Virginia Distillery Co. Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky

When most people think of Virginia and whiskey, they probably think of the Bowman family. But there are also some interesting things coming out of Virginia Distillery Co. This one happens to be a port-cask aged American single malt with some Scotch blended in. Interesting concept. This happens to be from Batch No. 14. Nose: Malt, toffee, vanilla, and cereal grain. Cocoa. Sugar cookie. Apricot. Some fig, date, raisin notes from the port cask. Cranberry. Pear. Almond and cashew. Pecan. Dried Gouda cheese. Cola. Pomegranate. Oak. Palate: Apple, pear, orange citrus. Vanilla, toffee, malt. There’s a peppermint Icebreaker or maybe a Mentos note. Sugar cookie. Caramel. Pecan. Coffee. Honeydew. Blackberry, plum, raisin, date, and fig. Cranberry to boot. Finish: Cranberry, fig, date, and raisin. Pear, apricot, orange citrus. Sugar cookie, vanilla, toffee, malt. Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Black pepper and oak spice. Medium-length. Fantastic. A true diamond in the rough if I’ve ever had one. It’s unique, as expected of an American-Scottish single malt hybrid. But more importantly, it’s a clean, crisp, and powerful combination of the distinct attributes of both nations’ best work. At $47, this boasts some of the best VFM you’re going to find in the whiskey category. If you’re feeling the squeeze from the tariffs and price hikes on your Scotch, this is by far the “Scotchiest” American single malt, and it’s much cheaper for us than anything comparable from across the pond. 4.5/5. A unique whiskey in so many ways. An American/Scotch malt hybrid aged in port barrels. It works, no question about it. Looks like I’ve got to track down the chard and cider casks next, and then move on to their fully in-house stuff. Excellent.

Aroma: apple, lemon zest, caramel, strawberry, vanilla, fig, floral notes, raisin, cinnamon, allspice, cereal grain, black pepper, with a moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste: caramel, strawberry, green apple, vanilla, chili pepper, fig, plum, lemon zest, cereal grain, cinnamon, clove, with a moderate alcohol bite. It finishes quickly with caramel, strawberry, and chili pepper flavors. I obtained a 50ml sample of this and am pleased I didn't get the full bottle. It's not terrible, but its quality doesn't match the Courage & Conviction release from Virginia Distillery Co. The aroma is hot for its proof and seems very young. It requires some effort to get past the ethanol, but once you do, you'll discover sour apple and caramel, plus strawberry and dark fruits that suggest a port finish. Likewise, the palate isn't particularly remarkable. More of the fruit notes are present with some baking spices, but it's simply too young and hot to be captivating. All in all, it's forgettable. It's definitely better than a cheap blended malt, but only slightly.

VA Distilling Co. Port Cask (Batch 12) Poured into a Glencairn glass, it shows a dark reddish-gold color. Aroma: Port. Dark Dried Fruits like Raisin and Prune. A Perfumed Floral Note. Tea, Old Oak and an occasional hint of Lemon Peel. It also has a strong "Alcoholic" quality, if that makes sense? Neat: Heavy Mouthfeel. Barrel Notes, Port, Leather, Tea, and a wisp of Smoke. A slightly warming dry finish with Black Pepper and Earthy Oak coating the tongue. You experience some accumulating heat on the back of the throat and a Slightly Tannic/Musty Leather aftertaste lingers. With a Splash: A little water adds Extra Spice to the aroma and palate, along with a good dose of Vanilla. Conclusion: This was the second sample from my (3) 375ml pack. I enjoy this one nearly as much as the Cider Cask Finish. Having been born in the mountains of Southwest VA, I knew I'd be biased towards liking these, but I've been surprised by how genuinely good they are. I look forward to trying the Chardonnay Finish tonight. Another 4-star rating.

It might be more of a $40 bottle than the $50 price tag. The aroma is fantastic, starting with a sweet, warm taste like melting butterscotch. Then, it becomes dry, with the scotch/cask essence emerging. It's a bit of a journey, but generally smooth. Tasting it on the rocks improved it as the melting ice and water opened it up. My palate isn't sophisticated enough to discern every note. I usually drink bourbon. This has a strong scotch character, making it suitable for those transitioning from bourbon to scotch. I typically prefer sweeter whiskies. My favorites include Old Forester 1910, Eagle Rare 10, Blanton's Single Barrel, Four Roses Small Batch, and Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky.

Nose: Incredibly fruity and rich! Notes of port, mulled wine, dark berries, malt, baking spices, with hints of chocolate and vanilla. Palate: A bit young, yet smooth and malty with port, mulled wine, vanilla, honey, baking spices, dark berries, chocolate, citrus, and herbal notes. Finish: Medium in length, warming, mildly spicy, malty, and semi-sweet. For me, the port cask influence balances the youthfulness. Edit 6/9/25 The appeal of this bottle faded quickly. It's still acceptable, but the prominent port cask notes have diminished and are now overshadowed by the sourness typical of young American single malts. This is similar to my experiences with other finished American single malts. The takeaway is to consume them promptly.

Nose: Burnt caramel, sour apple, alcohol burn, a mild amount of peat, lemon zest, strawberry, chili pepper. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, a hint of dark fruit and fig, burnt toast, black pepper. Finish: Cinnamon, chili pepper, black pepper, allspice, leather, honey. After a few sips, the peat becomes more pronounced. Value: C-. This is definitely young. It has a harsh nose and finish, but once you get past the alcohol, some caramel sweetness, lemon, and oaky char emerge. At just under $50, it's not something I'd buy. If this were a much simpler and cheaper blend, I could see it at $35, but for a "cask finish," it doesn't offer anything particularly special.