seasoning before adding the spiced orange to the rim of your glass as a garnish.

BETWEEN THE SHEETS

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-3/4 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of Brandy or Cognac
-3/4 oz. of Orange Curaçao
-3/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-orange peel

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a coupe glass. Flame an orange peel, then express oils over the cocktail, and garnish with the peel.

Trickster cocktail on a table

TRICKSTER

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of First Run Rum
-1/2 oz. of Orange Curaçao
-3/4 oz. of honey/ginger syrup
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-lemon peel

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Stir and shake up, then serve over a large ice cube. Add a lemon peel as garnish.

SPARKLING SILVER

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail: 
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/2 oz. of Orange Curaçao
-1/4 oz. of simple syrup
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-2 oz. of dry sparkling wine
-orange peel

Instructions:
In a shaker, combine the Rum 44 with lime juice, Orange Curaçao, simple syrup and Angostura Bitters. Add ice to the shaker, then shake for 15 seconds. Strain into a flute glass, then top with dry sparkling wine. Add an orange peel for garnish.

Now that you’ve explored our favorite Orange Curaçao cocktails, the next time you buy yourself a bottle of this flavorful orange liqueur, you’ll have a variety of new cocktails ready to try. At our Burlington Tasting Room, we’ve made our own house orange liqueur on occasion, which is a fun and easy way to get hands-on with your craft cocktailing. If you want to make your own orange liqueur, be sure to check out our Orange Liqueur blog post with instructions on how to make it using our silver Rum 44.

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on October 28, 2025.

By in Blog Comments Off on Party Punch Cocktail Recipes

Party Punch Cocktail Recipes

If you’re the kind of host that likes to make the most out of their parties, then a party punch is a great way to start. A party punch is a large-batch beverage (either with or without alcohol) that you make in advance of a gathering, so guests can help themselves rather than wait for a drink to be mixed on the spot. Typically, a party punch is both fruity (containing juices) and fizzy (containing bubbles such as tonic, seltzer or soda). The trick with fizzy ingredients is that it’s best to add them to any cocktails upon serving. Otherwise, the bubbles may go flat.

At Mad River Distillers, we’ve created a few different cocktail recipes that scale up really well, so you can mix up a big batch from home in advance of your next social gathering.

Here are three of our favorite party punch recipes:

Cider Punch cocktail and ingredients on a table

CIDER PUNCH

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

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except for the hard cider, in a large bowl. Mix well. Serve into a punch cup over ice, and top with the hard cider. Add an orange and lemon wedge for garnish.

glass of Rum Punch with straw and lime wedge on bar counter

RUM PUNCH

Ingredients - Yields 5 Cocktails: 
-1 container of Newman's Own Orange Mango Tango
-3 oz. of Rum 44
-3 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1 oz. of PX Rum
-1 oz. of Angostura Bitters
-1.5 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1 oz. of fresh lime juice
-12 dashes of Grapefruit Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a large glass jar or pitcher. Give the ingredients a gentle shake, then store in the refrigerator overnight. Serve in a Collins glass filled with ice, and garnish each glass with a lime wedge.

Cranberry Bog cocktail on a bar

CRANBERRY BOG

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

Instructions:
Add all ingredients, except the tonic, in a punch bowl. Stir well to combine. Serve over ice into a stemless wine glass, then top with tonic. Garnish with a candied cranberry (cranberry rolled in sugar), an orange wheel and fresh mint.

Want a couple other tips to serve your party punch without a hitch? Don’t add ice to your punch in advance. Instead, chill it in the fridge before the party, and only add ice when serving. Adding ice in advance will dilute the drink. Also, consider the strength of the cocktail. If you decide to experiment with your own party punch ingredients, you’ll want more ounces of the non-alcoholic ingredients, so the beverage isn’t too strong for your guests.

As always, if you find yourself in need of ingredients to make your own party punch, be sure to visit the retail section of our Burlington Tasting Room. Not only can you find all the rums you’ll need to make our famous Rum Punch, but you can find other ingredients like simple syrup, bitters, tonic and even maple syrup. Cheers!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on October 13, 2025.

