One of the things we love about the micro-distillers boom is that great products are coming from all corners of the US. Some of these products are unexpected delights, like Smuggler’s Notch Vodka from Smuggler’s Notch Distillery in Jeffersonville, Vermont. Made from a combination of wheat, corn and Vermont water, Smuggler’s Notch Vodka continues the great trend among micro-distillers of vodka whose flavors are as important and impressive as how clean it is.

Smuggler’s Notch Vodka (80 proof, $27) has a light, sweet, and clean nose without any vapors. The entry is very smooth and slightly sweet with some nice grain notes that shine though from the wheat. Flavors continue to mingle as we move to the mid-palate where it picks up some nice vanilla notes. Smuggler’s Notch Vodka has an excellent, clean mouthfeel and it never picks up any heat or harshness along the way. The finish is long with a nice mix of powdered sugar and wheat grain notes that linger, ultimately leaving the mouth cool and clean.

Smuggler’s Notch Vodka combines the best of wheat and corn into a wonderfully flavorful vodka that’s just sweet enough to be pleasing, complex enough to stand up in cocktails, and smooth enough to sip neat. It’s extremely well distilled and proof again that great spirits can come from uncommon places. Very Highly Recommended