Cocktails to Ring in the New Year
It’s that time of year when folks break out their finest duds and pop the traditional bottle of bubbly to celebrate the New Year with friends and loved ones. While pouring a bubbly drink in a flute or tulip glass might be the obvious choice, let's be honest, Champagne isn’t for everyone.
At Mad River Distillers, we have more than 100 cocktail recipes on our website, but we’ve picked some top recipes that would make excellent options for toasting as the clock strikes 12. Here are our sipping selections for ringing in the New Year:
PX75
A riff on a French 75, this cocktail combines a couple distinctive flavors to make a bubbly sipper unlike any other. Our PX Rum, with its nutty and smoky aromas and flavors, combines with figgy bitters, as well as lemon juice, simple syrup, and chilled Prosecco.
Bourbon Spritz
This drink checks some important boxes. First, it has a lovely presentation, with a bright orange color and orange slice garnish. Second, you combine our Bourbon with Aperol and your choice of Prosecco, a sparkling wine or club soda to give it those traditional New Year's bubbles.
Sparkling Silver
Combining our silver Rum 44, sparkling wine, orange curaçao, fresh lime juice and an orange peel garnish, this bubbly cocktail is fun, festive, fruity and zesty. It's great for toasting, or for brunch!
Fancy Pants
This may not be an obvious choice when it comes to toasting, but with a name like this on one of the biggest party nights of the year, it had to be on our list. If bubbles just aren’t your thing at all, but you love a good whiskey drink, mix up a Fancy Pants with our Bourbon, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, orange and Angostura bitters, and an orange twist.
Mad Capri
If you really want to use your champagne flute, consider this citrus and herb flavored cocktail featuring our Revolution Rye whiskey. The Rye, Cynar Liqueur, Casoni 1814 Apertivo Liqueur (or Aperol), and lemon juice all mix together and are topped with Prosecco for a bright and bubbly drink that’s unlike any other.
Mad Celebration
With a presentation that most closely resembles Champagne, our Mad Celebration cocktail was made for just such an occasion. You start with a sugar cube in a flute, add a couple dashes of bitters, pour the Mad Apple Brandy over the sugar cube, and top with a chilled sparkling wine. It’s the sparkling cocktail to raise as you wish a loud “Happy New Years!”
There is much to look forward to in the new year! We hope you enjoy our top New Year’s cocktail picks, and that you celebrate safely this year and every year.
From the entire Mad River team, we wish you a fantastic 2025! Cheers!!
Written by Brianne Lucas and updated on December 23, 2024.
MRD Holiday Tasting at Nejaime's in Stockbridge
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 20th at the Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Stockbridge, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00pm-5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Lawson's Holiday Market in Waitsfield
Find us at a Holiday Pop Up Market at Lawson's Finest Taproom in Waitsfield, VT on Saturday, December 14th from 11:00am-3:00pm(EDT). This great event brings together local artisans and producers for a festive variety of holiday gift ideas! We’ll be there, showcasing our spirits (which will be available for purchase) and offering tastings. Be sure to stop by!
2024 Burlington Tasting Room Holiday Gift Guide
Another gift-giving season has arrived! If you’re working on your list still, whether for family, friends or co-workers, we’ve got some great gift options for you at our Burlington Tasting Room. Our retail section offers a variety of items to make an incredible cocktail-themed gift basket, or to simply help someone stock up with supplies for their home bar. We carry a variety of glassware, barware, syrups, mixers, bitters, recipe books, Mad River merch, and of course, our ready-to-drink cocktails and spirits! Need some specific ideas? Read below for our 2024 Burlington Tasting Room Gift Guide, then stop in to check off your shopping to-do list!
Here are our top gift recommendations for 2024:
OUR FAVORITES GIFT PACK
Our “Favorites” gift pack includes three of our best-selling Vermont-made spirits in “flask” (or pocket) sized 200ml bottles. Each set includes our Straight Bourbon, Revolution Rye and Maple Cask Rum. This is a great way to introduce someone to our craft spirits. Each can all be sipped on their own, but if the person you’re gifting loves a good cocktail, be sure to have them visit our website for recipe ideas.
COCKTAILS GIFT PACK
This gift pack includes three ready-to-drink cocktails! That’s right, no mixing is required! Simply pour into a chilled glass (with or without ice, as may be preferred), and start sipping. These gift packs contain a 200ml sized bottle of our Old Fashioned made with Straight Bourbon, Maple Fig Madhattan made with Maple Cask Rum and Black Fig Vodka, and our Old Fashioned made with Revolution Rye.
BITTERS KITS
Our Burlington Tasting Room boasts an extensive selection of bitters (perhaps the biggest in the state). Bitters are an excellent way to add and experiment with cocktail flavors. While there are a few bitters we always recommend for home bars (such as Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters and Peychaud Bitters), we offer a variety of popular kits, each containing several bitters flavors, from brands such as Crude, Strong Water, Bitter Queens, The Bitter Housewife, Scrappy’s & more.
MAPLE SYRUPS
Besides the fact that this liquid gold makes a great substitute for simple syrup (while offering double duty on your homemade pancakes), we have some other connections to Maple Syrup here at Mad River Distillers. We have a brand new (and very delicious) “Double Tapped” Rum Maple Syrup that was aged for years in our rum barrels, and contains 17.2% alcohol. 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.