By in Blog Comments Off on Apple Cider Cocktail Recipes

Apple Cider Cocktail Recipes

Peak apple picking season is between September and October, which means this time of year, apple products of all kinds are in high demand. We’re talking apple pies, apple cider donuts, and you guessed it, apple cider! Apple cider is made from fresh, recently harvested apples, so it’s really the best time of year to get your hands on some apple cider. 

If you already enjoy apple cider but have yet to try it in a cocktail, consider this your invitation. As a non-alcoholic juice, apple cider makes a great addition to cocktails in that it keeps the alcohol content down while adding flavor and sweetness to the cocktail. Cider can also be tart, so it offers an interesting balance to dark spirits.

Here, we share a handful of cocktail recipes you can make at home incorporating fresh apple cider with Mad River Distillers spirits:

HARD PRESSED

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1 oz. of fresh Apple Cider
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-cinnamon stick

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange peel.

Rye Cider Spritz on a table with ingredients

RYE CIDER SPRITZ

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1/2 oz. of Linchpin Aperitivo (or Aperol)
-3 oz. of fresh Apple Cider
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 drops of Orange Bitters
-Hard Cider to top
-apple slices

Combine all ingredients, except for the hard cider, in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into a Collins or highball glass. Top with hard cider. Garnish with 2-3 apple slices.

STICK SEASON TODDY

Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon or Maple Cask Rum
-1/4 oz. of honey
-1/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 dashes of Cardamom or Bokers bitters
-hot cider
-orange twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except the hot cider in an Irish coffee mug. Stir to incorporate, then top with hot cider. Garnish with an orange twist.

Cider Punch cocktail and ingredients on a table

CIDER PUNCH

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

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except the hard cider, in a shaker with ice. Strain into a Collins glass, then top the glass with hard cider. Add an orange and lemon wedge for garnish.

TESTED APPLE #2

Instructions - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of First Run Rum
-1/2 oz. of Hennessey Cognac
-1/2 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1 oz. of fresh Apple Cider
-a splash of Laphroaig Scotch
-a splash of simple syrup

Instructions:
Add ice cubes to a rocks glass, and dust cinnamon over the cubes. Combine the ingredients in a shaker. Shake over ice and strain into the rocks glass. Garnish with lemon zest and a cinnamon stick.

While apple cider in cocktails adds a flavorful sweetness that balances dark spirits, there is so much that goes into making a great and balanced cocktail. Another common ingredient in cocktails is citrus, because citrus has both an acid and sugar content that works in concert with other ingredients to either enhance or tame flavors. You’ll notice several of the recipes above include citrus in addition to the cider (much like apple pie usually includes some lemon juice!). If you’re interested in learning more on this topic, we invite you to check out our blog post on How Citrus Transforms Cocktails. 

Before apple season is over, be sure to get yourself a container of fresh apple cider so you can try one of our recipes above. For any of our spirits or any bitters, be sure to stop into our Burlington Tasting Room to stock up on supplies in our retail section. Happy mixing!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on October 13, 2025.

By in Blog Comments Off on Prosecco Day Cocktails

Prosecco Day Cocktails

Named after the village of Prosecco in Italy, and made from the Prosecco grape, this sparkling white wine has been around for hundreds of years. There is some variation in Prosecco that you can purchase, but the most popular variety is Spumante. In terms of sweetness, you can choose between Brut, Dry and Extra Dry, depending on your personal preferences.

As a sparkling wine, you'll typically hear Prosecco referred to as bubbles and introduced as a drink option for celebrations, or incorporated into cocktails as almost an aperitif. When incorporating Prosecco into a cocktail, the important thing you'll notice is that it's added as a "topper," meaning it is the last ingredient added to the top of the drink, directly in the glass. The reason for this is that mixing (or stirring) the Prosecco into the drink will cause it to lose bubbles.

Mimosa's are a popular Prosecco cocktail that most people are familiar with, but with National Prosecco Day in August, we wanted to share a few of our favorite Prosecco cocktails at Mad River Distillers:

PX75
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of PX Rum
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1/2 oz. of simple syrup
-2-3 dashes of Bitter Queens Figgy bitters
-Prosecco

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except the Prosecco, in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a flute glass. Top with chilled Prosecco, and garnish with a lemon twist.

