Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask

Nose - cranberry, raspberry, caramel, vanilla, orange zest, lemon, cinnamon, cocoa, yeast, grass, black pepper, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - salted caramel, raspberry, vanilla, lemon and orange zest, cocoa, clove, red wine, nutmeg, plum, sour apple, grass, burnt toast, black pepper, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with raspberry, citrus zest, and cocoa flavors. This is day two of my three part Courage and Conviction & Conviction cask series. The Cuvée cask release starts with a nose that’s obviously influenced by red wine. It’s jammy raspberry and cranberry, with a double dose of grassy, citrusy freshness. The palate affirms the red wine influence with some strongly salted caramel and a borderline burnt toast, cocoa note that carries through the finish. This is not quite at the level of the flagship Courage & Conviction release, but it’s better than the Bourbon cask for me. This is still a 3.0 on my scale, but it’s certainly a stronger contender than its counterpart. The improvement I see is the presence of darker notes to balance the sour brightness of the Bourbon cask offering. While still bright and green, it’s more well balanced, with the red wine adding some much needed depth to the experience. It’s not worth the price of a bottle, but snag a miniature for $3 if you enjoy wine influences.

Light golden straw, big thick legs and hangs on the glass nicely. Nose is light, grassy, herbal with honey, light caramel and a hint of Orange. Soft and sweet all around upfront, with a sneaky bite of heat on the back and sides of the tongue that follow the swallow. The lingering sweetness and toasty notes are what I'd expect out of a highland single malt. Notes of graham cracker, muscat and oak sawdust stick around for a medium length finish. This is nice. A local product to be proud of... Not really what gets me all excited, but I'd be proud to share this with a lover of highland scotch and heavier Irish whiskies.

Nose: Dark red cherry, spicy wood, black pepper, leather, slight sweetness (honey maybe?), oak, a little musty. Nose after swirl: Fruit comes out much more, dried orange peel, you can really smell the wine that was in the casks this single malt was aged in. Palette: Beautiful dark flavor profile that balances the light flavors; simultaneous citrus, salted caramel, berry preserves, deep red wine, and earthy notes... very slight ethanol heat, medium mouthfeel. Finish: Deeper burnt notes overtake the lighter flavors on the finish.

Sweet aromas of cherry and bright citrus. Pineapple. Candy corn and purple cotton candy. Oak and vanilla present as well. Alcohol is evident. First sip is all alcohol. Then oaky vanilla. More burn for the longish finish. Then cherry lip balm on the aftertaste.

Aroma is complex, I'm getting plum and the wine cask. It's wonderful. Flavor is on the lighter side, but has complexity to match the aroma. Orange flavors in the middle, long spicy tail. Rich flavor, great balance of flavors. I can tell I'm missing a ton.

Absolutely incredible. Sweet aroma of rich dark chocolate on the nose, followed by a full taste of cocoa, and maybe even some cherry. The finish is just right, and well balanced. Already looking to get my hands on a full bottle