Join Mad River Distillers on Thursday, December 21st, 2023 at the Universal Discount Package Store in Norwich, CT. 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.
NY Sour
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NY Sour
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Description
A riff on a whiskey sour made with our Double Barrel Bourbon and a red wine float.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz. of Double Barrel Bourbon (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!
Featured Spirit
MRD Coquito for the Holidays
Every year as we approach the holidays, we like to offer a traditional holiday beverage like a tried-and-true classic eggnog. This year, in addition to making eggnog, our Burlington Tasting Room bartender Gragen Cook brought us another delicious sipper inspired by his travels to Puerto Rico—a Coquito!
If you’ve never heard of a Coquito before, it’s a rum cocktail served around the holidays in Puerto Rico. Traditionally, it is made with condensed milk, sweetened coconut cream, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and white rum. You can see how it has similarities to eggnog, which is traditionally made with rum, milk, cream, sugar and egg. The Coquito is like a tropical cousin to eggnog.
In making a Mad River Distillers version of the Coquito, Gragen wanted to try a riff that was vegan (no eggs required!), and also bring more emphasis to the coconut flavor of this holiday beverage. Made with an infusion of our Rum 44, the recipe below will yield 3.5-750ml bottles, which will offer 20-22 servings, making this a great recipe to serve a holiday crowd.
To make an MRD Coquito from home, follow along with the instructions below:
MRD Coquito
Ingredients - Yields 20-22 Servings:
- 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
To make the Rum 44 infusion:
1. 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.
2. After a day, strain the raisins and cinnamon sticks from the Rum 44. Set the raisins aside to be used as a garnish later.
To make the cocktail:
1. 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.
2. Combine the cream mixture with the Rum 44 infusion to make the Coquito.
3. To make one cocktail, add 4 oz. of Coquito and ice to a shaker, and shake for 10-15 seconds.
4. Double train into your favorite holiday glass.
5. Grate fresh nutmeg on top.
6. Add 5 rum-soaked raisins to a cocktail pick, then rest over the glass as a garnish, and enjoy!
There you have it! A tropical alternative to eggnog that uses no eggs at all, and can easily serve a large group. If you don’t serve all the Coquito immediately, keep it refrigerated, and consume within 30 days. Be sure to visit our purchase page or stop by our Burlington Tasting Room to get a bottle of Rum 44 for this tasty holiday riff. Cheers!
Recipe by Gragen Cook for Mad River Distillers. Written and published by Brianne Lucas on December 10, 2023.
MRD Coquito
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MRD Coquito
- Yield: 20-22 servings 1x
Description
Our vegan version of the Coquito, made with infused Rum 44. This recipe will make 20-22 servings, perfect for a holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
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.
To make the cocktail:
- 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.
- 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!
Notes
- This recipe below will yield 3.5-750ml bottles, which will offer 20-22 servings.
- If you don’t serve all the Coquito immediately, keep it refrigerated, and consume within 30 days.
Featured Spirit
MRD Tasting at The Country Store @ Jiminy Peak
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at The Country Store at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Westfield Spirit Shop
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th,2023 at the Westfield Spirit Shop in Westfield, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
3rd Annual Huladay Market
Find us at the Third Annual Huladay Market in Burlington, VT on Tuesday, December 12th from 3:00-7:00 PM (EDT) Buy local for the holidays! This great event is open to the public and free for all. More than 65+ Vermont-based craft and food vendors will span throughout the main lobby and event space at Hula. We’ll be there, showcasing our spirits (which will be available for purchase) and offering tastings. Be sure to stop by!
MRD Tasting at Fire at the Ridge Restaurant & Bar
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 at the Fire at the Ridge Restaurant and Bar at the Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort in Middlefield, CT . There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:45pm - 7:00pm, as well as live music. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at The Country Store at Jiminy Peak
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at the Country Store at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Lenox, MA
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 at the Nejaime's Wine Cellars in Lenox, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Addison West Annual Holiday Sale
Join Mad River Distillers on Sunday, November 19th, 2023 at the Addison West in Waitsfield, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 11:00am - 4:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at Ratu's Liquor and Market in Wilmington, VT
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, November 24th, 2023 at Ratu's Liquor and Market in Wilmington, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Boozy Hot Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 between 2:00pm and 5:00pm at the Lake Champlain Chocolates on Pine Street in Burlington, VT. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits paired with decadent varieties of Lake Champlain Hot Chocolate. A perfect pairing to warm your soul and feed your holiday spirit! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Mad River Dinner at Black Pond Brews in Dayville, CT
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 2nd starting at 6:00pm (EDT) at Black Pond Brews in Dayville, CT for a Mad River Dinner. Enjoy a four-course chef-inspired dinner while sampling a selection of Mad River Distillers Whiskeys and Rums. Check out the menu and grab your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3stjEvA
2023 Burlington Tasting Room Holiday Gift Guide
The gift giving season has commenced, which means you’re probably working hard to figure out the perfect gift for everyone on your gifting list. If you have a cocktail lover in your life, consider us your one-stop spirits gift shop. The retail section at our Burlington Tasting Room has a variety of items to make an incredible gift basket for your cocktail-loving co-workers, friends or family members. You can find glassware, barware, mixers, bitters, recipe books, apparel, and of course, our spirits. If you’re looking for ideas, check out our Burlington Tasting Room Gift Guide below, and then visit us to quickly get what you need!