FRENCH 44
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1 tsp. of simple syrup
-Prosecco
-6-8 drops of Bitterless Bitters

Instructions:
In a shaker with ice, add the rum, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a champagne flute. Top with 3-4 oz. of Prosecco. Add 6-8 drops of Bitterless Marriage bitters.

BOURBON SPRITZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Aperol
-3/4 oz. of lemon juice
-Prosecco
-orange wheel

Instructions:
In a large wine glass, add all ingredients except the Prosecco over ice. Top with Prosecco, then tuck an orange wheel into the wine glass as garnish.

MAD CAPRI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-3/4 oz. of Cynar Liqueur
-1/2 oz. of lemon juice
-1/2 oz. of Casoni 1814 Apertivo Liqueur or Aperol
-Prosecco

Instructions:
Shake all ingredients, except Prosecco, over ice for 30 seconds. Double-strain into a champagne flute. Top with 1 oz. of Prosecco. Garnish with an orange peel.

Whether you're looking to celebrate a special occasion, National Prosecco Day, or just love a bit of bubbles in your cocktail, you've now discovered four new cocktail recipes you can make with this sparkling white wine (besides a Mimosa). Be sure to visit our Burlington Tasting Room to pick up any of our spirits or bitters. You can also find simple syrup, and flavored syrups if you want to experiment with any of the above cocktails by introducing a new flavor.

Looking for other drink ideas? Check out our Cocktail Recipes page where you can sort for recipe ideas based on our spirits. Cheers!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on August 4, 2025.

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Juniper Cocktails Without The Gin

Juniper Cocktails Without The Gin

Did you know that juniper berries are not true berries? They are actually female seed cones produced by a juniper tree. Though commonly referred to as berries due to their appearance, the seed cones are often used as a spice, and it is what is known for giving gin its distinctive flavor. 

A while ago, we were curious what might happen when you combine the flavor impact of juniper berries with our silver Rum 44. Made from 100% demerara sugar, and charcoal filtered for smoothness, our Rum 44 is a great spirit for infusions and mixed cocktails as it allows the flavor of other ingredients to really shine through. We had a hunch that our Rum 44 infused with juniper berries would make a great gin substitute, and we were so very right. With that infusion, we created a riff on a Vesper using our infused Rum 44 instead of Gin.

Here is how we made a Rum 44 Botanical Infusion with juniper berries:

  1. In a large Mason jar, combine 1 (750ml) bottle of Rum 44 and 21 grams of Juniper. Age the juniper berries with the Rum 44 for one week.  
  2. After the week, strain the infused Rum 44 through a cheesecloth, and continue aging for an additional week with 3 grams of Coriander, 4 Cardamom pods, 1 gram of Fennel, 6 grams of dried Lemon Peel, and 6 grams of dried Orange Peel.
  3. After that week, strain the infused Rum 44 once more through a cheesecloth. To really clean out the spices, we recommend straining 2-3x at this stage. 
  4. Bottle the strained and infused Rum 44, then mix away!

Now that you have your Rum 44 Botanical Infusion, here is how to make a Mad Vesper: 

MAD VESPER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of botanical-infused Rum 44
-1 oz. of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of Lillet

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Serve up in a coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Another great (and simple) way to incorporate the flavor of juniper berries into a cocktail, is by making juniper bitters. To do this, you simply soak juniper berries in orange bitters overnight, then strain out the berries, and use the infused bitters as a bitter substitute that adds a bit of gin flavor, without the gin. 

Here are two Rum 44 cocktail recipes made using juniper bitters: 

RUM BIJOU
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1 oz. of Rum 44
-1 oz. of Green Chartreuse
-1 oz. of Sweet Vermouth
-2 dashes of Juniper bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, then stir for about 30 seconds. Strain and serve up into a coupe glass. Garnish with 3 Luxardo cherries.

44 LAST WORDS
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Rum 44
-1 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1 oz. of Luxardo Del Santo
-1 oz. of fresh lime juice
-2 dashes of juniper bitters

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker. Add ice, then shake well. Double strain into a coupe glass, and enjoy!

]One important bartending tip when it comes to making cocktails with maple syrup. Maple syrup is naturally thicker than simple syrup, so you may find that stirring doesn’t fully incorporate the syrup in with the other cocktail ingredients. Ordinarily, shaking cocktails containing Vermouth is not recommended, as it can make the flavor slightly bitter. When combining a maple syrup with Vermouth in a cocktail, we recommend just a couple hard shakes before the typical stirring, to help the thicker syrup fully incorporate. 

