• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Baking
  • About Tammy

Scotch & Scones

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Scotch & Spirits
  • Subscribe
  • About Tammy
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Scotch & Spirits
    • Subscribe
    • About Tammy
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » American Whiskey

    Published Aug 16, 2019 · Updated Apr 16, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Smugglers’ Notch Distillery whiskey

    Jump to Reviews

    Smugglers' Notch Distillery's whiskey lineup has something for just about any whiskey lover…wheat, rye, and straight bourbon whiskey.

    Smugglers' Notch Distillery bottles of Maple Bourbon, Straight Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, & Litigation Whiskey on counter.this …

    My recent trip to Vermont was short (just overnight), but I managed to sample whiskey at two different tasting rooms over those two days…WhistlePig Rye Whiskey  and Smugglers’ Notch Distillery.

    These tasting rooms are in Waterbury, VT (just down the street from Ben & Jerry’s, as I mentioned before), at the foot of the mountains leading to the famed ski resorts of Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch.

    Opened in 2010 by a father & son team, Smugglers' Notch's name comes from the historical route used first in the early 19th century (and later during Prohibition) to smuggle illegal and/or embargoed goods between Canada and the US. Had there been more time (and the weather cooperated, which it hadn’t), I would have loved to explore the regions’ trails and caves.

    However, this isn’t a travel blog, so let’s stick to whiskey (hear, hear!).

    Jump To: hide
    Smuggler's Notch Distillery
    Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Whiskey Tasting
    Smugglers’ Notch Litigation Wheat Whiskey
    Smugglers’ Notch Rye Whiskey
    Smugglers’ Notch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
    Smuggler’s Notch Maple Bourbon Whiskey
    Getting to Maple
    Related Tasting Notes

    Smuggler's Notch Distillery

    Like the Hidden Marsh Distillery, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery produces a wide array of spirits including vodka, gin, and rum, but it was the whiskey that I was interested in.

    There are several styles in the lineup: wheated whiskey, rye, and straight bourbon whiskey, all proofed with Vermont spring water.

    a small scone
    Subscribe to Scotch & Scones!

    Sign up for my weekly featured recipe and you'll get two recipes, Extra-Tangy Sourdough Bread and Mint Chocolate Chunk Scones!

    Also, all the spirits are made, barrel aged, blended, and bottled on site, and in a unique Vermont twist, they even tie the state’s maple syrup tradition into a special bottling.

    Smugglers' Notch Distillery's entire spirits lineup on a counter.
    Smugglers' Notch Distillery has a wide array for spirit types to sample (photo credit: Smugglers' Notch Distillery)

    Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Whiskey Tasting

    At Smuggler’s Notch Distillery Barrel House Tasting Room, July 22, 2019

    Smugglers’ Notch Litigation Wheat Whiskey

    46%ABV, 95% wheat, 5% malted, barley; being discontinued
    Type: American

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: caramel, honey, soft nutmeg
    • Taste: caramel, dark brown sugar, vanilla fudge
    • Finish: sweet vanilla fudge and cinnamon fade slowly and pleasantly
    • Comments: a good hit of sweetness balanced by light baking spices; quite good

    Smugglers’ Notch Rye Whiskey

    45%ABV, 95% rye, 5% malted, barley
    Type: American

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: light dill pickles, peaches, vanilla, pineapple hides in the background
    • Taste: tamed rye started with a nutty sweetness, orchard berries kicked in with cinnamon and cloves
    • Finish: the cloves and berries linger long and strong
    • Comments: well tamed rye...sweet with a spicy undertone
    Smugglers' Notch Distillery Litigation wheat whiskey & rye whiskey on counter.

    Smugglers’ Notch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    45%ABV, corn, rye, and malted barley
    Type: American

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: caramel corn, vanilla, white chocolate
    • Taste: soft vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg rises slowly
    • Finish: the soft baking spices fades slowly with white chocolate and brown sugar
    • Comments: not aggressive at all, very approachable

    Smuggler’s Notch Maple Bourbon Whiskey

    45%ABV, Straight bourbon infused with maple flavor from a bourbon-barrel aged maple syrup
    Type: American

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: very light nose, bourbon nose subdued, hard to detect, faint caramel corn nose
    • Taste: bourbon flavors tamped down, some baking spices rise up with caramel corn, very faint maple
    • Finish: sweet flavors linger with baking spices underneath
    • Comments: the bourbon is muted, and the maple is very light; water, released more maple flavor
    Smugglers' Notch Distillery Straight Bourbon & Maple Bourbon on counter.