Here are our top gift recommendations for 2023:
OUR FAVORITES GIFT PACK
Our spirits gift pack includes three of our best-selling Vermont-made spirits in “flask” sized 200ml bottles, including our Straight Bourbon, our Revolution Rye and our Maple Cask Rum. If you aren’t sure which of our spirits someone would like best, this offers a great way for them to try a few of our customer favorites, all of which taste great on their own or in cocktails.
COCKTAILS GIFT PACK
This gift pack includes three cocktails that are ready to pour and sip right away—our Old Fashioned made with Straight Bourbon, our Maple Fig Madhattan made with Maple Cask Rum and Black Fig Vodka, and our Old Fashioned made with Revolution Rye, which is quite distinctive. All you need is the glassware (which you can also find at our Burlington Tasting Room!).
BITTERS, SIPPERS & NIPPERS
Our Burlington Tasting Room boasts a large display of bitters, which are just one way you can experiment with cocktail flavors. There are a few bitters we always recommend to have as staples in your home bar, and we carry those (such as Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters and Peychaud Bitters), but we also carry a wide array of other flavors, including spicy and savory options.
What else can you find? Vena's Fizz House Spirit Sippers and Nippers, which are made with freeze-dried fruits, herbs, and natural sweeteners. You simply add one of our spirits to a bottle, allow the spirit to sit with the included ingredients for a period of time, and voila… you have yourself a very tasty shot or cocktail!
ALL THE MIXERS
Just like there are a ton of bitter options to create unique cocktail flavors, the same is true with mixers. Simple syrups from plain to fruit-flavored, grenadine, falernum, orgeat… Mixers make the task of creating incredible cocktails an easy one. Plus, we carry some maple syrups, which work great as an alternative to simple syrup. You’ll find barrel aged syrups at our Burlington Tasting Room, including Wood's Bourbon Barrel Aged and Rum Barrel Aged Maple Syrup, and a Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup from Old City Syrup Company.
GARNISH GAME
Every “host with the most” boasts a great garnish game, but it’s not always easy or quick to serve up a beautiful garnish. That’s why we carry these ready-to-use dehydrated garnishes from Vermont-made Slopeside Cocktails. There are a few packaging options for these dehydrated citrus wheels and apple slices, but the glass packaging in particular makes a beautiful gift that can also be repurposed as a rocks glass later!
BARWARE & HOME GOODS
If you know someone just starting out in the cocktail world, they probably need supplies, and we carry a variety to help stock up their home bar.
You can build a barware set, with shakers, strainers, barspoons, jiggers, mixing glasses, whiskey stones, muddlers and ice cube molds. You can also find glassware options like our best selling rocks glasses, and Vermont-made AO glassware. Need some other home goods? You’ll find cutting boards and coasters!
WEARABLES
Give the gift of local with some cool Mad River Distillers merch, including these super comfy knitted beanies, baseball hats, our cozy hoodies, and a variety of t-shirts. If your loved one loves our Revolution Rye, they’ll probably love our Join The Ryevolution tee!
MAD RIVER SPIRITS
Don't forget the most spirited gift of all, our award-winning spirits! At our Burlington Tasting Room, you can find bottles of our rye, bourbon and rums. And, if you visit us sooner than later, you might just get one of our limited bottles, like this year’s special release of Pandemic Peat, which is only available at our Burlington Tasting Room.
Above are just some of the items you can find at our Burlington Tasting Room. You can also find recipe books, caramel, chocolate and Luxardo Maraschino cherries (which are truly the best cherries out there, trust us). If you have any questions or need advice on a gift, we’re happy to help you assemble a great package for your loved one.
Visit us at 137 St. Paul Street in Burlington for all your spirits and barware needs, and show your support for local business! If you aren’t local or visiting the area, check out our Purchase page to see how you can buy our spirits online.
Wishing you all a spirited and safe holiday season!
Written by Brianne Lucas and published on November 13, 2023
MRD Tasting at Luke's Liquors in Rockland, MA
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 1st, 2023 at the Luke's Liquors in Rockland, MA. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
MRD Tasting at I.M. Gan Discount Liquors
Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 at the I.M. Gan Discount Liquors in Warwick, RI. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.
Autumn Sweater
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Autumn Sweater
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Description
The perfect sweater weather companion, this cocktail combines our smoky Burnt Rock Bourbon with Fernet, lime juice and cinnamon syrup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
- 1 oz. of lime juice
- 1 oz. of cinnamon syrup
- 1/2 oz. of Fernet
- lime wheel garnish
Instructions
- Add ice to a coupe glass to chill.
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
- Shake well. Dump ice from the coupe, then strain into the chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Featured Spirit
Sugarbush Holiday Craft Bazaar
Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 for the Sugarbush Holiday Craft Bazaar at the Lincoln Peak Gate House Lodge in Warren, VT. This event will feature a variety of local Vermont crafters and makers showcasing their wares from 10:00AM – 3:00PM (EDT). We will be offering bottle sales and complimentary tastings from our line of spirits. Come shop for last-minute holiday gifts and unique, handmade keepsakes!