As you can see, juniper berries aren’t just for gin. Their distinctive flavor works incredibly well mixed with our silver Rum 44! Whether you want the stronger flavor of a spirit infusion, or the more subtle flavor from infused bitters, these recipes are sure to make an impression on cocktail enthusiasts, or those simply looking for a gin alternative. 

To learn more about our award-winning Rum 44, visit the Spirits section of our website.

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on June 9, 2025.

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Our Top 8 Aperol Cocktails Made with Mad River Spirits

Our Top 8 Aperol Cocktails Made with Mad River Spirits

When it comes to bitter aperitifs, Aperol is a standout. An Italian bitter made with an unmistakable orange-red color, Aperol is made from a proprietary blend of ingredients that includes orange oil, gentian, rhubarb and cinchona. Produced by the same group that makes Campari, another red-hued bitter, Aperol has less alcohol content and is less bitter than Campari. So, if you’re new to bitters and not sure how you feel about the flavor, Aperol is a great introduction. 

Bitters are useful as a cocktail ingredient because they balance out the sweet flavors in cocktails, such as the sweetness of fruit juices, liqueurs and syrups. One of the more famous Aperol cocktails is the Aperol Spritz, a simple cocktail combining Aperol with Prosecco. We made our own refreshing version of an Aperol Spritz—the Bourbon Spritz—incorporating our Straight Bourbon. We’ve also incorporated Aperol into a variety of other tasty cocktails over the years, and we wanted to share our top 8 favorite Aperol recipes utilizing Mad River spirits here.

BOURBON SPRITZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Aperol
-3/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-Prosecco, Sparkling Wine or Club Soda
-orange wheel

Instructions:
In a large wine glass, add all ingredients over ice. Top off with bubbles. Add an orange wheel for garnish.

BIGLIETTO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1.5 oz. of Aperol
-1/2 oz. of Bigallet China China
-1/4 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice, then stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

PAPER PLANE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-3/4 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of Aperol
-3/4 oz. of Amaro Nonino
-3/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake hard until frost appears on the shaker tin. Double strain into a coupe or martini glass.

CYNARA
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1/2 oz. of Cynar Amaro
-1/2 oz. of Aperol
-Angostura ice cube

Instructions:
Build this cocktail right in a large rocks glass. First, add an Angostura ice cube to the glass. Pour the Revolution Rye over the ice cube, followed by Cynar Amaro then Aperol. Twist an orange peel over the top of the glass, then add as a garnish.

To make an Angostura ice cube, add 2-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters to water, and freeze in a large ice cube mold. Note that adding more bitters may prevent freezing.

RYE CIDER SPRITZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1/2 oz. of Aperol
-3 oz. of Apple Cider
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 drops of orange bitters
-Hard Dry Cider

]

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except for the hard cider, in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into a Collins or Highball glass. Top with hard cider. Garnish with 2-3 apple slices.

THE BASIL DAISY
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of Aperol
-1 oz. of simple syrup
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-4 basil leaves for garnish
-lemon wedge garnish

Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients with ice. Shake for 15 seconds, then strain into a glass over fresh ice. Add a lemon wedge and fresh basil for garnish.

THE RENDEZVOUS
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-3/4 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/2 oz. of Aperol
-1/2 oz. of grapefruit simple syrup

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds, then double strain into a coupe glass.

SPRING FLING
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1 oz. of cinnamon and strawberry infused Aperol
-1 oz. of Amaro Nonino
-3-4 dashes of El Guapo Summer Berries Bitters
-Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
-lemon twist garnish

Instructions:
In a shaker, combine one ounce each of the infused Aperol, First Run Rum, fresh lemon juice and Amaro Nonino. Add 4-6 dashes of El Guapo Summer Berries Bitters. Add ice to the shaker, then shake for 15-30 seconds. Double strain shaker into a highball glass filled with ice. Top the cocktail with Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit. Add a twist of lemon for garnish.