    Getting to Maple

    Just as I was leaving the tasting room, I was introduced to Jeremy Elliott, one of the founders of Smugglers’ Notch (the “son” in the father/son team). He graciously answered my questions regarding how the Maple Bourbon Whiskey was made…one of their ex-bourbon barrels was filled with their organic maple syrup which then sat for 6-12 months.

    After the barrel was emptied of the syrup, it was filled the same day with Straight Bourbon Whiskey then aged for up to 2 years. The whole idea was to round out the Straight Bourbon Whiskey with a hint of maple.

    Nicely done.

    Smugglers' Notch Distillery maple syrup, maple bourbon, & straight bourbon on counter.
    Straight Bourbon Whiskey ages Maple syrup that then ages Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Got that?

    Smugglers’ Notch Distillery whiskey is well-worth seeking out. I’ll look for it locally of course, but there’s always the possibility of heading back to Vermont…after all, those mountains are calling!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Tasting Notes

    Whiskey can be found all over the world, and it has such a rich and diverse array of flavor profiles and distinct characteristics from which to choose. Here's where you can find a whiskey or bourbon I've reviewed from America. Cheers!

    • American Whiskey

    More American Whiskey Tasting Notes

    • WhistlePig Rye Whiskey bottles on a counter.
      WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Comparisons
    • On the Rocks Old Fashioned & Cosmo Cocktails Old Fashioned Cosmopolitan in glasses with bottles behind.
      On the Rocks Premium Cocktails
    • Collage of bourbon, whisky, and rye whiskey bottles on a counter.
      Selecting Single Barrel Picks for Limited Edition Bottles
    • Collage of the Oregon Trail Whiskey Tour lineup bottles on a counter.
      On the Oregon Trail Whiskey & Bourbon Tour

    Reader Interactions

    Let's Talk Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Profile picture - Tammy, July 2019 square

    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

    More about Tammy →

    Bright Flavors to Usher in Spring

    • Lemon shortbread piled on a pink cake stand with lemons on a towel.
      Glazed Lemon Shortbread Cookies
    • Lifting slice of Lemon Curd Marbled Cheesecake slice from cheesecake on white cake stand & lemons in background.
      Lemon Curd Marbled Cheesecake
    • Mint Lemon Lime Bars stacked on blue plate.
      Easy Lemon Lime Bars with Mint
    • Glazed Limoncello Cake as a loaf.
      Easy Glazed Limoncello Cake
    • Lemon tartlets stacked on a white plate atop a green background.
      Two-Bite Mini Lemon Tartlets
    • Stack of Double Chocolate Mint Cookies with the top one bitten on a white plate with mint and chocolate wafers.
      Double Chocolate Mint Cookies (Soft & Chewy)
    • Lemon Sherbet scooped in blue bowl on green towel with strawberries & lemons.
      Lemon Sherbet
    • Homemade limoncello in a bottle and glass on a black table.
      Easy Homemade Limoncello Liqueur

    What's Popular with Readers

    Here's what my readers are viewing...

    • Chocolate mug cake with inserted spoon.
      Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake (Eggless & Dairy-Free)
    • Three Sourdough English Muffins stacked with more in wooden bowl behind.
      Sourdough Discard English Muffins
    • Bannocks stacked on a white plate with raspberries.
      How to Make Scottish Bannocks from Outlander
    • Assorted sourdough bagels on a white towel in a basket.
      The Best Homemade Sourdough Bagels
    • Scottish shortbread on white china plate with teacup.
      Traditional Scottish Shortbread Cookies
    • Raspberry Hamantaschen cookies stacked on a white plate with green trim on a green background.
      Hamantaschen Cookies Step-By-Step
    • Three ramekins of Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse on a glass cake stand with spoons and 1 in front.
      Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse (No Coconut Oil)
    • Two finished pretzels on a white plate in front of rolls on a red scarf in a ceramic basket.
      The Best Homemade Sourdough Pretzels

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Disclosures

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Ingredient Measurement Unit Policy

    Subscribe

    Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Let's Talk
    • About Tammy
    • Shop Scotch & Scones

    Copyright © 2023 Scotch & Scones