American

Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Signature Malt Review

An American single malt that tastes like rye whiskey? Virginia Distillery Co.'s signature release defies expectations with its savoury, spicy character.

OVERALL RATING

7
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Tasting Notes

About:

The signature release from the Virginia Distillery Co. Made with 100% North American malted barley, this is then aged for a minimum of six years in a combination of ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and some STR wine casks.
Appearance:
Perfectly Golden
Nose:
Freshly malted barley, green apples, honey and dark chocolate.
Palate:
Not as sweet as you might imagine with the ex-bourbon, sherry and STR casks. It’s a little spicy and herbaceous – it reminds me of lemon rind, lemon pepper, rosemary, white chocolate and some soft chilli spices. The spice does mellow out over time, with that, it becomes more orientated around these white chocolate and lemon notes.
Finish:
More pepper again, white pepper specifically, but it has a gentle, soft warming quality to it that offers a war, comforting hug to your tastebuds and your throat. It still sits in this area of soft spiciness and herby flavours, again, rosemary and lemon pepper, but it’s still a nice thing to drink. Gentle barrel notes of warm caramel and soft woodiness.
Comments:
This is a nice bottle to explore American single malt with; it’s also not that expensive when compared to some of its more well-known rivals. It doesn’t lead with sweetness, which isn’t a problem; it’s quite nice to have something that drives in a more savoury character. It reminds me of rye whiskey, but is a single malt.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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