To make the cinnamon and strawberry infused Aperol, add a cinnamon stick to one bottle of Aperol. Give it a shake, then let it sit for one day. After one day, remove the cinnamon stick. In a Mason jar, combine the cinnamon-infused Aperol with a handful of rinsed strawberries. Shake once daily for one week. Strain out the strawberries using a cheesecloth, then the Aperol is ready to use.

Now that you have a variety of cocktail recipes you can make incorporating Aperol, it’s easy to see why it makes for a great staple bitter to have in your home bar. Not only does it add a beautiful color to any cocktail you make, it also adds incredible flavor and balance. As always, if you find yourself in need of supplies such as Angostura Bitters, orange bitters, simple syrups, or any of our spirits, be sure to stop by our Burlington Tasting Room. Cheers!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on June 9, 2025.

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Ginger Cocktail Recipes

Ginger Cocktail Recipes

Ginger is a spice well known for its benefits to digestive health and for its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a go-to for nausea relief. As a spice, it adds a fragrant zest to food and drinks alike, adding a nice balance to sweet ingredients like fruits. There are a few common ways you’ll find ginger worked into cocktail recipes, and that’s typically in the form of a ginger syrup, a ginger beer or ginger ale. 

At Mad River Distillers, we more commonly utilize ginger syrup or ginger beer in our craft cocktail recipes. Ginger beer works as a great topper for warm season sippers, usually served in a tall glass with ice. Ginger syrup is great for adding a punch of concentrated flavor that pairs incredibly well with lemon (especially during the cold season). 

Here, we share a variety of our recipes incorporating ginger into cocktails through both the warm and cold seasons.

GINGER BEER COCKTAILS

PINK LEMONADE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1/4 oz. of raspberry syrup
-3/4 oz. of lemon juice
-2 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters
-ginger beer

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients. Shake and strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel.

MAD NOR’EASTER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1/2 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/2 oz. of maple syrup
-ginger beer
-Crude “Lindsay” bitters

Instructions:
Add the bourbon, lime juice and maple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake and serve over ice in a rocks glass. Top with ginger beer and 1 dropper of Lindsay bitters. Add a lime wheel as garnish.

RUM 44 MULE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of lime juice
-ginger beer
-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Add rum, lime and ginger beer to a highball glass with ice, and stir. Add a lime wheel & bitters for garnish.

SUMMER SORBET FLOAT
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3-4 scoops of raspberry sorbet
-ginger beer
-mint spring

Instructions:
In a highball glass, add 3-4 scoops of the sorbet. Pour in the RUM 44. Fill the glass to the top with ginger beer. Add a mint sprig for garnish.

BOURBON STREET
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1/4 oz. of strawberry simple syrup or 1 sliced strawberry muddled with simple syrup
-3/4 oz. of lemon juice
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-Ginger Beer

]

Instructions:
Shake all ingredients. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a sliced strawberry.

ROUTE 17
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-ginger beer
-lime wedge

Instructions:
Fill pint glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz. Maple Cask Rum. Top off with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedge.

RASPBERRY REFRESHER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of raspberry syrup
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-ginger beer

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into stemmed glassware over ice. Top off with ginger beer.

GINGER SYRUP COCKTAILS

Trickster cocktail on a table

TRICKSTER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of First Run Rum
-1/2 oz of. Orange Curacao
-3/4 oz. of ginger-honey syrup
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents over a large ice cube. Garnish with candied ginger.

A Midday Reviver cocktail on the Mad River Distillers bar with a bottle of First Run Rum and Fernet in the background

MIDDAY REVIVER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of First Run Rum
-3/4 oz. of ginger syrup
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-ginger ale
-1/2 oz. of Fernet Branca

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds, then strain into a Collins glass over ice. Top with ginger ale, leaving 1 inch at the top of the glass. Garnish with a floater of Fernet Branca.

Ginger Cookie cocktail with ingredients on a table

GINGER COOKIE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of Dolin Dry Vermouth
-1/4 oz. of Disaronno amaretto
-1/4 oz. of 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. Top the rim with a gingerbread cookie garnish and enjoy!

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 ginger-honey 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.

MAPLE CASK RUM HOT TODDY
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1/2 oz. of ginger-honey syrup
-2 dashes of El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters
-2 dashes of Vena’s Aromatic Bitters
-Hot Water

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in your favorite mug. Top off with hot water. Stir and garnish with candied ginger and a lemon peel.

