One reason we started My American Goods is that we were impressed by the local brands we saw in New England towns, and wanted to promote them. Our recent autumn road trip to central Vermont shows you what we mean. Though we went to see the brilliant foliage, we found several inspiring American makers.
Our first stop was in Windsor, on the Vermont side of the Connecticut River. We planned to visit Blake Hill’s jam store, but discovered the company had become part of St. Cousair’s family of brands, a Japanese-owned food group, and moved its jam production to Oregon. Its former space was now the Vermont Cheese Shop. Stumbling upon an abundance of cheese was an unexpected blessing. After tasting a variety of creative cheeses and chatting with the friendly owner, we bought the Bismark, a cloth-bound cave-aged sheep cheese by Grafton Village Cheese Co., and Voodoo Ranger IPA Aged Cheddar by the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company, each made by hand on small local Vermont farms—and transcendentally delicious.
From the Cheese Shop, we walked over to the SILO distillery, which is owned and operated by local women who craft small-batch spirits right there in their barn. They specialize in vodkas and gins of several flavors, but we ended up buying a bottle of their Maple Manhattan, made from maple whisky (featuring local Vermont maple syrup, of course) and “Vermaro”—their homemade version of amaro. We also bought a four-pack of their cider, brewed with apples from local orchards, and a bit sweet but also strong (at 6%). It was perfect to share a bottle sitting outside in the afternoon autumn sun.
Next, we drove a few hundred yards to the factory store of Simon Pearce, makers of fine glassware and ceramics. And I mean fine. Beautiful bowls, cups, vases, and decorative pieces are all made right there—you can even watch the process from a catwalk that runs around the factory. We bought a gorgeous ceramic ring holder, so Linda has a work of art in which to place her rings before going to bed.
Simon Pearce’s main showroom is in a 19th-century mill in the nearby village of Quechee, where we spent the night. It’s a truly special spot to stop. They have a rustic-chic farm-to-table restaurant overlooking Quechee’s river and picturesque covered bridge. Downstairs in the studio, we watched a master glassblower in action—forging, shaping, and blowing a beautiful object right before our eyes. The studio is even hydroelectrically powered by the waterfall just outside. Simon Pearce is an ideal example of what American artisans can do when they’re committed to place as they are craft.
From Quechee, we drove into the uber-quaint town of Woodstock, where our first stop was the Vermont Flannel Co. This brand has been making all of their flannel shirts, pants, and blankets right there in Vermont since 1991, and has become somewhat of an icon for the state. We were pleased to see that the store was packed while we were there, and we picked up a pair of red plaid flannel pajamas before we left. In the store we went to next, we were disappointed to see clothes with iconic American branding that, upon closer inspection, were made in China. We wish more apparel companies took Vermont Flannel Co.’s lead, and didn’t try to fool their customers through misrepresentation.
All in all, it was a successful road trip. We saw beautiful autumn trees, ate delicious local food, and scored some awesome American-made goods. These companies are what My American Goods is all about.
