News & Events

Tasting at Table & Vine

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, May 27th at Table & Vine, located in the BIg Y in Northampton, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-7:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Provisions

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, May 21st at Provisions in Northampton, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00-5:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at One Stop Market & Liquors

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, May 21st at One Stop Market & Liquors in Beverly, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 5:00-7:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Ryan and Casey Liquors

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, May 20th at Ryan & Casey Liquors in Greenfield, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:30-6:30 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

 

Tasting at Sudbury Wine & Spirits

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, May 14th at Sudbury Wine & Spirits. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-6:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Table & Vine Flagship

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, May 14th at Table and Vine Flagship in Springfield, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 1:00-3:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at West Concord Wine and Spirits

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, May 13th at West Concord Wine and Spirits. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-6:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Table & Vine in Greenfield

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, May 7th at Big Y World Class Market in Greenfield, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 1:00-4:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Twin Hills Country Club

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, April 29th at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 5:00-7:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Grand Tasting at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, April 23rd at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 7:00-9:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Cape Cod Package Store

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, April 30th at Cape Code Package Store in Centerville, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00-6:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

By in Blog Comments Off on Drinkware to Use With Our Spirits & Cocktails

Drinkware to Use With Our Spirits & Cocktails

Flute, coupe, rocks, collins… There are so many drinkware options when it comes to enjoying our spirits, so how do you know what glass to use? Also, does what glass you use really matter? 

The type of drinkware you use can be for practical reasons (such as to accommodate the volume of liquid in your drink), but it can also have an impact on the temperature of your drink, or even enhance aromatics. Here, we’ll break down the different types of drinkware you might use when imbibing on a Mad River Distillers spirit or cocktail, and what kinds of drinks pair best with each of them.

FLUTE or TULIP
These glasses are a type of champagne glass that is long and thin, with a stem, and they’re what you’ll find at any big celebration, such as New Years Eve or at a wedding. This is because champagne glasses are designed to hold bubbles for longer. Imagine pouring some champagne into a rocks glass, with its wide opening and short depth. The bubbles won’t have very far to travel, and quickly, the bubbles will escape. A celebration calls for bubbles, and if it’s bubbles you want, you need to give them a glass worth climbing. The tall flute and tulip glass provide just that—a longer but narrow path upward.

The bowl shape of both glasses concentrate aromas with the more narrow rim, but the difference between a flute and a tulip glass is that a tulip flares out at the rim of the glass. It doesn’t trap bubbles as well as a flute, but it is a great glass for mixed champagne drinks as well as sparkling wines. With the more narrow mouth on a flute glass, even the smallest of garnishes look impressive (Graham, 2020).

COUPE
At Mad River Distillers, we love a coupe glass, and we serve many of our cocktails in them. However, it’s not a glass that most people have sitting in their cupboards. A coupe glass, also known as a champagne saucer, is actually a kind of champagne glass. In fact, it was once considered the default champagne glass, but that designation moved to tulip and flute glasses as people discovered the benefits noted above (Rowland, 2016). 

Today, coupe glasses are a popular choice for craft cocktails. These can be used much like a cocktail or martini glass—which is frequently used with vodka or gin cocktails—but the mouth shape of a coupe may be easier to handle than a martini glass (spill alert!). It also allows plenty of space for a beautiful garnish (Rowland, 2016).

ROCKS
This short glass with a heavy base is sometimes referred to as a whisky tumbler, a lowball or an Old Fashioned glass. Often served “on the rocks” (with ice), drinks served in a rocks glass are usually short drinks that are spirit forward (Graham, 2020). However, some people choose to sip on their favorite spirits neat in a rocks glass. Others may prefer their spirit “straight” (without other ingredients) over a large ice cube. 

A large ice cube melts more slowly, so it keeps your drink cool but relatively undiluted. The benefit of a rocks glass is that it can easily accommodate a large ice cube, whereas other glasses cannot. Also, thanks to the wide mouth, it’s a great glass for muddling, which is what you would do when making a Caipirinha cocktail. With its versatility, this is an ideal glass to have in any home bar.

GLENCAIRN
With a similar shape to a tulip glass, a solid base, but no stem, this glass is a go-to option for drinking whiskey “neat” (without ice). The bowl shape, which narrows as you move up, allows you to easily swirl your spirit without spilling, while also opening up the aromas (Allen, 2021). It allows you to appreciate the complexity in each whiskey, and savor every sip. Of course, we won’t judge you if you prefer a little bit of ice. 

