Vermont Spirits No. 14 Bourbon 750ML

Vermont Spirits No. 14 Bourbon 750ML is a 90-proof (45% ABV) high-corn bourbon finished with a touch of pure Vermont maple, bottled at 750ml. It earned 92 points from Wine Enthusiast in 2014 and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition the same year — recognition that put this small New England distillery squarely on the national radar.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 Proof)  |  Origin: Quechee, Vermont, USA  |  Style: Maple-Finished Bourbon  |  Distillery: Vermont Spirits Distilling Company

Production & Heritage

Vermont Spirits Distilling Company operates out of Quechee, a small village in the Green Mountains of central Vermont. The distillery built its reputation on using distinctly local ingredients, and No. 14 is the clearest expression of that philosophy. The bourbon starts with a high-corn mash bill distilled and aged in new American oak barrels, then receives the lightest possible addition of pure Vermont maple — not as a flavoring agent but as a finishing touch designed to round the whiskey's edges. The maple is used with deliberate restraint; the goal is a seamlessly smooth bourbon, not a flavored whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich amber liquid opens with subtle, sweet aromas that stay restrained on the nose. A gentle wave of maple and warm oak emerges with time in the glass, without ever turning cloying.

Taste: Light-bodied and silky on entry, the bourbon reveals a surprising cherry-vanilla note at mid-palate that gives it a distinctive signature. Caramel, cloves, and honeyed oaky spice build through the center, while just a flash of maple sweetness surfaces and recedes quickly.

Finish: Soft and elegant, with a creamy, citrusy fade that keeps the palate clean. The maple shows its hand here as a gentle rounding agent rather than a dominant flavor, leaving a warm, lightly spiced close.

How to Drink No. 14

Neat or with a single ice cube is the most rewarding way to experience the maple integration — cold dilution gradually opens up the cherry-vanilla character without masking it. The bourbon's light body and natural sweetness also make it a versatile cocktail base:

• Old Fashioned: The inherent maple and caramel notes reduce the need for added sweetener, producing a naturally balanced version of the classic.
• Maple Leaf Cocktail: A natural fit — combine with fresh lemon juice and a small measure of maple syrup, where the bourbon's own maple character amplifies the drink's identity.
• Whiskey Sour: The light body and citrusy finish complement egg white and lemon, creating a silky texture without heaviness.

Best For

• Introducing bourbon drinkers to craft New England whiskey
• Gifting someone who appreciates locally sourced, small-batch spirits
• Autumn and winter cocktail menus that lean into warm, maple-forward flavors
• After-dinner sipping when a full-bodied, high-proof pour would be too much

Frequently Asked Questions

What does No. 14 taste like? No. 14 is a light-bodied, silky bourbon with cherry-vanilla, caramel, and clove at its core, accented by a subtle maple sweetness and a clean, citrusy finish. It drinks softer and sweeter than many bourbons at 90 proof, without tasting like a flavored whiskey.

How does No. 14 compare to maple-flavored whiskeys? Most maple-flavored whiskeys use maple as a dominant flavoring agent, often producing pronounced sweetness that can mask the underlying spirit. No. 14 takes the opposite approach — the maple is barely perceptible as a distinct ingredient and instead functions as a finishing element that smooths the bourbon's texture.

Is No. 14 good for sipping neat? Yes — at 45% ABV it sits at a comfortable proof for neat sipping, and its light body and subtle sweetness make it approachable without water or ice, though a single cube opens up the cherry-vanilla mid-palate further.

Where is No. 14 made? No. 14 is distilled and bottled by Vermont Spirits Distilling Company in Quechee, Vermont, a village in Windsor County in the heart of the Green Mountains. The maple used in finishing is sourced locally within the state.

What foods pair well with No. 14? Aged cheddar from Vermont plays off the caramel and clove notes. Pecan pie or maple crème brûlée mirrors the bourbon's subtle sweetness. Smoked duck breast complements its warm oak character. Apple tarte tatin echoes the citrusy finish. Dark chocolate with sea salt amplifies the cherry-vanilla mid-palate.

What sizes does No. 14 come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.

Is No. 14 worth the price? No. 14 positions as a mid-range craft bourbon. Its 92-point Wine Enthusiast score and San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal validate its quality within the competitive small-batch bourbon market, and the Vermont maple finishing gives it a genuine point of difference not easily found elsewhere in the category.

Why No. 14?

What separates No. 14 from the crowded bourbon shelf is execution of a risky idea: adding maple to bourbon without turning it into a flavored whiskey. The restraint is the story — the maple integrates so subtly that many drinkers notice only a smoother, more rounded finish rather than an identifiable maple flavor. That discipline earned it a 92-point rating from Wine Enthusiast and a Gold Medal at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, along with a Silver at the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards. For drinkers looking for a genuinely regional American bourbon that tastes like its place of origin without gimmick, No. 14 delivers something few distilleries outside Vermont can replicate.