Join us to celebrate the upcoming release of our Hopscotch whiskey, a collaboration with Zero Gravity! For one weekend only, we're interrupting our regularly scheduled cocktail service to bring you free tastings of our 3-year aged single malt whiskey at our Burlington Tasting Room. Try it before the official release! While you're there, you can check out our retail section to stock up on spirits, barware, and other goods before the holiday rush.
Hopscotch Tastings at the Tasting Room
Join us to celebrate the upcoming release of our Hopscotch whiskey, a collaboration with Zero Gravity! For one weekend only, we're interrupting our regularly scheduled cocktail service to bring you free tastings of our 3-year aged single malt whiskey at our Burlington Tasting Room. Try it before the official release! While you're there, you can check out our retail section to stock up on spirits, barware, and other goods before the holiday rush.
Tasting at Pemberton Farms Marketplace
Join Mad River Distillers on Tuesday, November 23rd at Pemberton Farms Marketplace. 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.
Drunk Dutch Apple Pie
Print
Drunk Dutch Apple Pie
Description
This Dutch Apple Pie gets an adult makeover with some Bourbon-Whiskey infused spiced apples. It’s a little boozy, a little sweet, and tasty enough to be gone in a beat. But make sure to plan ahead! You’ll need several days to infuse your apples first.
Ingredients
Scale
- Mad River Distillers Bourbon Whiskey
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- 2 chopped apples (to infuse in Bourbon Whiskey)
- 3-4 chopped fresh apples
- 1 pie crust
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp flour
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ tsp pure lemon juice
- ¼ tsp lemon zest
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup flour
- 2 tsp water
- 3 Tbsp softened unsalted butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- At least 3 days before you bake the pie (ideally longer), infuse two apples for your pie filling. Peel the apples, then cut them into slices.
- In a large mason jar, add the apple slices, ¼ tsp cinnamon and ⅛ tsp nutmeg.
- Pour enough Bourbon Whiskey in the jar to cover the apples. Shake to blend the spices with the apples, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- After three days of Bourbon and apple infusion, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Prepare your pie crust by pressing it into the bottom and sides of a glass pie pan. Set it aside.
- Take out the mason jar with the Bourbon Whiskey-infused apples. Using a mesh strainer, strain the apples from the Bourbon. Set the spiced apple infused Bourbon aside–it will make for a great cocktail later.
- Peel and slice 3-4 fresh apples.
- In a large bowl, combine the Bourbon-infused apples with the fresh cut apples. Add the sugar, flour, salt, ½ tsp of ground cinnamon, ⅛ tsp of nutmeg, lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir well.
- To make the streusel topping, in a separate bowl, combine ½ cup sugar, ½ cup flour, 2 tsp water, 3 Tbsp softened unsalted butter, and 1 tsp cinnamon. Mix the ingredients together with a fork until it resembles crumbs.
- Pour the apple pie filling into the unbaked pie crust.
- Top the apple filling with the streusel mixture, spreading it out so that all of the apples are covered.
- Place the pie in the preheated oven, on the middle rack. Bake for 40 minutes (or until the pie is bubbling and the streusel topping is starting to brown). To protect your pie crust from burning, cover the crust with a pie shield or aluminum foil after 15 minutes of baking.
- After the pie is done cooking, let it cool for 1-2 hours. When ready to serve, top it with a dollop of whipped cream.
Notes
Spiced Apple Manhattan cocktail
Don’t let that apple-infused Bourbon Whiskey go to waste! In a shaker, combine: 1 oz of the apple-infused Bourbon, 1 oz of Bourbon Whiskey, ½ oz Carpano Antica, ½ oz dry vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters. Shake ingredients well, then strain contents over ice and top with a Luxardo Cherry. Enjoy!
Featured Spirit
Perfect Cocktail Pairings for Your Thanksgiving Dinner
When it comes to Thanksgiving, meal prep can be both challenging and time-consuming. Figuring out exactly what you want to make and serve for dinner and dessert takes some real planning. And then there are the drinks…
Don’t worry! If drinks are an afterthought, we’ve got you covered. From pre-dinner drinks to full-flavor cocktails and post-dinner sippers, we’ve picked our top cocktail pairings for your Thanksgiving holiday.
Pre-Dinner Cocktails
If you’re planning on a cocktail before dinner, we recommend aperitifs or drinks that utilize bitters. Gentian root is commonly used to create bitters, and well known to both improve appetite and aid with digestion. We can’t think of a better way to start a big meal. Here are three cocktails to consider:
Trinidad Sour
This cocktail gets its name from the Angostura Bitters, which are made in Trinidad Tobago. The bitters, in addition to our Revolution Rye, pack a lot of flavor and a lot of color, which is perfect for the fall season.
Boulevardier
Pairing our Bourbon Whiskey with equal parts Cocchi di Torino sweet vermouth and Campari (which is made with gentian), this cocktail also boasts a bold color and great flavor. It’s a classic cocktail that balances the bitter with the sweet.
