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Bourbon Whiskey bottle, pecan pie, and slice of pie on a counter
By in Cooking & Baking Comments Off on Bourbon Pumpkin & Maple Pecan Pie

Bourbon Pumpkin & Maple Pecan Pie

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Bourbon Whiskey bottle, pecan pie, and slice of pie on a counter

Bourbon Pumpkin & Maple Pecan Pie

  • Author: Mad River Distillers
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 1-10 inch pie 1x
Bourbon Whiskey bottle, pecan pie, and slice of pie on a counter
Print Recipe

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

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
  2. Bake the pie crust according to package instructions (follow instructions for a pie with filling). Set it aside once the crust has baked.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. In the same large bowl, now add the pumpkin puree, egg yolks, cornstarch, pumpkin spice and salt. Mix ingredients all together.
  6. Beat in the milk, followed by the Bourbon Whiskey.
  7. 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.
  8. Pour the pie filling into the baked pie crust, and place it in the preheated oven on the middle rack. Bake for 10 minutes.
  9. 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.
  10. Let the pie cool. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

Notes

  1. Alcohol is retained in baked goods, so this recipe is for adults only.
  2. If the pie filling seems thin once all the ingredients are blended, don't worry! It will become firm as it bakes.

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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.

 

Bartender is making a cocktail
By in Blog Comments Off on Cocktail Dos & Don’ts: Top Tips from the Mad River Team

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.
Bartender measures ingredient in a jigger.

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.
Bartender shakes a cocktail in a shaker.

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.
Bartender pours a cocktail into a glass.

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.

Tasting at Granby Liquor Store

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, October 22nd at Granby Liquor Store. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-6:00 PM (EDT). Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Pork Chops in Bourbon Whiskey Sauce
By in Cooking & Baking Comments Off on Pork Chops in Bourbon Whiskey Sauce

Pork Chops in Bourbon Whiskey Sauce

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Pork Chops in Bourbon Whiskey Sauce

Pork Chops in Bourbon Whiskey Sauce

  • Author: Mad River Distillers
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
Print Recipe

Description

This boneless pork chop recipe is adapted from What's In The Pan? using our Bourbon Whiskey, and it is so good, you're bound to ask for a second helping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • wild rice
  • 4 boneless pork chops
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 8 oz mushrooms
  • 1 tbsp & 1/4 tsp flour
  • 1/3 cup Mad River Distillers Bourbon Whiskey
  • 2/3 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare 4 servings of wild rice according to cooking instructions.
  2. Set the prepared rice to the side, and keep it warm.
  3. Combine the garlic powder, 1 tsp of italian seasoning, salt and pepper (to taste).
  4. Season 4 pork chops with the prepared seasoning above.
  5. Heat 1 tbsp of butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  6. Once the pan is hot, add the seasoned pork chops to the pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side (a total of 8-10 minutes, depending on thickness of the pork).
  7. Remove pork from the skillet, and set them aside on a plate.
  8. Return skillet to the heat. Add another tbsp of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the mushrooms.
  9. Cook the mushrooms for 5-6 minutes on medium heat until they are softened.
  10. Remove the mushrooms from heat and transfer them to a plate.
  11. With the skillet still over medium heat, add another tbsp of butter. Once melted, add flour and cook for 1 minute while mixing it into the butter.
  12. Once the butter and flour are thoroughly mixed, slowly pour the Bourbon Whiskey into the pan while stirring.
  13. Add the beef broth to the skillet, along with the whole milk. Stir again.
  14. Add the Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp italian seasoning, and salt to taste.
  15. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes. If the sauce is thinner than you'd like, add a little extra flour until you reach the desired thickness.
  16. Add pork chops back to the pan, into the sauce. Then, add the mushrooms on top of the pork chops.
  17. If the pork chops aren't thick, you can heat them up by adding a lid to the skillet. If the pork chops are thick, cook them for 8 more minutes in the oven at 375F.
  18. Check the temperature of the pork chops. They should reach an internal temperature between 145-155F.
  19. When the pork chops reach the correct temperature, remove them from the heat, and top with chopped parsley.
  20. Serve the sauce and pork chops immediately over a bed of prepared wild rice.
  • Category: dinner

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4

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Southern Vermont Flannel Festival

Join us at the 2nd Annual Southern Vermont Flannel Festival as we celebrate community and autumn in Vermont. Hosted by the Great Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce, there will be live music by The Breakmaids, Debbie & The Downers, Springfield Stringers, Low Lily, and The Stockwell Brothers. There will also be a pie bake-off, corn hole tournament, food, drink, and craft vendors. We'll be there, serving up tastings and offering bottles for purchase.

Southern Vermont Flannel Festival

Join us at the 2nd Annual Southern Vermont Flannel Festival as we celebrate community and autumn in Vermont. Hosted by the Great Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce, there will be live music by The Breakmaids, Debbie & The Downers, Springfield Stringers, Low Lily, and The Stockwell Brothers. There will also be a pie bake-off, corn hole tournament, food, drink, and craft vendors. We'll be there, serving up tastings and offering bottles for purchase. 

Barware supplies on a wall at Mad River Distiller's Tasting Room
By in Blog Comments Off on Must-Have Items For Your Home Bar

Must-Have Items For Your Home Bar

If you’re new to the home cocktail-making game, knowing exactly what you need to mix up your favorite drinks from the comfort of home can be a bit of a question mark. Once you hit the search engine and type in barware, an endless stream of suggestions pop up. 

Like most things, barware comes in both the “need to have” and “nice to have” categories. As a spirits company with our own Tasting Room—where we mix up all kinds of tasty adult beverages on the regular—it was important to us to select and sell barware that we know from experience is both useful and high quality. 

