Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Dr. George G. Moore Batch

The whisky: This is the most scotch-like of the half-dozen American Single Malts that I've tried.  It reminds me of a youngish, sherried Higland malt. VA Distillery Co.'s tasting notes are quite accurate. I picked up creme brulee on the nose and red currants, dark cherry/plum, and cinnamon on the palate.  There are cream and butterscotch notes that balance the fruit well. The palate is more sherried than red wine-influeneced.  Since the wine casks were shaved and toasted, the red wine influence may have largely been lost, meaning the cuvee casks contribute more wood spice and cocoa than wine.  There's very little smoke to detect, but a nice body gives it substance. This is a whisky that unfolds over time.  The tasting notes don't change in type as you drink, but they trade places in intensity and the fruit and spice build nicely as you work your way through the glass.  My opinion steadily improved over the course of my first glass and I liked it more the second and third time I tried it. Recommendation: I got this bottle for $75.  If that seems like a reasonable price for you to try a new whisky, then I recommend this.  If that feels like a stretch or a special-occasion price, you might be better off getting something like Glenmorangie Lasanta or Aberlour 12 for a little less money. Personally, I was happy to buy this whisky because it's a sophisticated American Single Malt and, if it seems a little pricey, then the premium you pay helps cover the distiller's R&D (and all that wood they had to buy). VA Distillery Co. also gets points for answering pretty much any question you could have about this whisky on their website.

I have generally found Virginia Distillery bottles to be a bit over priced for the quality. They are interesting to be sure, but my general feeling at the end of the day is to find a different bottle. This is their first shot at making their own dram as opposed to sourcing from across the pond. Let's see if they can make me a convert. Nose is light butterscotch with just a slight hint of smokiness. A very subtle nose overall. First sip is kind of heavy in an unusual way. There are some honey notes and maybe a touch of cinnamon, but while they are not strong this seems to have an almost syrupy mouth feel. The flavors all ride over a slight burn that comes on mid sip and lasts into a warming finish. I am finding this dram to be more interesting than I thought I would. The sweetness on the front end is nice and the soft warming finish is quite pleasant. I am not sure this gets me in the Virginia Distillery fan club, but it is a pretty good pour. Price point is still a challenge here though and I would like it more for about $20 less.

Nose - raisin, plum, red fruit, caramel, orange zest, banana, vanilla, peanut, cocoa, high ethanol burn. Taste - Hawaiian Punch, raspberry and other juicy red fruit, nut and raisin (from the sherry cask, but it’s not overpowering like some can be), black pepper, spicy barrel notes, cocoa, banana, vanilla, peanut, moderate to high bright alcohol bite, finishing quickly with fading fruity nuttiness, chocolate, and barrel spice. For some reason, I wanted to dislike this one, but I don’t. It’s not amazing, but a solid first release for the Virginia Distillery Co. You can tell it’s a young expression, due to the bright, spicy alcohol bite. It’s very sweet (which I don’t particularly like), but it’s not cloying or off-putting. The nose is fairly flat and obscured by the ethanol fumes, but the flavor profile is complex and unique. Looking forward to the distillery’s next release.

I’ve always been intrigued by American single malts and I wish they were as popular as their corn based cousins. So, I always try to take the opportunity to taste a new one. The nose is light with beeswax, vanilla, and lemon. The palate is very sweet with vanilla wafer cookies, honey, and cream. There are some darker flavors like toffee and chocolate before the finish, which turns spicy, leaving you with a long, slightly tart, black pepper flavor. This dram is very reminiscent of a highlands scotch, and every bit as complex. If you enjoy Dalwhinnie or Deanston I can confidently recommend this.

This might just be the best VA whiskey I’ve tried (not that I’m an expert). It’s full of sweet vanilla and a little spice. Very smooth. Easy to sip. Short spicy finish. I’d love a touch more smoke but I don’t think that’s the point here. Yes it’s young (3 years) and it shows a bit of an edge but in another few years this is going to be a game changer for VA. Better than the VA Distillery Highland Malt, and worlds apart from the Copper Fox Single Malt I’m tasting now.

Aroma is warm and pleasantly fruity and buttery as it swims out of the glass; Palate is delicate without being wimpy and pulls the same malt-based, fruity and sweet notes from the aroma but expanded and richer; Finish starts sweet and ends up oaky. This is a decent whisky, I’m enjoying it.