Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish

Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia 
Dark gold
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, nectarines, malted grains, black pepper, foam shrimp, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Nectarines, malted grains, foam shrimp, vanilla, dried apricots, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, dried apricots, leather, malted grains, foam shrimp. 

Comments: 

Delicate and rounded, lots of stone fruit notes and barley sweetness. There’s a hint of leather and pick and mix sweets, and a fragrant, slightly bitter finish. Rather good whiskey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Courage and Conviction Bourbon Cask

Courage and Conviction Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia
Yellow gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, pears, orange juice, malted grains, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cucumbers, pears, lemon zest, honey, malted grains, white pepper, hints of nutmeg. 

Finish: Short. Malted grains, white pepper, barley sugar, honey, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Delicate and fragrant whisky, lots of herbal, fruity notes. Plenty of barley sugar as well, which befits a good stripped back bourbon cask. This is the sort of whisky I like.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Virginia Distillery American Single Malt Cider Cask

Virginia Distillery American Single Malt Cider Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia
Pale gold
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, vanilla, white wine, nutmeg, peaches, pears, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, astringent.
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Barley sugar, white grapes, pears, green apples, white wine, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, hoppy beer, white wine, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Quite an appley whisky, but with a high level

Of maltiness and even some fermented grape notes. A very Scotch like single malt, which actually makes it quite unusual for American whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Courage and Conviction

Courage and Conviction

Official bottling 
Single malt - Virginia
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, wet stones, ink, sultanas, brass polish, vitamin C tablets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Gooseberries, wet stones, ink, sultanas, orange juice, geraniums, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Peanuts, sultanas, orange juice, honey, white grapes. 

Comments: 

I’ve had the special finish version of this previously, but I think I much prefer this - it’s citrusy and floral, with nutty sweet notes. A rather good whisky from a distillery not often seen here.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Courage and Conviction (Cuvée Cask)

Courage and Conviction (Cuvée Cask)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Virginia
Amber

46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, fresh cut grass, sea salt, geranium soap, lemons, hints of sage. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, thickens slightly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemons, sage, honey, orange peel, hints of geranium soap. 
Finish: Medium. Mint, lemons, copper pennies, honey. 

Comments: 

A rather odd, slightly soapy single malt from a distillery I’ve not had before. It’s got some lovely floral notes but they sort of meld together with the fruit to taste a bit like grandmother’s soap. Good length on the finish, sweet and metallic. I like this, for novelty value if nothing else. 

Verdict:

I like this.