Mad Apple Mule
While this cocktail only features a dash of Angostura bitters, it is made with ginger ale which is considered to have anti-inflammatory benefits and is often used to aid digestion. Our seasonal Mad Apple Brandy lends fresh apple notes, making this a cozy choice for the fall season.
Dinner Cocktails
Your kitchen may be filled with a variety of dishes—from turkey to sweet potatoes, green beans to stuffing, and more. To complement the full flavor of offerings on your table, you’ll want some full flavor, seasonal cocktails. Here are our top cocktail picks to go with your main Thanksgiving dishes:
Maple Cask Rum Hot Toddy
Warm up with this delicious hot toddy cocktail. Combining our Maple Cask Rum with Allspice Dram Liqueur—a warming spice with flavor much like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves—it makes a ‘no brainer’ pairing for a Thanksgiving meal.
Autumn Sour
With pumpkin butter, cream sherry, Angostura bitters, lemon juice and our Maple Cask Rum, this cocktail is sure to be a winner at your Thanksgiving dinner. Throw in a couple cinnamon sticks for garnish, and it’s instantly Instagrammable.
Classic Old Fashioned with Sweet Potato Syrup
Turn a Classic Old Fashioned into a Thanksgiving hit by swapping out the simple syrup with ½ ounce of El Guapo Sweet Potato Syrup. This syrup is made from sweet potatoes and baking spices, and has won a Good Food award. You can find it at our Burlington Tasting Room.
Post-Dinner Cocktails
After dinner, you may find yourself in the mood for dessert, or a nap, or both! Whether you prefer to drink your dessert, or pair your drink with a classic Thanksgiving pie, here are our top post-dinner cocktail suggestions to end your Thanksgiving holiday on an incredible note:
Mad Apple Old Fashioned
This Old Fashioned recipe is like an ode to Vermont, combining our seasonal Mad Apple Brandy with maple syrup. A couple dashes of Angostura bitters help to balance the sweetness, while also aiding with digestion.
Hard Pressed
This cocktail combines apple cider with our popular Maple Cask Rum. Angostura bitters once again help to balance the sweet, but the flavor profile here is both distinct and decidedly fall. Add a cinnamon stick and an orange twist to the glass, and you have another highly Instagrammable Thanksgiving drink.
Cold Brew Coffee Negroni
If you’re ready for a nap (and who could blame you), then this should perk you up. Cold brew coffee combines with our Revolution Rye, Averna and Campari to deliver a Negroni that will settle you… but not before you’ve put away all those holiday leftovers.
While we don’t suggest that you incorporate all of these drinks into your menu, we do suggest you choose the cocktail(s) that suit your taste buds and that best accompany your entrees and desserts. As always, drink responsibly.
From all of us at Mad River Distillers, we wish you a happy, warm and safe Thanksgiving holiday. Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on November 8, 2021.
Tasting at Lanesborough Wine & Spirits
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, November 20th at Lanesborough Wine & Spirits. 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.
Tasting at Nejaime's Wine Cellars
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, November 13th at Nejaime’s Wine Cellars. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00-5:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Tasting at Westfield Spirit Shop
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 12th at Westfield Spirit Shop. 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.
Rye Gold Rush
Print
Rye Gold Rush
Description
This combination of honey simple syrup with our Revolution Rye tends to cause a raised eyebrow, followed by a "mmm, that's good."
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz Mad River Distillers Revolution Rye
- 1 oz Honey Simple Syrup
- 1 oz 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.
Notes
To make a honey simple syrup:
Dissolve one part honey with one part water.
Featured Spirit
Bourbon Old Fashioned
Print
Bourbon Old Fashioned
Description
This is a simple but worthy update to the Classic Old Fashioned using our Bourbon Whiskey.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz Bourbon Whiskey
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- orange twist
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add all ingredients with ice.
- Stir for about 15-20 seconds.
- Strain contents into an old fashioned glass over a large cube.
- Add an orange twist for garnish.
Featured Spirit
Tasting at Eddie's Liquors
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, November 6th at Eddie’s Liquors. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00-5:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Bourbon Pumpkin & Maple Pecan Pie
Print
Bourbon Pumpkin & Maple Pecan Pie
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 1-10 inch pie 1x
Description
This Pumpkin & Maple Pecan Pie recipe is adapted from Food & Wine's Bourbon Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel, using Mad River Distiller's Bourbon Whiskey and chopped maple pecans. It's a grown-up pumpkin pie that is perfect for the holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (we recommend King Arthur)
- 1/2 cup Sahale Maple Pecans, chopped
- 1 1/4 cups organic pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup Mad River Distillers' Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Bake the pie crust according to package instructions (follow instructions for a pie with filling). Set it aside once the crust has baked.
- In a medium bowl, combine 4 tbsp of the unsalted butter, 1/4 cup of the brown sugar, and flour. Mix together until it is clumps like a streusel. Stir in the chopped maple pecans.
- In a large bowl, combine the remaining 8 tbsp of unsalted butter and 3/4 cup of brown sugar. Using a mixer, beat at medium speed until light and fluffy, for about 1 minute. It is important that the butter is softened, but not entirely melted.
