Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Single Malt

When considering a whiskey purchase, I first ask what other options are available at that price. Typically, if I haven't tried the best whiskey in that price range, I'll go with that one. If I have tried it and enjoyed it, I'll buy it again. But similar to a sports draft, while I might initially plan to pick the best player, I could also decide to draft based on need. This bottle, Virginia Distillery Co. Courage and Conviction Single Malt (Harry Cockburn batch), is a prime example. I had read positive reviews about its surprising quality on both Drinkhacker and Breaking Bourbon, which piqued my interest. However, it was priced at $74.99. For less, I could get Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Talisker 10, or Nikka from the Barrel. I had previously enjoyed all those whiskies below this price point, so ultimately, I couldn't justify spending the suggested retail price on this bottle, even though I generally like supporting smaller producers like Virginia Distillery Co. (similar to Dad's Hat and Sagamore). But, as you know, you keep an eye out for sales, and this one went on clearance for $18.49 at the Wine and Spirits store. At that point, I thought about buying multiple bottles, but I had already reached my whiskey budget and unfortunately, I didn't want to risk buying several bottles if I might not like it at all. Now I regret not buying more. This whiskey isn't complex. The reviews I read made it sound that way, and perhaps those reviews were for different batches (in fact, I believe they were). But the complexity would likely only matter to me if I had paid $74.99. At that price, I would have regretted not getting another bottle of Nikka from the Barrel (which is currently $1 less at $73.99). But at $18.49, it was an incredible deal. I mentioned in my prior review of Jack Daniels Triple Mash that complexity isn't everything as long as the existing flavors blend well and provide an enjoyable drink. While that wasn't true for the JD, it is true here. The aroma and taste are virtually identical, offering a creamsicle-like sensation with strong notes of vanilla cream and orange marmalade. The fruit aromas are prominent, with perhaps a hint of peach, but overall, it's citrusy and tangy. Honestly, this bottle could compete with Glenmorangie 10, except it costs about $30 more and is only four years old. And that's it: vanilla cream and orange marmalade. That's what you get, but damn, for $18.49, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It won't blow you away, but it goes down so easily that it could certainly distract you. So my advice is, if you see it on sale, grab it. The most I'd pay would be around $49.99. Then again, considering the recent surge in prices, this might eventually be a reasonable purchase at its original price in the future. As of now, it won't be on anyone's best value list. But you might consider it to fill a gap if you have extra money to spend.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Very light amber. Nose: Floral with notes of grapes and pears. Palate: Predominantly pears and apples. Finish: Short, sweet, with a very subtle spice. Splash: Reveals a bit more oak. Overall: 5/10 - It's certainly distinctive (made with 100% barley mashbill) but doesn't resemble Irish Whiskey or Scotch. I likely won't drink it again.

Nice sweet nose (caramel and vanilla notes). Those pleasant notes don't carry over to the sip. I didn't get much in the way of tasting notes because my palate was quickly overwhelmed by the heat of the alcohol. The finish was medium and hot. Don't recommend.

A clean, sharp aroma. Smells of cut grass and fresh hay. Faint hints of chlorine from a pool and fading flowers. Sweet like candy. It feels pleasantly thick on the palate. It warms you but tastes mostly of booze. There's a touch of honey on the tip of the tongue. Maybe honey and lemon drops make it like tea?

Felt jumbled compared to the others they offer (cuvee, bourbon, sherry), which makes sense as it’s a blend of those others. Still very good - not sure if it's plum specifically, but each has a distinct dark fruity note.

The nose presents aromas of sweet caramel, vanilla, wood, berries, some grain alcohol, and pear. The flavors mirror the aromas, with sweetness arriving first, followed by honey and vanilla. The alcohol is strong initially, then fades to reveal all the fruit notes.