We use a ginger-honey syrup in several of the recipes above, which you can make right at home by following the instructions in our cocktail syrups blog post. Most grocery stores carry ginger beer, but ginger syrup isn’t always easy to find. At our Burlington Tasting Room, we carry a variety of syrups, including King Floyds Ginger Syrup and El Guapo Ginger Syrup (or you can find them online). Ginger beer, as well as other mixers, bitters, and bottles of our spirits are all available from our retail section. Happy mixing!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on May 23, 2025.

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on Our Top Luxardo Maraschino Cocktail Recipes

Our Top Luxardo Maraschino Cocktail Recipes

The ever popular Luxardo Maraschino is a clear liqueur made from marasca cherries. The brand describes it as having an aroma of marasca cherry with a roasted nuttiness, but a flavor that includes hints of chocolate, vanilla and orange marmalade (Luxardo, 2021). In the spirits world, this liqueur is considered a modifier. A modifier is an ingredient that adds flavor to a cocktail when combined with a base spirit. There are other great modifiers out there, and if you’re interested in learning more on this topic, be sure to check out our spirit modifiers blog post. 

As we often discuss, mixing up a great cocktail involves creating a balance of flavors. A cocktail that is too sweet or too bitter is hard on the taste buds, so the best cocktail recipes are ones that are well-balanced. Luxardo Maraschino is made from alcohol, fruit and sugars, making it a sweeter liqueur that works well to balance out more bitter cocktail ingredients. There are a couple famous cocktail recipes in particular that this liqueur is known for, including the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Red Hook, but if you have a bottle at home, there are a variety of other options worth exploring.

Here are Mad River Distillers Top Luxardo Maraschino Cocktail Recipes:

BIGLIETTO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye 
-1.5 oz. of Linchpin Aperitivo (or Aperol)
-1/2 oz. of Bigallet China China
-1/4 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-Luxardo cherry

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice, then stir for 15-30 seconds until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

BROOKLYN
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1 oz. of Dolin Dry Vermouth
-1/2 oz. of Bigallet China China
-1/4 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-Luxardo cherry

Instructions:
In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients. Add ice to the mixing glass and stir for 15-30 seconds until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

RED HOOK
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1/2 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1/2 oz. of Punt e Mes
-3 dashes of Bennett Cocktail Bitters
-Luxardo cherry

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

FINAL WARD
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1 oz. of Green Chartreuse
-1 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-lemon twist

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard for about 30 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

MAD HEMINGWAY
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1 oz. of grapefruit juice
-lime wheel

]

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Add a lime wheel for garnish.

FANCY PANTS
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Bourbon Whiskey
-1/2 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
-2 dashes of Scrappy's Orange Bitters
-1 dash of Angostura Bitters
-orange twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except the orange twist in a pitcher, and stir. Pour contents over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

THE EXPAT
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1/4 oz. of lime juice
-1/4 oz. of lime oleo saccharum
-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
-lime wheel

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

To make a lime oleo saccharum:
Remove the zest from 4 lime skins (just the zest, and none of the white pith). In a bowl, combine the zest with 8 oz. of raw cane sugar. Muddle the sugar and lime zest together for several minutes to release oils from the zest, then place it in a closed container overnight. After infusing overnight, add 8 oz. of hot water and dissolve the sugar. Strain the liquid to remove all lime zests.

IMPROVED WHISKEY COCKTAIL
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1/4 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino
-1/4 oz. of simple syrup
-1 dash of Peychauds Bitters
-1 dash of Angostura Bitters
-1 dash of Absinthe
-lemon peel

Instructions:
In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients. Add ice and stir well. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a lemon peel, expressing it over the top of the cocktail.

When it comes to making cocktails, we highly recommend adding some modifiers to your home bar, which will enable you to make a variety of cocktails using our spirits. Luxardo Maraschino is a great modifier with a very unique flavor profile. A little of this liqueur goes a long way, but now that you know a variety of cocktail recipes you can make using Luxardo Maraschino, we hope you’ll be eager to mix it up with some Mad River Distillers spirits soon. Cheers! 

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on May 12, 2025.