COLLINS or HIGHBALL
A collins glass and a highball glass look very similar—tall and lean. In separate photos, you might not spot the difference between them, but side-by-side, a collins glass is taller and more narrow than a highball (Graham, 2020). These glasses are the most practical choice for drinks where there is a higher volume of liquid, such as with mixed drinks (spirits with soda, bubbles or fruit juices), while allowing plenty of room for ice.

What glass you choose really comes down to the amount of drink you intend to pour. At a bar, you’re likely to see this drink prepared (or “built”) directly in the glass, as opposed to a drink that is mixed in a shaker or stirred and strained. Have you ever sat at a bar and watched the bartender fill a tall glass to the top with ice? Well, this has a benefit. While ice can dilute a drink, when you have a lot of ice, it melts more slowly. This means your drink stays cold, but it doesn’t dilute too quickly (Graham, 2020).

IRISH COFFEE GLASS
This drinkware is one we like to use for serving our seasonal Hot Toddy or Boozy Hot Chocolate drinks. Why? Designed specifically for hot drinks, this glass is thick, footed and has a handle (Graham, 2020). Sure, we could use a regular coffee mug, but where’s the fun in that? This glass allows you to appreciate the appearance of your beverage while also protecting your hands from the heat.

As you can see, drinkware choices can be a simple matter of what is most practical to accommodate the volume of your drink, or the size of a big ice cube. In some cases though, the glass you choose can elevate the look and aroma of your favorite drink (or, alternatively, diminish them). 

We hope that this offers some helpful tips on how best to enjoy your Mad River Distillers spirits and cocktails, and that it helps you determine what drinkware will be most useful in your home bar. Cheers!


Written by Brianne Lucas and published on April 22, 2022.

REFERENCES:
Allen, F. (2021, April 2). A guide to whisky glasses. World Whisky Day. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.worldwhiskyday.com/guide-whisky-glasses/

Graham, C. G. (2020, October 28). Discover the Essential Glasses Every Bar Needs. The Spruce Eats. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.thespruceeats.com/bar-glassware-tour-759984

Rowland, B. (2016, April 2). What is a Coupe Glass? The Cocktail Novice. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://thecocktailnovice.com/what-is-a-coupe-glass/

Join us on Earth Day

Let's help green up the planet this Earth Day, shall we? For every cocktail or bottle purchased at our Burlington Tasting Room on Earth Day (4/22), we’ll donate $1 to 1% for the Planet, an organization that helps fund environmental organizations collectively working to solve the problems on our one-and-only planet earth. 

 

By in Blog Comments Off on What is a Shrub? (The Drink, Not The Plant!)

What is a Shrub? (The Drink, Not The Plant!)

Taylor Sacco delves into the topic of shrubs—what it is, the history, and the many uses. 

Have you ever been perusing a menu, and needed to secretly Google an ingredient because you didn’t know what it was, and were too afraid to ask? Me too! In this article, we’re tackling shrubs, so that’s one less thing you’ll need to Google to impress your friends (or that cool individual making drinks on the other side of the bar). 

The Shrub has a long and storied history, alongside its close cousin, Switchel. Both are made by combining vinegar and sugar, both saw popularity as prohibition alcohol alternatives, and both have seen a cocktail comeback in recent years.

First, let’s tackle the question, what is a shrub?

To put it plainly, a shrub is a combination of vinegar, sugar, and fruit—typically in a 1:1:1 proportion (though it can get far more complex, if you so choose). You combine all three ingredients, and let it sit for 2 days or more. Then you strain, and you’ve got yourself a shrub, baby. 

Before refrigeration became a household luxury, vinegar was used to preserve fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh through the winter. Eventually, this mixture (sweetened with sugar) would become its own beverage. The British navy used shrubs in the 18th century to combat scurvy (which is good to know in case you ever feel a case of scurvy coming on). In America, during prohibition, there was an increase in shrubs being used as thirst-quenching liquor alternatives—drinks that could “cheer, but not inebriate.” In fact, because vinegar promotes salivation, shrubs are particularly hydrating and thirst-quenching, which led to widespread consumption across the United States during our hot summer months. 

Around the late 1900’s, after home refrigeration became the norm, and when soft drinks like Coca Cola became widespread, shrubs dropped off in popularity. It wasn’t until craft cocktail culture began reintroducing them, that they came back into vogue. The possibilities for shrub cocktails are virtually endless. 

Of course, a shrub will introduce some vinegar flavor to your drink. However, it will also add sugar and fruit, so it’s a great way to add sweetness, flavor, and complexity to a mixed drink with just one ingredient. While the actual creation of a shrub may be labor-intensive, it’s time you’ll save later when the multiple facets of a well-balanced cocktail can be added with a single pour. 

