It makes sense that Vermont would become a prime spot for amazing distilled spirits. After all, much of the state’s early history centers on smugglers (hello, Smugglers’ Notch). For years, spirits were created and flowed throughout Vermont.
Then came Prohibition in 1920, and Vermont distilling (at least in public) came to a halt. It wasn’t until around 2008 that the industry began growing again, with three companies distilling in the state. Today, Vermont is home to 28 distillers dotted across the state’s map. Like the maple trees that took root and came back stronger and more lovely than ever after deforestation, distilleries in Vermont are opening, and thriving.
This is all good news to those who love sipping spirits along with their annual foliage adventures. And thanks to the Distilled Spirits Council of Vermont, the distiller/consumer synergy is at an all-time high.
The reason is simple, according to Jeremy Elliott, co-owner of Smugglers’ Notch Distillery. “People enjoy sourcing high-quality products that are created locally by passionate people.”
Accessing distilleries is easy thanks to the council’s map and descriptions (find them at distilledvermont.org). The site features a new Passport program and “we’ve only seen a handful who have visited them all,” said Elliott.
It’s not because each is not worthy of a visit, he said. It’s more that they are scattered all over the state. Elliott suggests that when you are planning a visit to a location, check ahead of time to see which distilleries are in your vicinity, and then plan to visit them, working on punching your passport as you go. You’ll find some in groups (such as Caledonia and Vermont Distillers) and some out on their own (such as WhistlePig in the Middlebury area).
In every case, though, you’ll find the journey worthwhile. Tucked into the fall trees (or, later, winter white) are distilleries making a true name for themselves worldwide. What’s the secret? Like art and music, there is something about Vermont that draws in the creative and talented. But it also might just be one pure, incredible ingredient they all share: Vermont water.
Smugglers’ Notch Distillery (276 Main St., Jeffersonville; smugglersnotchdistillery.com) is run by father Ron and son Jeremy Elliott, (started by Jeremy’s dream to create the world’s best vodka). They’ve worked from their original location and expanded to three locations (Jeffersonville, right near Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Waterbury center and downtown Burlington on Church Street), but their vodka has won the “Triple crown”: Double Gold in the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco, a 95 rating from Wine Enthusiast and a gold medal from the Beverage Testing Institute. To boil that down: It’s really good.
But vodka isn’t the distillery’s only game. The company distills gin, whiskey, rye whiskey, two rums, three bourbons and even gluten-free vodka. Each bottle is filled and labeled by hand.
Saxtons River Distillery (485 W. River Road, Brattleboro; saxtonsriverdistillery.com) has been making world-class spirits since 2006. The Sapling line, including its signature Sapling Maple Liqueur, Sapling Maple Rye and Sapling Maple Bourbon, all celebrate the flavor of Vermont maple. Perc Coffee Liqueur is a coffee lover’s dream, featuring rich organic coffee, locally roasted for optimum freshness and flavor. Snowdrop Gin is a uniquely complex American Dry Gin distilled with 18 botanicals. It is vacuum-distilled to yield a wonderfully complex bouquet of aromas and flavors. Recently, Snowdrop was awarded 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and named one of its Top 100 Spirits of 2017, making it their highest-rated gin from New England.
Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits, located on a fourth-generation family farm at 64 Vermont Rte. 104 in Cambridge, is the first craft distilled company in the U.S. to specialize in cream liqueur. David and Linda Boyden had the foresight to combine Boyden Valley Winery’s original Vermont Ice Cider, Vermont apple brandy, cream and maple syrup to create the award-winning Vermont Ice Maple Creme Liqueur loved by so many. The Vermont Ice Maple Creme is crafted with the highest quality cream, estate wood-fired maple syrup, and only Vermont-grown Northern Spy, MacIntosh, and Empire apples, producing an unparalleled flavor. It’s available throughout Vermont and in select Massachusetts liquor stores.
Boyden Valley Spirits also released two limited batches of its apple brandy — Pomme Noir and Pomme Noir De Glace — in 2017. Tremendous time and careful consideration has gone into creating the Pomme Noir apple brandy and Pomme Noir de Glace pommeau. Crafted with Vermont apples, cold fermented, triple distilled and oak aged for four years in American oak barrels gives it a caramelized apple flavor with a smooth finish and notes of vanilla and oak. Exclusively available at Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits. Learn more at boydenvalley.com.
WhistlePig (2139 Quiet Valley Road, Shoreham; whistlepigwhiskey.com) started on a Middlebury farm in 2007 and is the most-awarded rye whiskey maker in the world. This year it debuted Boss Hog VI, aka “The Black Prince,” which already has won Best in Show Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition of 2017. It has two unique tasting rooms for you to sample and learn. The original spot in Middlebury inside Danforth Pewter (52 Seymour St.) is worth the visit for the setting alone; once you sample and learn (try the Farm Stock!), it’s even better. In Waterbury (on your way to Stowe), you’ll find it sharing space in the Vermont Artisans Coffee building (11 Cabin Lane, off Route 100, Waterbury center). Needless to say, that tasting room features a whiskey made with Vermont Artisans Coffee.
Caledonia Distilleries (46 Log Yard Drive, Hardwick), which is expected to debut a beautiful new facility in Montpelier in 2019, can trace its roots back to a 12-year-old boy buying a single honey beehive in 1976. That boy went on to thrive in the honey-making industry and eventually turn his interest toward spirits. Today, Todd Hardie and team, using their home of Barr Hill as inspiration, draw from local-sourced ingredients to create two remarkable gins and vodka — even their oak barrels are Vermont-grown. Award winners multiple times, they continue to produce top quality, locally sourced spirits. Learn more at caledoniaspirits.com.
Vermont Distillers, a family owned and operated craft distillery located next to the Hogback Mountain Scenic Overlook (7755 Route 9 East, West Marlboro), (with an additional tasting room on Church Street in Burlington), is best known for its Metcalfe’s line of liqueurs, flag shipped by the unique and delicious Melcalfe’s Vermont Maple Cream Liqueur. It is delicious served neat, and also popular in coffee, cocoa and even served over ice cream. Made with true Vermont Maple flavor and fresh cream, it’s a true taste of the state.
It also distills Raspberry Liqueur, Blueberry Liqueur, Limoncello and the popular Catamount Vodka, distilled with American corn (that makes it gluten free!) and pure Vermont water. Its distillery and main tasting room is on scenic Hogback Mountain, once the home of a ski area. Metcalfe’s Raspberry Liqueur received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and was named as one of the Top 100 Spirits of 2017. Their Vermont Maple Cream Liqueur was recently awarded a Double Gold Medal in the 2018 SIP awards. You can learn more at vermontdistillers.com.
Thinking of a visit? Massachusetts residents can get a preview since all the distilleries mentioned above make their products available in the Bay State.
You can find details at each of their websites as well as at distilledvermont.org.