REFERENCES
Luxardo. (2021, May 12). Maraschino Originale. Retrieved January 13, 2022, from https://www.luxardo.it/liqueurs-and-distillates/maraschino-originale/

By in Blog, News & Blog Comments Off on MRD Runamok Cocktail Recipes

MRD Runamok Cocktail Recipes

As proud supporters of local Vermont businesses, we are participating in Maple Open House Weekend this March 22nd and 23rd at our Burlington Tasting Room. As part of this statewide celebration, we’re offering in-store Runamok samples of their Salted Caramel Syrup, Sugarmaker’s Cut Syrup, and Sparkle Syrup. We’ll also be offering a featured craft cocktail just for the weekend made with the Salted Caramel Maple Syrup. 

If you’ve ever perused or purchased from the retail section of our Burlington Tasting Room, you’ve likely seen Runamok on our shelves. It’s not only maple syrup that Runamok offers (which serves as a delicious substitute for simple syrup in cocktails). They also offer bitters, an Old Fashioned cocktail mixer, and Grenadine, which we’ve utilized in cocktail recipes featured at our bar and in recipes online.

If you aren’t able to stop into our Tasting Room during Maple Open House Weekend, we invite you to make the featured craft cocktail—or one of our other Runamok recipes below—from home. 

SALTED CARAMEL MAPLE MANHATTAN
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye 
-3/4 oz. of Sweet Vermouth
-1/2 oz. of Runamok Salted Caramel Maple Syrup
-3-4 dashes of Runamok Maple Aromatic Bitters

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. To fully incorporate the maple syrup, shake hard a couple times, then stir well until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, then garnish with 3 Luxardo cherries.

STRAWBERRY SMASH
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-5 rinsed strawberries, leafy ends removed, chopped
-4 fresh basil leaves
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1/4 oz. or a barspoon of Runamok Maple Grenadine
-Club soda

Instructions:
In a shaker, combine all ingredients except for the club soda. Muddle the ingredients together. Add fresh ice to a shaker, and shake well. Double strain into a stemless glass over fresh ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with a fresh strawberry and basil.

Rye Cider Spritz on a table with ingredients

RYE CIDER SPRITZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
- 1 oz. of Revolution Rye
- 1/2 oz. of Linchpin Apertivo (or Aperol)
- 3 oz. of Apple Cider
- 1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
- 2 drops of Runamok Orange Bitters
- Hard Cider to top

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except for the hard cider, in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into a Collins or highball glass. Top with hard cider. Garnish with 2-3 apple slices.

MAPLE BOURBON SOUR
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Runamok Sugarmakers Cut maple syrup
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into a Double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with Angostura Bitters.

MAGIC MAPLE MOJITO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-3/4 oz. of mint simple syrup
-1/4 oz. of Runamok Sparkle Maple Syrup
-2 dashes of Fee Brothers Mint Bitters
-Club soda or seltzer to top

]

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except for the club soda (or seltzer) in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir to incorporate ingredients, then top with the club soda or seltzer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

To make Mint Simple Syrup:
Combine 3 cups of simple syrup (a 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in hot water) with 1 cup of pressed mint leaves. Blanch the mint in boiling water for 15 seconds, then immediately remove the mint leaves and immerse them in ice water for 1 minute. Strain the leaves from the ice water. Blend the cooled simple syrup with the mint leaves for 1 minute, then strain well. Store the cooled mint simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks.

One important bartending tip when it comes to making cocktails with maple syrup. Maple syrup is naturally thicker than simple syrup, so you may find that stirring doesn’t fully incorporate the syrup in with the other cocktail ingredients. Ordinarily, shaking cocktails containing Vermouth is not recommended, as it can make the flavor slightly bitter. When combining a maple syrup with Vermouth in a cocktail, we recommend just a couple hard shakes before the typical stirring, to help the thicker syrup fully incorporate. 

Are you ready to make some craft cocktails combining two great Vermont products? You can find our spirits as well as Runamok products right at our Burlington Tasting Room. We almost always have Runamok Bitters (including their Aromatic, Orange and Floral Bitters), the Maple Grenadine, Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer and Salted Caramel Maple Syrup in stock. Plus, you can find the always delicious Luxardo Cherries, and other cocktail and barware supplies, as well. See you soon!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on March 17, 2025.