Not only are the potential combinations of vinegar, sugar, and fruit dizzying, but the sheer potential of how to incorporate them into cocktail recipes is equally open. 

As an example, Brendan Heath, while working at Dear Mom in San Francisco, created The Nostalgia, which he described as a Mother’s Day Boulevardier. (On a side note, Mother’s Day is May 8th this year, so mark your calendar!) Brendan’s recipe calls for Bourbon or Rye—both of which we make at Mad River Distillers—and Campari, but it excludes sweet vermouth in lieu of a lavender shrub that incorporates kumquats, peppercorns, lemongrass and balsamic vinegar. As you can see, opening the door to shrubs can make you rethink your whole cocktail game. 

Not a whiskey fan? The potential for rum and shrub cocktails is equally grand. Monica Carbonell of Liquid Culture has created a banana peel shrub, incorporating peanuts and brown sugar as well as vinegar. She then uses her original shrub in an aged rum cocktail called a Banana Boat. (First Run and Maple Cask Rum are crying out for someone to use them in this cocktail, trust me.)

We all start making cocktails somewhere, and the beautiful thing about surrendering to the allure of making incredible drinks at home is how endless of a rabbit hole it becomes. While we may start by haphazardly mixing vodka and orange juice and drinking the results (yes, I am guilty), soon your world of ingredients opens up with the addition of syrups, bitters, Amari, and aperitif’s. They add dimension, depth and complexity to your drinks that you never even dreamed possible. I’ve always said that my favorite thing about cocktails is just how deep you can go. You just never run out of possibilities.


Ready to make your first shrub?

Here's where you can find the shrub and cocktail recipes noted above:

Banana Peel and Peanut Shrub and Banana Boat cocktail

Lavender Shrub and The Nostalgia cocktail


Written by Taylor Sacco and published on February 10, 2022.

References:
Seedlip. (n.d.). Enhance the Flavour of your Cocktails | A History of Cocktail Shrubs. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.seedlipdrinks.com/en-au/journal/a-history-of-cocktail-shrubs/

C, M. (2021, October 6). Banana Boat - Rum and Banana Peel Shrub Cocktail. Liquid Culture. Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://www.liqculture.com/banana-boat-rum-and-banana-peel-shrub-cocktail/

Reddicliffe, S., & Buckley, C. (Eds.). (2022). The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails (Second Edition): Over 400 Classic Drink Recipes With Great Writing from The New York Times (2nd ed.). Cider Mill Press.

UHP Staff. (n.d.). Shrubs and Switchels: A History. The Ultimate History Project. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://ultimatehistoryproject.com/shrubs-and-switchels-a-history.html

By in Cooking & Baking Comments Off on Vanilla Rum Peach Cobbler

Vanilla Rum Peach Cobbler

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Vanilla Rum Peach Cobbler


  • Author: Mad River Distillers (adapted from A Pinch of Yum)
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

This Peach Cobbler recipe is made with our Vanilla Rum, which is Infused with Tahitian vanilla beans (nothing artificial). The vanilla flavor is perfect for baked goods, and the rum helps caramelize the peaches as they bake. The result is a sweet and peachy flavor, with a very subtle hint of vanilla rum.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 large peaches, sliced 
  • 1/8 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup Cabot unsalted butter
  • 6 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup King Arthur’s All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp demerara sugar

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the peaches with ⅛ cup sugar and 1 ounce of Mad River Distillers Vanilla Rum. Mix to spread the sugar and rum throughout the peaches, then set them aside for 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 
  3. Grease the bottom of a small casserole dish with butter.
  4. After 30 minutes, pour the peach mixture into the casserole dish and spread them evenly over the bottom.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, 6 tablespoons of sugar, vanilla, flour, baking powder and salt. Mix the ingredients together until it has a crumbled appearance.
  6. Using your hands, sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the peaches.
  7. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  8. Sprinkle the demerara sugar over the top of the peach cobbler, then bake for another 10 minutes. If you like a crunchy top, you can bake for another few minutes under the broil setting (see notes). 
  9. Allow the dish to cool, and serve with vanilla ice cream if you like!

Notes

  • This recipe is adapted from A Pinch of Yum.
  • If you use the broil setting, watch the dish closely. As the sugar cooks, it will caramelize and can burn. 
  • The demerara topping adds extra sweetness to the dish, so you can add more or less to your liking. Turbinado or raw sugar will work as a substitute.
  • If you cannot find fresh peaches, you can use pre-sliced peaches, but this can add extra sweetness to the dish, so you may want to reduce the amount of sugar you soak with the peaches and rum, as well as the amount of demerara added in step 8.
  • This recipe is for adults only. Alcohol is retained in the dessert.

