The Rye Line
Winter Edition
Stowe. Four days. One mountain. All the whiskey you've earned.
Ski all day. Drink rye by a stone fireplace. Eat raclette melted over an open flame. Sleep slopeside.
This Isn't a Ski Package
Stowe Mountain Resort will sell you a lift ticket and a hotel room. We'll hand you a whiskey at the base of the mountain and make sure the rest of the weekend is worth remembering.
The Rye Line — Winter Edition is a 4-day ski-and-sip weekend in Stowe, Vermont — built around the mountain, the fireplace, and the best après-ski whiskey destination in America. You'll ski Stowe's legendary terrain all day, then warm up at the WhistlePig Pavilion with fire-baked raclette and rye cocktails served around a 12-foot stone fireplace. You'll drink Austrian-style lagers brewed by the actual von Trapp family. You'll taste your way through Vermont's distillery scene without ever losing a ski day.
Max group size: 10 people. No tour bus. No matching jackets. No corporate retreat energy.
Four Days. One Mountain.A Lot of Rye.
Stowe
“Slopeside”
The Lodge at Spruce Peak • 3 Nights
Stowe’s only ski-in, ski-out luxury hotel, connected to the Spruce Peak Village and steps from the WhistlePig Pavilion. Spa, pool, mountain views from every room.
Fly into Burlington (BTV). Shuttle or drive 45 minutes to Stowe through snow-covered Green Mountains.
Check into The Lodge at Spruce Peak. Drop bags, explore the village.
Afternoon: The WhistlePig Pavilion at Spruce Peak. This is the WhistlePig winter experience — a one-of-a-kind après destination with a massive stone fireplace at the center, community tables, and fire-baked raclette melted tableside. Order a WhistlePig Old Fashioned. Order the raclette. Settle in.
Then walk next door to the WhistlePig Tasting Shack — a tiny home turned world-class tasting room right in the Spruce Peak Village. Taste expressions you won't find at home. Buy a bottle or three.
Evening: Welcome dinner in Stowe Village — Hen of the Wood (farm-to-table, one of Vermont's best restaurants, reserve early), Plate (small plates and craft cocktails), or Harrison's (classic, upscale, great bar). First official pour as a group. The weekend starts now.
Full day skiing Stowe Mountain Resort — 116 trails across Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Intermediates and experts alike will find plenty to work with. The Front Four are legendary if you're feeling bold. Gondola views are ridiculous even if you're not.
Lunch: On-mountain at the Cliff House (top of the gondola, panoramic views) or grab something quick at K-1 Lodge.
Après (the main event):
- →WhistlePig Pavilion — start here. Raclette, cocktails, fireplace. You've earned this.
- →Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall — 10-minute drive (or ski-in if you're on the cross-country trails). Austrian-style lagers brewed by the family who inspired The Sound of Music. Bratwurst, pretzels, cheddar lager soup. Ski-in/ski-out patio with fire pits. This place is the real deal — 60,000 gallons of lager a year brewed in a 30,000 sq ft facility on 2,600 acres.
- →Back to Spruce Peak Village for a nightcap at Alpine Hall or the Tipsy Trout (coastal-inspired cocktail bar at the Lodge — yes, a raw bar at a ski resort, and somehow it works).
Morning: Flexible start. Options:
- →Half day skiing — hit the trails you missed yesterday.
- →Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Trapp Family Lodge — 60km of groomed Nordic trails through the Vermont backcountry. Peaceful. Beautiful. A totally different kind of Vermont winter day.
- →Spa at Spruce Peak — 20,000 sq ft, outdoor heated pool, massages, hot tub with mountain views. For those who've earned a recovery day.
Afternoon: Vermont Spirits tasting. Options depending on weather and group energy:
- →Smugglers' Notch Distillery — vodka, gin, rye, rum, bourbon, and liqueurs. Four tasting rooms across Vermont, the closest being in Stowe. Recognized internationally.
- →Caledonia Spirits — home of Barr Hill Gin, America's most awarded gin, made with raw honey. Worth the trip.
- →Private WhistlePig tasting experience — if we can arrange a private blending session or extended tasting through WhistlePig's events team at the Pavilion, this is the signature moment. Your blend. Your bottle. Your souvenir.
Evening: Farewell dinner — a curated meal with WhistlePig pairing across the full lineup: PiggyBack 6-Year, the 10-Year Straight Rye, 12-Year Old World, 15-Year Estate Oak, and a surprise pour. If we pulled off the blending session, you're tasting your own creations side by side. If the group vibes right, this one goes late. No one has anywhere to be tomorrow.
Breakfast at the Lodge. Optional: one last run if the mountain is calling, or a walk through Stowe Village — boutique shops, galleries, the Stowe Community Church (the white steeple you've seen in every Vermont photo ever taken).