Here, we share the top “must have” items to set your home bar up for success. 

image of two jiggers on a shelf

Jigger

As the saying goes, “a good bartender always measures,” so this is perhaps the most essential item to have when making your own cocktails. A jigger is a helpful bar tool used to measure the liquid before you add it to a cocktail. These allow bartenders to portion the correct amount of liquid, so the drinks taste consistent each time. At Mad River, there are two main styles that we carry—a traditional Japanese style, and a Leopold Style.

image of interlocking shaker

Shaker Set

No doubt that while ordering a cocktail you’ve seen (and heard) the cold shake of your drink before watching it pour in your glass. Shakers provide a quick way to completely blend all of the ingredients of your cocktail together, and it’s a common step in cocktail recipes. For shakers, we prefer a Classic Boston Shaker style, which are locking metal shakers (to prevent leaking) that are traditionally sold in a set. We carry three different finishes at our Tasting Room to suit your personal aesthetic.

Strainer

If your cocktail is shaken, not stirred, you’re going to want a strainer to keep out all the bits of ice, fruit, pulp or other ingredients that you don’t want to drink (or get stuck in your teeth). It’s not a bad idea to do a secondary strain through a mesh strainer, too. We carry the Hawthorne Strainer in three different finishes at our Tasting Room, to match with the finish of each shaker set.

image of stirring vessel and barspoon

Stir Vessel & Stirring Spoon

Though sold separately, these go together like hand-in-glove. A stir vessel is ideal for certain drinks—such as the Old Fashioned, Martini, Manhattan, and Negroni—where you want a smoother, more even texture in your cocktail. The stirring spoon is a long handled spoon, which makes the mixing of liquids easier. Made from stainless steel, stirring spoons won’t affect the flavor of your drink, and it’s easy to keep clean. We carry multiple sizes of both the stir vessel and spoon at our Tasting Room.

Bitters

You’ll find few cocktail recipes that don’t include a drop or two (or more!) of bitters. Bartenders rely on bitters the way that chefs rely on seasonings. They can reduce sweetness, slice thru richness, meld disparate ingredients, and even add an aromatic spiciness. They come in a variety of compelling flavors, giving a boost to whatever you fancy. Our Tasting Room has an impressive wall of bitters from which to choose, but we highly recommend stocking your bar with at least Angostura and Orange bitters.

Large Cube Ice Tray

Sure, you can add any size and shape ice that you want… but if you really want to up your cocktail game, get yourself a large cube ice tray. Large ice allows better control over temperature and dilution, which is (in our humble opinion) crucial for whiskey drinkers and Old Fashioned lovers.

Peeler

This is a simple tool, but a necessary one. The citrus peeler is needed to express zest onto the surface of your cocktail, and yes, it REALLY makes a difference. 

Citrus Press

High quality, raw ingredients, is critical for making good cocktails. Juice your own lemons and limes, and you'll never go back to store bought bottles! This step is totally worth the extra effort. Just strain your fresh pressed citrus through the strainer to remove any pulp or seeds.

Small Paring Knife

So many cocktails feature a garnish. Rather than struggle with something like a steak knife, a small paring knife will easily peel just the citrus garnish your cocktail needs, whether it’s a wedge of lemon or a peel of orange zest. This is a go-to tool for all bartenders.

Jar of Luxardo Cherries

Cherries

Used in cocktails such as the ever popular Manhattan and Old Fashioned, we always keep cherries in stock at our Tasting Room. But not just any cherries. We prefer Luxardo Cherries, which have a much richer flavor (and color) than simple maraschino cherries. Once you try them, they’re bound to be your cherries of choice. 

While there is no shortage of options when it comes to stocking your home bar, this list of must-haves should cover the basic “need to have” items, so you can mix up any cocktail from home with confidence. Our parting advice? Start a cocktail notebook! You can write down your flavor preferences and go-to recipes, and even take notes on your own experiments and results. 

Have fun, and happy mixing! 

Written by Brianne Lucas and Jesse Luberoff, and published by Brianne Lucas on October 11, 2021.

Whiskey Wednesday at Brady's Restaurant

Join us at Brady’s Restaurant in Leominster, MA for Whiskey Wednesday! This ticketed whiskey dinner includes a 4-course meal with cocktail pairings, featuring our Maple Rum, Apple Brandy, Burnt Rock Bourbon and Revolution Rye. Plus, there will be Mad River Distillers trivia and prizes. 

 

Trickster cocktail on a table
By in Cocktails, First Run Rum Comments Off on Trickster

Trickster

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Trickster cocktail on a table

Trickster

  • Author: Maeghan Phillips for Mad River Distillers
Trickster cocktail on a table
Print Recipe

Description

This cocktail will give you all the fall and winter season vibes with our First Run Rum, Orange Curaçao, a honey and ginger syrup, lemon juice, and bitters. Delicious!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Mad River First Run Rum
  • 1/2 oz Orange Curaçao
  • 3/4 oz Honey/Ginger syrup
  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
  2. Stir and shake up.
  3. Serve over a large ice cube.
  4. Add ginger for garnish.

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Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Tasting at Liberty Liquors

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, October 22nd at Liberty Liquors. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-6:00 PM (EDT). Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Pioppi’s

Join Mad River Distillers on Saturday, October 16th at Pioppis Plymouth. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 2:00-5:00 PM (EDT). Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

Tasting at Sullivan Wine & Spirits

Join Mad River Distillers on Friday, October 15th at Sullivans Wareham. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 4:00-6:00 PM (EDT). Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.

 

Tasting at Jack o Lantern Liquors

Join Mad River Distillers on Thursday, October 14th at Jack o Lantern Liquors. There will be complimentary tastings from our line of spirits between 6:00-8:00 PM (EDT). Feel free to ask questions! Bottles will be available for purchase.