Mad River Distillers Vanilla Rum

Mad River Distillers Vanilla Rum is a thoughtfully crafted, dry-style flavored rum designed for drinkers who want real vanilla character without the syrupy sweetness that often comes with flavored spirits. The base is a 100% demerara rum, distilled and bottled in Vermont’s Mad River Valley. Demerara rum is known for its naturally rich, slightly caramelized profile, which provides a smooth backbone for the vanilla to rest on.

Instead of relying on extracts or artificial additives, Mad River infuses the rum with chopped Tahitian vanilla beans. Tahitian vanilla is prized for its fragrant, floral, and soft, creamy character, and that comes through clearly in the glass. After maceration, the spirit remains clear, with the vanilla showing primarily on the nose and palate rather than through color. 

This vanilla rum is intentionally unsweetened, with no added sugar and no artificial flavors. That dry profile makes it a highly flexible tool behind the bar. In citrus-forward cocktails, think daiquiri variations, rum sours, or long drinks with soda and fresh lime, the vanilla adds warmth and depth without turning the drink into dessert. In coffee applications, especially espresso martinis and cold brew cocktails, it can stand in for vanilla vodka while delivering more texture and character from the demerara base. 

At 40% ABV (80 proof) in a standard 750ml bottle, Mad River Distillers Vanilla Rum is built to behave like a serious spirit, not just a flavored liqueur. Bartenders and home mixologists can treat it as a primary base or a split base alongside other rums, whiskey, or coffee liqueurs. Because it is gluten-free and made with carefully sourced ingredients, it also suits customers who pay attention to how their spirits are produced. 

Whether you’re dialing in an espresso martini, building a bright vanilla daiquiri, or adding a subtle twist to classics like a Rum Old Fashioned, Mad River Distillers Vanilla Rum gives you real vanilla flavor, clean structure, and craft-distillery credibility in one bottle.