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Sommeliers Choice Awards 2023 Winners

Virginia Distillery's 'whisky' ranked best in U.S.

Virginia Distillery Co. and head distiller Ian Thomas and his team must be doing something right.

04/05/2017

Virginia Distillery Co. and head distiller Ian Thomas and his team must be doing something right.

Using what CEO Gareth Moore calls a unique approach, VDC has produced a whiskey that recently won yet another prestigious award.

In a blind-tasting competition, Virginia Distillery’s flagship Virginia Highland Malt Whisky was judged “Best American Single Malt Whisky” at the World Whiskies Awards.

“As a new producer, winning this award has put us on the radar for producers to watch for in the coming years,” Moore said. “It shows a level of sophistication that has been previously assigned to other regions throughout the U.S.”

While waiting for its own whiskey to age, VDC imports 6-year-aged whiskey from a single-malt producer in Scotland.

“From there, we focus on the finishing component in Virginia: sourcing finishing casks from premium wine producers across the state,” Moore said.

Wine casks? Yes, specifically port barrels from notable wineries, such as King Family Vineyards, Veritas Vineyards, Stinson Vineyards, Horton Vineyards and Michael Shaps Wineworks.

“The port-style barrels add a variety of sensory components to each finish,” said Thomas, who came to VDC after working in Tennessee. “We meticulously work through sensory analyses to find those valuable components and make sure they are not overpowered or hidden, but instead developed and complementary to each other.”

VDC’s Virginia Highland Malt Whisky earned early recognition when Wine Enthusiast magazine gave it a 92-point rating in its annual whiskey publication in 2016. It also was awarded a gold medal by the American Craft Spirits Association for 2016 and 2017.

All for good reason. Listen to this description by Thomas:

“In the port finishes, you’ll find notes of caramel and toffee, as well as a very balanced and sweet base malt-whisky, shortly followed by dried red fruits, such as cherry, pomegranate, and red-berry. The finish itself is full-bodied, medium-to-long and beautifully balanced.”

Read More at source: Richmond Times Dispatch

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