Mad River Distillers
About the Distillery
Mad River Distillers is located in Vermont's Mad River Valley and produces craft-distilled bourbons, rye, rum, and apple brandy using local ingredients. The distillery blends local grain varieties with unconventional mashbills and barrel experiments such as finishes in wine and maple barrels. Visitors can sample the products in Burlington or book a tour of the Warren distillery.
History
Mad River Distillers established itself as a regional player in American craft spirits and brought its bourbon to market commercially in May 2014. Since then, the company has expanded its lineup to include more rye releases, experimental finishes, and a broad rum program. In 2018, the distillery undertook a notable collaboration where aged Revolution Rye was finished in former Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels; only five barrels were used for this limited release. In parallel, Mad River has distinguished itself by using regional, non-GMO, and fair-trade suppliers and by experimenting with local ingredients such as maple-wood smoked barley.
Raw Materials and Production
The entire process—from mashing and fermentation to distillation and bottling—takes place at the distillery's facilities in Warren, Vermont. Mad River works with regional ingredients from non-GMO, fair-trade, and organic suppliers and uses unconventional grains in some mashbills, including oats, chocolate rye, and maple-wood smoked barley. Rums are produced from 100% demerara sugar (not molasses), aged in new oak, and never back-sweetened. The distillery's approach includes both traditional aging pathways and finish experiments, where the spirit is aged in barrels that previously held wine or maple syrup themselves to develop new aroma and mouthfeel nuances.
Aging and Barrel Types
Mad River primarily uses American oak barrels for aging, and rums stand out by being aged in new oak. The distillery has also worked with barrels that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon (specifically Silver Oak barrels) as well as barrels that have held maple syrup for their Maple Cask releases. These barrel choices are deliberate to add extra dimensions through finishes and small-batch experiments.
Whiskies
The lineup includes classic bourbon and rye such as Mad River Straight Bourbon and Revolution Rye, along with limited finish releases (e.g., Silver Oak finish) as well as a range of rums and specialty products. There are both core releases and seasonal or collaboration projects; the distillery notes two flagship whiskies and several limited releases, as well as a rum program that spans from young 'first run' to barrel-finished variants like Maple Cask Rum.
| Whisky | Type / Series | ABV | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mad River Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | A bourbon with a pronounced Vermont-influenced profile; the distillery highlights a deep aroma of Vermont-grown corn, noticeable smoke on the palate, and a soft, aromatic finish. | Current; Core range; Available in New England, New York, California, and directly from the distillery tasting room. | ||
| Revolution Rye | Rye | Revolution Rye is presented as the distillery's traditional American rye, made from local and regional ingredients. | Current; Core range; Available directly from the distillery and in select stores in the region. | ||
| Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon (cordial) | 38 % | A cordial that combines the distillery's house-distilled wheated bourbon with Vermont maple syrup. The product is marketed as great on the rocks or in a quick Old Fashioned. | Available from the distillery's channels. | |
| Silver Oak Cellars Finished Rye Whiskey | Rye | 48 % | Toasted American oak (former Cabernet Sauvignon barrels); finish: Revolution Rye finished in former red wine barrels | A collaborative project where aged Revolution Rye was finished in Silver Oak Cellars' former Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. The project resulted in a very limited release (five barrels), highlighting the combination of wine and whisky finishes. | Limited; Limited, collaborative release.; 5 bottles |
| Founders Reserve Rye | Rye | ||||
| Burnt Rock Bourbon | Bourbon | Described as 'The American Spirit' with a smoky Vermont twist; named after a hike in the Mad River Valley and described as a lucky accident that worked. | |||
| Summit Single Malt | Single Malt |
Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies
Taken together, the products paint a picture of an American style: bourbon with a pronounced corn aroma, a noticeable smoky character on the palate in some releases, and spicy/toasted notes from rye mashbills (including references to 'chocolate rye'). Finish projects and cordials add sweeter, maple-syrup-inspired nuances, while the use of toasted or charred American oak from both whiskey and wine barrels influences mouthfeel and oak expression.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery operates a tasting room in Burlington (137 St. Paul St.) with retail sales, sit-down tastings, and cocktail service; walk-ins are welcome and hours are Sunday–Wednesday 12:00–18:00 and Thursday–Saturday 12:00–20:00. Tours at the Warren distillery are offered by appointment; tours last about 45 minutes, cost $15 per person, and include tastings. Waitsfield activities include participation in the local farmers market during the summer.
The stated hours are Burlington Tasting Room: Sunday–Wednesday 12:00–18:00; Thursday–Saturday 12:00–20:00. Waitsfield Farmers Market: Saturdays May–Oct 09:00–13:00.
Philosophy and Craft
Mad River focuses on local ingredients and sustainable suppliers, with an explicit motto of 'Think Globally, Distill Locally'. The company prioritizes non-GMO, fair trade, and organic sourcing, experiments with local grain varieties, and differentiates its rum program by using 100% demerara sugar and new oak without back-sweetening the products.
Awards and Recognitions
- 92 points, Best Value and Chairman's Trophy Finalist (2020, 92 pts; Best Value; Chairman's Trophy Finalist, Mad River Rum 44)
Latest News
Mad River Distillers Launches Bourbon-Based Canned Cocktail Line Made for the Outdoors – 2026-07-29
Launch of ready-to-drink canned cocktails based on the distillery's bourbon; the product line is aimed at outdoor use and uses the distillery's own spirits.
Canned Cocktails Are Here!! – 2026-07-24
Presentation of three new ready-to-drink bourbon cocktails in cans, including variants such as Blood Orange Spritz and several signature blends.