Virginia Distillery Company Courage & Conviction

A little background

Named after the founder of Virginia Distillery Company, the Dr. George G. Moore batch is the inaugural release of this American Single Malt from the distillery nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Blended from 37 barrels of single malt aged between three and four year in ex-bourbon, sherry, and cuvée casks, Courage & Conviction single malt clocks in at 92 proof. The label boasts that this whiskey “take inspiration from the old world, but is decidedly American”. Courage & Conviction has a suggested retail price of around $75 dollars.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Pale Gold

Nose

Honey and lemon zest rise from the glass first, with just enough alcohol to make you pay attention but not nearly enough to be off-putting. Dates and buttery grain arrive after a moment in the glass, with a little classic oak and vanilla deep in the glass.

Palate

Honey-drizzle pound cake is the first thing that comes to mine as each sip touches down. After a moment, vanilla becomes apparent, and after that the palate opens up into a host of fresh fruity notes, mostly red grape and blackberry. The mouthfeel is substantially oily, although to call it thick or sticky would be going too far.

Finish

The fruit kicks it into high gear with a little spice on the palate for a medium-length finish that features blackberry, followed by sweet vanilla. The final note that rounds out the finish is a flat oak note, although it doesn’t last too long.

In closing

This is one of the most balanced American Single Malts I have tried to date, with a pleasant nose, complex palate, and good finish. This batch of bourbon, sherry, and cuvée barrel aged whiskey delivers some rich oak and vanilla, in addition to the lighter fruit notes that appeal to more traditional single malt drinkers. If this is the caliber of whiskey we can expect from the good folks at Virginia Distillery Company in the future, then I’m on board. Additionally, I want to note the effort the distillery has put into being transparent about their whiskey. The label accompanying this batch includes a link that provides info on the exact process used to create this particular batch. In preparing for this review, I found myself sucked into the particular details of this whiskey, and I commend the folks at Virginia Distillery Company for making this information accessible to their consumers.