Virginia Distillery Co. Brewers Batch Virginia-Highland Whisky

Tonight I opened a sample from my collection and found an interesting one. A person I know sent it to me from their home state. A distillery in Virginia produces American single malts, but this is a blend. The Brewer's Batch (batch 001) combines their single malt with one sourced from an unnamed Highland distillery in Scotland. It's bottled at 46% ABV, has a pale straw natural color, and while it's unclear if it's chill-filtered, I suspect it is. This was finished in casks that previously held a Wee-Heavy ale from a nearby brewery. Those casks were initially used for their own whisky, creating a full circle. The aroma is lively and intensely fruity. Raisins and grapes suggest a sherry cask influence from the Highland scotch. Notes of apricots, oranges, brown sugar, and vanilla are present, along with toffee. The oak notes are lovely, rich but not excessively sweet. The ale influence is subtle but detectable as an herbal/citrus hop scent, largely overshadowed by the sherry. Hints of lemon, grapefruit, faint cocoa powder, and barrel char appear. With more time in the glass, the sherry fades, and the ale cask becomes more prominent, introducing a sourdough and slight mineral note. Further aging in the glass is detrimental to this whisky. The initial taste is somewhat harsh, revealing its youth. Green oak and a touch of sourness are noticeable. Flavors of grape skins, light raisins, and bright citrus notes likely stem from the ale cask finish. The sherry is well-integrated with sweetness and fruit. Oak tannins, light ginger, and barrel char are also present. Similar to the aroma, this whisky deteriorates with time in the glass. Oxidation appears to significantly diminish the sherry and accentuate the youthful roughness. More time in the cask is required. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that is slightly oily, coats the tongue, and is mouthwatering. The finish is medium long, a bit sour, with light sherry and citrus, and dry. This whisky was quite good initially but didn't hold up well. I doubt an opened bottle would last long against extended oxidation. At $65, it's rather expensive for what it offers, though those scotch casks must be costly. I believe this is a solid beginning, and subsequent batches should show improvement. 3.5 Cheers

This is the latest release from the largest single malt producer in Virginia. They are on track to become the biggest whisky producer not just in Virginia, but on the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. While their own stock ages appropriately, they continue to blend some of their young product with several unidentified single malts from the Scottish Highlands and experiment with different finishing casks. This is the first batch of their newest project: Brewers Batch. They take the single malt blend and age it for an additional 8-9 months in barrels that previously held Wee Heavy Scotch Ale from a local craft brewery in Virginia. This whisky has a pale yellow color, a very oily texture, and doesn't leave many streaks down the glass. It is bottled at 46% ABV and has no added color. I'm uncertain about chill filtering, especially given the sourced Highland malt. I believe it is chill filtered. The aroma is incredibly fruity, clearly indicating a sherry cask aged source malt. Vanilla cream candies are mixed with the sherry notes, and there's a subtle backbone of charred oak. The palate is waxy, with abundant orchard fruit once again dominating the profile. Vanilla and light citrus give it a dessert-like quality. The youthful Virginia whisky character definitely leaves some harshness in the middle of the sip, but some pleasant oak notes help to manage any roughness. The finish is warm and rich with spiced oak. The harshness reappears and is the only significant drawback that lingers too long. There is a lasting sweetness that makes the finish medium in length. Overall, this is significantly better than the port-finished product they released last year. It will be fascinating to see what these producers are capable of once their own spirits are fully mature, especially if they can source high-quality casks. This is easily a 3.5-star dram, possibly reaching 4 stars on a good day. The price of $65 is borderline high, but that's the current cost of local, craft whisky these days, I suppose. I am eager to see what else these producers will create in the future. Cheers.

I appreciate the opportunity to sample local craft whiskey. I believe it truly showcases hard work, inventiveness, and dedication. However, their pricing seems comparable to well-aged malts, which I find hard to justify for young whiskies and bourbon. I was able to try a sample of this thanks to a pour from a friend. I'm particularly grateful because this one isn't widely available in NJ. You can discern the passion invested in this spirit; it's high-quality, with strong scents of fruit (specifically kiwi, stone fruits), followed by a crisp hint of beer and grains. It would be perfect for a warm, sunny day in Virginia. It will be interesting to observe their progress as their whiskey matures and improves. Considering the options of Bar, Bottle Purchase, or Avoid, I'd recommend the bar. I would happily purchase a glass, but for $65, I could acquire a good young single malt or bourbon. Thanks to my friend!

A very light and airy aroma, with notes of vanilla and fruit. Hints of candied fruit are also present. The taste is somewhat medicinal, with hardly any alcohol burn until the very end.

Attended the Beer Bourbon & BBQ festival in Leesburg on 10/12/19.

All the tastes are delightful.