Featured Spirit

Tasting at The Gourmet Spirit

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, April 8th at The Spirited Gourmet. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 5:00-7:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Table & Vine in Great Barrington

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, April 8th at Table & Vine, located in the Big Y in Great Barrington. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-7:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

By in Blog Comments Off on 3-Ingredient Cocktail Recipes

3-Ingredient Cocktail Recipes

Maybe you have limited ingredients lying around the house, or maybe it’s just been a long day at work and you’re not feeling very motivated. Sometimes, a 3-ingredient cocktail recipe is exactly what you need. Believe it or not, there are a plethora of recipes that use only 3 ingredients. Of course, that’s especially true if you don’t count a dash or two of bitters. 

Here, we offer 15 recipes you can make using just 3 ingredients (and not a dash more). The garnish is all up to you!

BOOZY ARNOLD PALMER
This popular summertime staple gets an adult makeover with our Bourbon, lemon juice, and black tea honey syrup.

BLOOD ORANGE & BASIL BOURBON 
You might assume this drink is complicated, but delicious doesn’t mean it’s difficult to make. All you need here is Bourbon, simple syrup, and blood orange juice.

CLASSIC OLD FASHIONED
This old and simple favorite has three classic flavors—Bourbon, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters.

OLD PAL
Nothing is more reliable than an Old Pal, and this Old Pal only requires Bourbon, Cappelletti, and Dolin Blanc Vermouth.

BOULEVARDIER
Our Bourbon combines with equal parts Cocchi di Torino sweet vermouth and Campari in this colorful and flavorful cocktail.

TI' PUNCH
The Ti' packs just the right punch without a lot of fuss, combining First Run Rum with simple syrup and a slice of lime.

MAD APPLE MULE
This simple Mad Apple Mule combines Ginger Ale (we recommend Venetian Ginger Ale) with our Mad Apple Brandy, plus a dash of Angostura bitters.

JACK ROSE
This lovely cocktail gets its rose color from Jack Rudy Craft Grenadine, and its unique flavor from our Mad Apple Brandy, along with some lime juice.

CAIPIRINHA
This simple cocktail lets the flavor of our Maple Cask Rum shine through, along with some demerara simple syrup and fresh squeezed lime juice.

ROUTE 17
This light and refreshing adult beverage is made with our Maple Cask Rum, ginger beer, and a lime wedge.

KINGSTON NEGRONI
Sweet red vermouth and bitter orange Campari are the perfect components to balance and enhance our aged PX Rum, which offers a caramelized oak barrel influence.

Glass filled with Rye Gold Rush cocktail on a bar counter

RYE GOLD RUSH
Revolution Rye, honey simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice combine to create this bright, citrus cocktail with a whole lot of character.

1794
There may be minimal ingredients, but this cocktail provides maximum flavor, combining our Revolution Rye with Campari and Carpano Antica Vermouth.

RUM 44 DAIQUIRI
This clean, simple and citrusy daiquiri features our Rum 44, simple syrup and lime juice. That’s it!

CAMILLO’S MISTRESS
The sweet and herbal flavors of Cappelletti pairs with Dolin Blanc and our Vanilla Rum in this tasty cocktail, which is similar to an Old Pal.

If you read through the ingredients, you can see that it helps to have some staples on hand, such as a great sweet and dry vermouth, bitters, and fresh citrus, in addition to your base spirits. We have both versatile and flavorful spirits at Mad River Distillers, so we encourage you to explore our products and purchase the spirit that works best with your go-to cocktails. Happy mixing!


Written by Brianne Lucas and published on March 27, 2022.

Join Us To Raise for Ukraine

Join us at our Burlington Tasting Room this weekend, April 2nd & 3rd, to Raise for Ukraine. At this special event, 50% of every purchase made—whether on drinks, barware or apparel—will be donated to support the people of Ukraine. The founders of Mad River Distillers will be matching every dollar raised, so please come out to sip, shop and show your support.

An equal donation will be made to World Central Kitchen and Save the Children Ukraine.

 

Join Us To Raise for Ukraine

Join us at our Burlington Tasting Room this weekend, April 2nd & 3rd, to Raise for Ukraine. At this special event, 50% of every purchase made—whether on drinks, barware or apparel—will be donated to support the people of Ukraine. The founders of Mad River Distillers will be matching every dollar raised, so please come out to sip, shop and show your support.

An equal donation will be made to World Central Kitchen and Save the Children Ukraine.