Virginia Distillery Co. of Lovingston, Virginia, recently won ‘Best American Blended Malt’ in the Blended Malt Category for its VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky for the fifth consecutive year at the World Whiskies Awards, an awards program that highlights whisky from around the world. The distillery’s American Single Malt, Courage & Conviction, won silver for ‘Best American Single Malt’, for the Dr. Jim Swan batch of Courage & Conviction.
“These continued wins are a result of our team’s dedication, teamwork and passion for ultra-premium whisky,” Virginia Distillery Co. CEO Gareth H. Moore said. “I’m very proud of the Virginia Distillery Co. team and to see our VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky continue to be a favorite in the Blended Malt category and to earn recognition for Courage & Conviction in the American Single Malt category.”
The distillery’s VHW series marries American Single Malt made onsite at the distillery with aged Scotch Malt whisky. The VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky serves as the flagship offering of this series, earning ‘Best American Blended Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and again in 2021. Another core finish from the series include VHW Cider Cask Finished Whisky, which ranked in the Whisky Advocate 2019 Top 20. This award-winning series will continue to be sold alongside Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky offerings.
Aged a minimum of three years, Courage & Conviction is distilled on-site using 100% North American malted barley and mountain spring-fed water. The Dr. Jim Swan batch is matured in old world sherry casks, traditional bourbon barrels and re-coopered cuvée wine casks which adds intensity and complexity to the spirit. This batch of Courage & Conviction features notes of caramel and butterscotch and evolves on the palate with hints of bright red fruit, raspberry, cocoa, barrel spice and vanilla. Additional nuances of the Dr. Jim Swan batch include aromas of honeyed apricots, blood orange, milk chocolate, vanilla custard and red berries that mingle with butterscotch and toasted pecans. The finish builds into cinnamon and mouthwatering orange zest.
The inaugural batch of Courage & Conviction, dedicated to Dr. George G. Moore, released in spring of 2020. Additional releases in the Courage & Conviction line will feature solo bottlings of each cask type, slated for Spring 2021. For more information about the distillate and cask data for Courage & Conviction, as well as bottling and process information for consumers, visit batch.info.
The awards are a part of the World Drinks Awards program which launched in 2007 with the World Whiskies Awards and World Beer Awards. Judges for the awards included a panel composed of leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers, bartenders/mixologists and hoteliers. Each entry is tasted blind, and in addition to nose, palate and finish the judges look for balance, character, complexity, quality and functionality when judging.
For more information about Virginia Distillery Co. or American Single Malt whisky, visit the distillery’s website and complete guide to American Single Malt whisky.