Virginia Distillery Co. Chardonnay Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky

Welcome back. Nothing beats a spirit made nearby. This distillery in Virginia's mountains, Nelson County specifically, has rapidly increased output of their own take on Scottish single malt style whisky. Their admiration for Scottish whisky is evident, as they integrated it into their initial releases until their own spirit matured. They combine small quantities of Virginia malt mash with an unnamed Highland distillery single malt, then age it for about 12 months in various casks. This particular bottling is finished in ex-Chardonnay casks from four Virginia wineries. It has a beautiful, pale gold color and shows fast-moving, undefined legs and heavy drops in the copita glass used for this tasting. It's bottled at a strong 46% ABV, and this bottle is available statewide and in several neighboring states for $65. That's a rather steep price for a young spirit, but craft distilling often comes with higher prices as the norm. Is it worth it? Let's find out... Upon pouring, the aroma is hit with sharp, biting oak. A faint minty note is also present. Allowing it to rest and mellow rewards you with abundant honeysuckle and pears. Richer fruits like cantaloupe and melon, plus freshly cut apples, appear after some time. The alcohol's presence is noticeable and somewhat detracts from the overall experience, in my opinion. The palate begins with orchard fruits, offering considerable bite and warmth. Cinnamon candy sweetness and oak dominate the initial taste. Only after the heat fades can you detect subtle notes like vanilla, grapes, and some floral qualities. The spirited and youthful character is very dry, much like many Chardonnays, and it doesn't lead to a significant finish. Regarding the finish, this is where the Chardonnay casks finally make their mark. The white wine influence adds a lightness and dry character that encourages another sip. It possesses a crispness not typically associated with whisky, particularly most Highland whiskies. This must be the wine cask's influence. The finish is short to medium in length, crisp, and dry, but generally enjoyable. Overall, it's hard to find much depth here. I'm not convinced that this Virginia/Highland blend is the ideal base for a Chardonnay wine finish. This whisky would benefit from a richer cask treatment, similar to the award-winning Port finished version. It's definitely a stretch to ask consumers to pay $65 for this, even though the craft spirit industry often necessitates it. If I had to choose a bottle from the VDC's Commonwealth Collection, this wouldn't be my pick. 3.5 stars, reduced slightly to 3.25 due to the price. Enjoy, everyone.

VA Distillery Co Chardonnay Cask Finished-Batch 3 SMELL: Leather, wood, apple/pear, raisins, mild vanilla, fresh cream, flowers, and lemon peel. A touch of that dry white wine tartness appears at the very end. I truly enjoy it. STRAIGHT: The Chardonnay cask's impact is right at the forefront. The initial taste is almost like wine has been infused. It possesses an almost bubbly, effervescent character. A decent amount of warmth/spice emerges on the tongue almost instantly. It's quite rich and coats the mouth. Malted sweetness, tart white muscadine grapes, wood, mild vanilla, and spicy ginger all emerge once the initial burst of warmth subsides. That sensation of bubbles continues through the finish. It's quite like drinking spicy craft ginger ale. That tingling, spicy, slightly sour flavor coats the mouth and lingers persistently. ADD WATER: Vanilla immediately stands out on the smell. It postpones and lessens the intensity of the initial surge of spice and warmth. That bubbly character is lessened, but still very much present. Now it's more akin to mineral water than ginger ale. The wood notes are a bit sweeter. CONCLUSION: I'm uncertain about my opinion of this one? My feelings shifted with each taste. It is certainly distinct. The year spent in Chardonnay Casks clearly had a greater effect than anticipated. The smell is incredible. I believe my difficulty with this one stems from my strong preference for whiskey. I also really love red wine. White wine? I've never been a fan. It offers a singular experience, and I will certainly appreciate it when I desire something unconventional. Among the three bottles in my sampler pack, this ranks last, far behind the Cider and Port Finished varieties.

This was tasted at the whisky extravaganza. It strongly resembles spicy green fruits. While the Chardonnay and cider cask influences are pleasant for outdoor summer gatherings, the port cask stands out as the finest and is a signature component of Virginia for good reason.

I've tried this a couple of times. It was better the second time. A little sweet. However, I prefer finishes with red wine in whisky.

It smells of young oak and white wine. There's a malty sweetness and a harsh woody finish.