- In the same large bowl, now add the pumpkin puree, egg yolks, cornstarch, pumpkin spice and salt. Mix ingredients all together.
- Beat in the milk, followed by the Bourbon Whiskey.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they are stiff. Fold the stiffened egg whites into the large bowl with the pumpkin pie filling, and mix until the egg whites are blended in.
- Pour the pie filling into the baked pie crust, and place it in the preheated oven on the middle rack. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Pull out the pie, then sprinkle the chopped maple pecans and brown sugar mixture over the top of the pie (it will cover the entire top of the pie), then return to the oven to bake for an addition 45 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean). To protect your pie crust from burning, cover the crust with a pie shield or aluminum foil.
- Let the pie cool. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
Notes
- Alcohol is retained in baked goods, so this recipe is for adults only.
- If the pie filling seems thin once all the ingredients are blended, don't worry! It will become firm as it bakes.
Featured Spirit
Tasting at Frank Anthony's Seaport Market
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 19th at Frank Anthony’s Seaport Market. 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 Boston Beer Alley
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, November 20th at Boston Beer Alley. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 12:00-3:00 PM. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Tasting at Wine Connextion
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, November 20th at Wine Connextion. 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 Highland Wine & Spirits
Join Mad River Distillers on Thursday, November 11th at Highland Wine & Spirits. 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 Stevie's Wine & Spirits
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 19th at Stevie’s Wine & Spirits. 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 Wyman's Liquors
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 5th at Wyman’s Liquors. 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.
Cocktail Dos & Don’ts: Top Tips from the Mad River Team
When it comes to making cocktails—much like the art of cooking a meal from scratch—there are certain things one should and should not do for best results. For example, if a pancake recipe calls for ¼ teaspoon salt, don’t just eyeball the amount of salt to add… measure! No one wants salty pancakes for breakfast.
There are do’s and don’ts when it comes to making a good cocktail. Here, we tap into the Mad River team’s cocktail-making expertise to offer you our top tips for creating excellent cocktails from home.
Mind the Recipe, and Measure!
- Do follow a recipe, and measure everything! A great cocktail is about being precise, and you’ll never do that without measuring.
- Don’t substitute ingredients if you’re following a recipe, or the result won’t be as expected. Good recipes are fine tuned and specific ingredients are listed for a reason.
- Do measure away from your mixing glass or shaker, and pour the least expensive ingredients in the mixing vessel first, in case you over pour or make a mistake.
Ingredients Make an Impact
- Do use quality ingredients. It probably goes without saying but the quality of your ingredients will directly impact the quality of your cocktail.
- Don’t use cheap store-bought or frozen juices, which could be full of preservatives and other chemicals. Freshly squeezed is always best, or use cold pressed juice with natural ingredients.
- Do make your simple syrup at home using equal parts water and sugar. Sugar in the Raw or Demerara sugar (our sugar of choice) will offer a richer, deeper flavor over white granulated sugar.
- Don’t leave vermouth on your bar! Vermouth can—and will—go bad. It needs to be kept in the refrigerator.
When To Shake or Stir, and Pour
- Do know when to shake your cocktail, and when to stir. An easy rule to remember? Shake with citrus/juice, stir with spirits.
- Don’t wait more than a few seconds after shaking to strain your cocktail. Doing so dilutes your cocktail, and it can lose all the liveliness and aeration the shaking provided. The end goal is a foamy white head on the top layer of your cocktail.
- Do shake or stir longer/harder based on the size of the ice you use. The smaller and wetter the ice, the quicker it chills, melts and dilutes your drink, so a short shake or stir will do. Shake or stir for longer when using large ice cubes.
- Don't use the same ice that you used to stir or shake a cocktail when serving over the rocks (ice). This is referred to as "Dirty Dumping." Set up your glass with fresh ice, and strain your cocktail over that! It results in both better flavor and presentation.
- Do double strain shaken cocktails that are served straight up (without ice) using a tea strainer to avoid a layer of water from melted ice chips on your cocktail.
- Don’t add ice to your cocktail until the last step. Adding it first dilutes your drink before you even get to stir or shake.
When It’s All Said and Done
- Do taste before you serve. Dilution can be your friend if your cocktail is too acidic, too sweet or too strong.
- Don't over-complicate things. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your delicious craft cocktail!
- Do sip. Good cocktails deserve to be enjoyed slowly, especially with a complementary food pairing and good company!
The last “do” and “don’t” on this list are perhaps the most important. At the end of the day, it’s all about making something you like and taking the moment to savor your creation. While we hope these tips help you to improve your cocktail game, we’re firm believers that the best kind of cocktail is one that you enjoy. Cheers!
Written by Brianne Lucas, Mimi Buttenheim, Alex Hilton, Maeghan Phillips & Taylor Sacco.
Tasting at Dover Wine Company
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, October 30th at Dover Wine Company. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00-6:00 PM (EDT). Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
