Virginia Distillery Company - Single Malt Whisky Meets the Blue Ridge Mountains

At Virginia Distillery Co., they pride themselves on having the courage to create their own traditions and the conviction to remain true to themselves.”

Visionary Founder

Founded in 2011, the Virginia Distillery Co. released its first Courage & Conviction series of homegrown American single malt whiskey in 2020. Courage & Conviction is the distillation of founder Dr. George G. Moore’s vision for the distillery. that Sadly, they lost him before the first whisky was ready to taste.

Moore came to the U.S. from Ireland after winning a Ford Foundation Scholarship. He completed his MBA at George Washington University and moved west, working in Silicon Valley for decades. His dream for his distillery was to marry his two passions, whisky, and Virginia, his adopted home.

Upon his death, his dream was taken up by his wife Angela and son Gareth.

Old World Meets New

The distillery shows its heritage in the copper pot stills from Scotland., And, unlike many American distillers, they use a Spirit Safe-- - another nod to Moore’s love of single malt whisky.

Spirit Safes originated in Scotland in 1823 as a way for excise agents to make sure every drop of whisky was accounted for and taxed. Until 1983, the only person with a key to the safe was the local excise official. The safes are made of glass and metal. Distillate exits the still and, enters the parrot, - a device that increases a hydrometer to measure alcohol content. T- and then, it is separated into foreshots, heads, hearts, and tails. Most American distillers like to smell and taste as they divide their distillate. But - Scottish distillers do it all by the look and ABV (Alcohol by Volumen).

It's all About Aging Well

The Old World makes way for the new in the method the Virginia Distillery has developed for its aging process. Rather than they could have tried to mimic Scotland’s climate with temperature-controlled cask houses. But, Virginia Distillery opted to take advantage of Virginia's subtropical climate instead.

The distillery is situated on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and barrels just age faster there than in Scotland. Scotland’s maritime climate is mild, cool, and rainy., with only two seasons (winter and summer) which fluctuate over a minimal temperature range. Winter lows average 32° F/ 0° C with average summer highs of 63° F. /17° C making These cool temperatures make aging whisky a study in patience.

Virginia, by comparison, can swing from 30° F/ x° C to 70° F/ x° C over the course of days. Virginia has four seasons, with average winter lows of 27° F/ -2.7° C and summer highs of 87° F/ 30.5° C. This flux moves the barreled whisky in and out of the char zone., removing All that movement removes impurities, giving the spirit flavors of vanilla, caramel, and oak, and giving the spirit its color. 

The First Virginia-Hyland Whisky (VHW)

To kick off their line of malt whiskies, Virginia Distillery started by blending their homegrown American Single Malt with aged Scotch malt whisky. The blended spirit was then finished in different casks, from port to beer. Their spirits won awards, and their Port Cask Finished Whisky scored 92 Points from both Wine Enthusiast magazine and the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

Each of their finishing casks is locally sourced.

VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky - 92 Proof

The whisky’s body is a mix of barrel smoke and sweet fruit, with hints of cinnamon and clove. The honeyed fig, walnut, and apple notes come from the Tawny port casks from Virginia. that the whisky is aged in the barrels for a minimum of one year.

It was awarded Best American Blended Malt for the last five years, 2017 to 2021.

VHW Cider Cask Finished Whisky - 92 Proof

This spirit is finished in casks from Charlottesville's Potter’s Craft Cider and Richmond’s Buskey Cider for between 8-20 months. The cider casks bring notes of apple, pear, and an “a touch of acidity from the cider barrel” that melds well with the caramelized wood sugars.

The Cider Cask Finished Whisky won Best of Category, Best of Class, and a Gold from the American Distilling Institute. and It was also one of Whisky Advocates' Top 20 of 2018.

VHW Brewers Batch Whisky - 92 Proof

The barrels used to finish the Brewers Batch Whisky took a circuitous route to their final resting place. They began life at the distillery, then are shipped off to Three Notch’d Brewing in Charlottesville., where There, they are used to age a Wee Heavy style beer called Stage Road. Then the casks make their way back to the distillery where they are used to age their Brewers Batch Whisky. The beer-infused barrels bring notes of mocha and toffee to the spirit.

VHW Chardonnay Cask Finished Whisky - 92 Proof

The Chardonnay casks used to finish this spirit come from Paradise Springs Winery, Michael Haps, Virginia Wineworks, or Grace Estate Winery. The barrels bring notes of honeysuckle, lemon zest, and green apple along with a hint of pear. It’s —a refreshing whisky for those hot and humid summer evenings.

Courage & Conviction: An American Single Malt Whisky

Courage & Conviction is Virginia Distillery’s flagship spirit. The four expressions, released in 2021, have won high marks, including Golds, Double Golds, and Platinum awards.

C&C American Single Malt Whisky - 92 Proof

Their flagship spirit is a blend of American Single Malts matured in Sherry, Bourbon, and cCuvée Wine casks., with a target of(The target is 50%  percent bourbon and 25 percent% each of Sherry and cCuvée.) The mix of casks brings bright red fruit, raspberry, barrel spice, vanilla, and cocoa., It has an exceptionally smooth and creamy finish.

In 2021 Wine Enthusiast gave it 96 Points., and Whisky Advocate gave it 91 Points in 2020, the year it also took Double Gold from the John Barleycorn Awards.

C&C Bourbon Cask American Single Malt Whiskey - 92 Proof

Aged in bourbon casks from Kentucky, Courage & Conviction’s Bourbon Cask is filled with toffee, vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch, with a unique hint of cinnamon on the finish.

Awards include Golds at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Ascot Awards. It also received 91 points from Whisky Advocate.

C&C Cuvée Cask American Single Malt Whiskey - 92 Proof

The cCuvée cask flavor profile was developed by the late Dr. Jim Swan, a giant in the distillery world who died in 2017. It is bottled in batches to “highlight the nuance of each contributing barrel.” The cCuvée casks come from local red wine producers. Before they are used to age the single malt, the barrels are taken apart., and The interior of the staves are shaved, then toasted, and charred again.

According to Virginia Distillery, “The re-toasting and re-charring of the cask energizes the wood sugars and brings forward barrel spice, bright red fruit, and toasted pecan.”  

In 2021 the Cuvée Cask was awarded a Double Gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Platinum at the Ascot Awards.

C&C Sherry Cask American Single Malt Whiskey - 92 Proof

Using Spanish sherry casks from Fino-Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez cherries, this expression has notes of caramelized plum, tart cherry, fig, golden raisins, brown sugar, and spice.

In 2021, the sherry Cask won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards, a Platinum at the Ascot Awards, and a score of 92 Points from Whisky Advocate.

Final Notes

Virginia Distillery continues to work on creating uniquely American Single Malts. and They are also lobbying for the creation of an American Single Malt Standard. . Currently, any spirit that is at least 51%  percent malted barley can be called a malt. (In the same way that  - like you need 51%  percent corn for bourbon, and 51%  percent rye for rye whiskey.)

Virginia Distillery is a founding member of the American Single Malt Whisky Commission., The CommissionVirginia Distillery is a founding member and has been lobbying for a new standard that would define an American Single Malt as a spirit made from 100%  percent malted barley, distilled at no more than 160 Proof, aged in oak casks, and bottled at no less than 40%  percent ABV. It looks like they have succeeded and that the new standard will be in place soon.

Have a favorite American Single Malt? Tried a VHW or one of the Courage & Conviction spirits? Let us know in the comments, Have Is there an American Single Malt from another distiller that you love? We’d love to profile them-- - just drop us a line.

~ Cheers!