ALL THE MIXERS
Just like there are a ton of bitter options to create unique cocktail flavors, the same is true with mixers. A simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness to cocktails, while nut and fruit flavored syrups (like the Macadamia Nut or the Prickly Pear syrups featured here) add specific flavors that taste amazing in tropical cocktails and daiquiris. You can find other popular tropical cocktail syrups like grenadine, falernum and orgeat on our shelves as well.
BARWARE & HOME GOODS
If you know someone with a home bar looking to stock up or expand on their supplies, we carry all the items someone would need, including jiggers, shakers, strainers, bar spoons, mixing glasses, cocktail picks, muddlers, ice cube molds, glassware, tiki mugs, coasters, recipe books and more.
WEARABLES
Give the gift of local (and support local business at the same time) with some cool Mad River Distillers merch, including hats, comfy tees and cozy hoodies. Other Mad River Distillers merch includes stickers, travel mugs, glassware, coasters, flasks and whiskey stones.
DIY OLD FASHIONED KIT
You can’t go wrong with the ever-popular Old Fashioned cocktail. At our Burlington Tasting Room, you can find all the supplies you need to put together a simple Old Fashioned Kit: a bottle of Straight Bourbon or Revolution Rye, Angostura Bitters (which are used in a wide variety of other cocktails) and Luxardo Cherries. We also carry some dehydrated garnishes. If you need a rocks glass and large ice cube, we have you covered with glassware and ice cube molds, as well!
MAD RIVER SPIRITS
Not to be forgotten… The most spirited gift of all is of course our award-winning spirits! At our Burlington Tasting Room, you can find bottles of our rye, bourbon and rums. Many are available in two sizes. We also have some limited spirits on hand (which means, they won’t last long, so get a bottle while supplies last). When you stop into our Burlington Tasting Room, you can take a Tasting break and sample some of the spirits for yourself before deciding which bottles to purchase.
These are just some of the items you can find at our Burlington Tasting Room. Other available items include a variety of mocktail drinks, Bourbon Caramel chocolate bars from Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cocktail Smoker Kits and Vena’s Infusion Kits. If you have any questions or need advice on a gift, we’re always happy to help with ideas so you can assemble a great package for your loved ones.
Visit us 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, order a tasting or cocktail from our bar. If you aren’t local or visiting the area, check out our Purchase page to see how you can find our spirits online.
Wishing you all a spirited and safe holiday season!
Written by Brianne Lucas and published on November 25, 2024
MRD Tasting at Kappy's in Danvers
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 20th at the Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits in Danvers, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Bottles Fine Wine in Providence
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 14th at Bottles Fine Wine & Spirits in Providence, RI. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-7:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Route 110 Liquors in Amesbury
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 13th at Route 110 Liquors in Amesbury, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at the Dover Wine Company in Dover, MA
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 13th at the Dover Wine Company in Dover, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at The Den Wine & Spirits in Providence
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 13th at The Den Wine & Spirits in Providence, RI. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-7:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Kappy's Fine Wine and Spirits in Peabody
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 22nd at the Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits in Peabody, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Woodstock Wassail Artisan and Food Market
Find us at the Woodstock Wassail Artisan and Food Market at the Town Green in Woodstock, VT on Saturday, December 14th from 9:30AM – 3:30PM. As part of the annual Wassail Weekend in Woodstock, you'll encounter local craftsmanship and festive food in the lively market. We’ll be there, showcasing our spirits (which will be available for purchase) and offering tastings. Be sure to stop by!
Good Trade Makers Market in Burlington, VT
Find us at The Good Trade Makers Market at Hula in Burlington, VT on Saturday and Sunday, December 7th and 8th from 11:00AM-6:00 PM (EDT). You'll meet innovators, designers, and makers who have been meticulously honing their crafts, and by tackling your holiday shopping at The Good Trade Makers Market, you'll be supporting independent businesses from over 12 states! With your entry you will receive a drink ticket that can be redeemed on-site for a small beer, small cocktail, or a coffee - or you can receive $2 off at the bar or $1 off a larger coffee beverage. We’ll be there, showcasing our spirits (which will be available for purchase) and offering tastings. Be sure to stop by!
MRD Tasting at Lenny's Liquors in Millbury
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 6th at the Lenny's Liquors in Millbury, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at I.M. Gan Discount Liquors in Warwick
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 6th at the I.M. Gan Discount Liquors in Warwick, RI. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm-7:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Curtis Liquors Cohasset Grand Tasting Event
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 14th at the Curtis Liquors in Cohasset, MA for the Grand Tasting Event. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 1:00pm-4:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Whiskey 101 Class
Jesse Luberoff of Mad River Distillers will be hosting a Whiskey 101 Class in the Burlington Tasting Room on Sunday, 12/1 between 2-3:30pm.
Enjoy a curated tasting of our Bourbons, Ryes, and Single Malts, ranging from our flagship spirits to current limited releases, and even some cellar selections from over the last 10 years!
All attendees will receive 10% off all non-liquor purchases on 12/1 from our retail shop.
Space is limited, so sign up today! For tickets: https://bit.ly/MadWhiskey101