Drive or shuttle to Burlington (BTV). Fly home. You'll never drink a post-ski Bud Light the same way again.
$2,299 Per Person
Here's everything that's in.
Included
- 3 nights at The Lodge at Spruce Peak (Stowe’s only ski-in, ski-out luxury hotel)
- WhistlePig Pavilion welcome experience — raclette dinner + Tasting Shack flight
- Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall après session
- Vermont distillery tasting (Smugglers’ Notch, Caledonia Spirits, or equivalent)
- Private WhistlePig tasting or blending experience (if available — otherwise extended Pavilion session with rare pours)
- Welcome dinner in Stowe Village with the group
- Farewell dinner with full WhistlePig lineup pairing
- Ground transportation for all group activities
- Small group experience — max 10 people, no tour buses, no corporate retreat energy
Not Included
- Flights to/from Burlington, VT (BTV) — book your own, we’ll share recommendations
- Lift tickets — buy your own or use your Ikon/Epic pass (Stowe is on Epic). We’ll coordinate group meeting points on-mountain.
- Individual meals beyond the 2 included (welcome dinner, farewell dinner)
- Ski rentals and gear
- Your whiskey and bottle purchases
- Spa treatments
- Travel insurance (recommended)
Limited to 10 spots. Couples and solo travelers welcome. Double occupancy pricing — solo supplement available on request. Non-skiers welcome — there's plenty to do off the mountain.
Where You're Sleeping
The Lodge at Spruce Peak
Stowe’s only ski-in, ski-out luxury hotel, at the base of Spruce Peak with direct access to Stowe Mountain Resort. The WhistlePig Pavilion and Tasting Shack are steps from the lobby. Spa, heated outdoor pool, Alpine Hall restaurant, and mountain views from every room.
The lodge where you never have to drive anywhere — everything worth doing is within walking distance or a chairlift ride.
Questions You're Going to Ask
Day 2 is a full ski day with après built in. Day 3 is a half day on the mountain (your choice) plus distillery visits. Day 1 is arrival and settling in at the Pavilion. You'll get plenty of runs in — but you'll also get plenty of pours in. That's the point.
You need to be a comfortable skier or snowboarder who can handle intermediate terrain. Stowe has trails for every level, from gentle groomers to the legendary Front Four. If you're a beginner, this isn't the right trip — but if you can get down a blue without incident, you'll have a great time.
You're still welcome. Stowe has world-class cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Trapp Family Lodge, a full spa at Spruce Peak, and a village worth exploring. The whiskey and dining experiences don't require a lift ticket. Several past guests have been non-skiing partners who had just as good a time.
No. You need to like whiskey and want to drink it somewhere beautiful after a day on the mountain. Local guides handle the knowledge. You handle the glass.
Yes. Solo travelers are welcome. Base price is per person, double occupancy — we'll pair you with another solo traveler of the same gender, or you can pay a solo supplement for your own room. Ask us for the solo rate.
Lift tickets (buy direct from Stowe or use your Epic Pass), individual meals ($25–45 per meal in Stowe — it's pricier than summer Vermont), ski rentals if needed, your whiskey purchases, and spa if you want it. A reasonable daily spend beyond included meals is $75–125.
Book your own. Fly into Burlington (BTV) on February 5 and out on February 8. BTV is 45 minutes from Stowe. We'll send flight recommendations and shuttle/transfer info after you book.
Stowe gets an average of 300+ inches of snow per year. February is prime season. If a storm rolls in, that's a powder day — the best possible outcome for skiers. For non-ski activities, the Pavilion, Bierhall, spa, and village are all weather-proof. The whiskey doesn't care about the forecast.
It's an adult ski weekend for people who appreciate craft whiskey, good food, and earning their après. Some nights will go late. Some mornings will start slow. Nobody's blowing a whistle at 7 AM for first chair — but if you want to be there, we'll tell you where to meet.
$500 deposit is refundable until November 1, 2027. Balance due December 15, 2027. After December 15, no refunds — but you can transfer your spot to someone else.
Yes. The Rye Line — Fall Foliage Edition runs in October through Vermont's Middlebury and Woodstock valleys, built around a private WhistlePig Farm visit, peak foliage, and the distillery trail.
Ten Spots. One Mountain.Don't Overthink It.
February 5–8, 2028. Stowe, Vermont.
$2,299 per person — all-in minus flights, lift tickets, and your bottle habit
Ten people who'd rather drink rye by a fireplace than a Bud Light at the base lodge.
The Rye Line — Winter Edition is organized by Leave the Lanyard. All hotel bookings managed through Leave the Lanyard. Travel insurance recommended. Lift tickets not included — purchase directly from Stowe Mountain Resort or use your Epic Pass. Itinerary subject to minor adjustments based on local availability and weather.