Pouring Local Spirit: The Story of Vermont Distillers & Smugglers’ Notch Distillery on Church Street

How did the partnership between Vermont Distillers and Smugglers' Notch Distillery start?

Vermont Distillers, or Metcalfe’s, as we're more known in the community of local spirits, was started by my father, Ed Metcalfe, in 2008. We released our first product in 2012, our flagship Vermont Maple Cream Liqueur, which is still our best seller.

We opened the Church Street location in 2015 as Vermont Distillers under the moniker Taste Vermont. We had a little cocktail bar but quickly realized it would be more beneficial if it were just a tasting room and bottle shop. At the time, we sold products from other local companies, including Smugglers’ Notch Distillery. In 2016, Ron and Jeremy Elliott, the owners of Smugglers’ Notch Distillery, approached us about a store partnership. Having fairly different lineups of products (we're more on the sweet, flavored side, and they're more your classic vodka, rum, and whiskeys), we thought it seemed like a no-brainer. So, here we are, eight years later, still going strong.

What is one question you get asked most frequently from customers?

"Where’s a good place to get dinner?" We get this question so often that we created a list of locations that we like, and some of them happen to sell our products. We have a little map we give people with recommended eating and drinking locations.

Also, another big one that’s kind of funny is, "What can you take on an airplane?" This has kind of affected how we sell our products. We started making miniature airplane-friendly bottles for this location, and now we sell them at other locations too. We've made a bunch of little signs that identify everything that is carry-on friendly.

What's one product you always have at home?

Honestly, almost every single product that we make is on my bar table. But I would say our two most popular products, the Maple Bourbon and Maple Cream Liqueur. I really like our maple bourbon. I'm more of a whiskey fan in general, and while most of our stuff is kind of sweeter, the bourbon still has a good kick. Maple Cream Liqueur is my go-to coffee creamer on the weekends or to mix up espresso martinis for company.

What's your go-to drink to make with the maple bourbon?

A good Old Fashioned. You don't really need to do much. Just add a big ice cube with some bitters and a cherry.

We have little recipe cards we give everyone with these ideas too. We do have individual ones for all the products. So, if someone buys a bottle, they can take it home.

What is your favorite place to eat and shop on the Marketplace?

The back patio at Halvorson's is a pretty cool spot for the atmosphere. They also make a really nice maple Manhattan using our Maple Liqueur.

I probably spend the most money at Outdoor Gear Exchange, and I definitely have some clothes from Harbor Thread.

What do you love about working on Church Street?

I think it’s fun meeting people from different places. Probably 90% of the people who come into our store are tourists and have never been to Burlington or even Vermont. It’s great to make fun recommendations of what to do while they're here or learn about where they're from.

We also have customers that come back and visit. They’ll say, “Oh yeah, we come yearly and buy a few bottles!” There’s always something going on here in Burlington too. I grew up in a really small town, so as soon as I came to Burlington, I said, “Oh, yeah. I definitely want to live here.”

What’s on the horizon for Smugglers' Notch Distillery & Vermont Distillers? 

Last year, we spent a lot of time refurbishing the shop and our displays, trying to streamline things and provide more space. We also have a few products in the works that will hopefully be released soon!

Whether you're a whiskey connoisseur or simply a fan of local flavors, the Vermont Distillers and Smugglers’ Notch Distillery tasting room offers a warm welcome, a great story, and a taste of Vermont in every bottle. As Dominic shared, it's all about community, collaboration, and creating memorable experiences for anyone who steps through their door. Be sure to stop by and try their latest releases, and stay tuned for new flavors on the horizon!

Store Hours:
Sunday - Friday: 11am - 7pm
Saturday: 10am - 8pm

Keep an eye out for more upcoming interviews with our amazing Church Street Marketplace business owners. They are the heart of the Marketplace, and we're looking forward to sharing more of their stories. To read through previous blog posts, please click below.

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