A Blue Ridge Original
There’s a special kind of whisky magic that happens where mountain air meets patience. In Lovingston, Virginia—surrounded by the Blue Ridge—Virginia Distillery Co. has been quietly building a singular reputation for American single malt: barley, copper, time, and a style that’s unmistakably “Virginia.” You taste it right away: generous fruit, honest grain, a whisper of oak that reads more seasoned than loud. It’s a whisky built for people who care about what’s in the glass, not the noise around it.
“Courage & Conviction tastes like Virginia: bright days, cool nights, and a calm confidence that doesn’t need to shout.”
How it started (and why it matters)
The idea traces back to Dr. George G. Moore, an Irish-born entrepreneur who moved to the U.S. in the 1970s with a dream of crafting world-class single malt here at home. He founded Virginia Distillery Co. in 2011; after he passed away unexpectedly, his wife Angela and son Gareth carried the vision forward, naming the new flagship line “Courage & Conviction” after George’s mantra. The result is a distillery with a clear point of view: American single malt shaped by Virginia’s seasons and a family’s stubborn optimism.
What makes this Virginia whisky different
American single malt is a simple proposition done exceptionally well here: 100% malted barley and fresh mountain spring water, distilled on hand-hammered copper pot stills brought over from Scotland, matured a minimum of four years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, and often finished in select casks from around the world. In Virginia’s hot summers and cool winters, the whisky takes on character quickly and evenly—one of the quiet superpowers of this place.
A (very) short tour of the process
- Barley & milling: The distillery works with malted barley that’s milled on-site using a vintage Boby Mill to create the grist for mashing.
- Mashing & fermentation: Mash meets yeast and becomes “wash,” an 8%-ish beer ready for distillation.
- Copper pot stills: Two Scottish-made pot stills shape the new-make spirit; cut points are managed via a traditional spirit safe.
- Aging in Virginia: Cask houses hold thousands of barrels; rapid seasonal swings help extract flavor without losing balance.
If you like your whisky with provenance, that’s the headline: ingredients, equipment, climate, and craft all pulling the rope the same direction.
Why we carry it
We stock Courage & Conviction because it answers the two questions our customers ask most:
- Is it delicious? Yes—thoughtful cask work, real barley character, and a finish that invites another sip.
- Is it interesting? Also yes—American single malt with a Virginia accent, built on distinct cask choices and a production method that values clarity over gimmicks.
It’s the rare lineup that both teaches and delights: you can taste how different casks change a whisky without losing the house style.
The casks that shape the flavor
The Courage & Conviction family is easy to understand once you connect the dots between cask and flavor.
Bourbon Cask
Ex-bourbon barrels (first-fill) bring vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and toffee, while keeping the malt center stage. Bottled at 46% ABV, it’s a graceful ride from creamy sweetness to a gentle cinnamon echo on the finish. If you’re crossing over from Kentucky, this is your soft landing into American single malt.
Cuvée Cask (STR)
European red-wine casks treated with the STR method—Shave, Toast, Re-char—unlock rich sugars and fruit from the wood. Expect raspberry, cherry, brown sugar, cocoa, and baking spice, with that same polished 46% lift. The STR technique was pioneered by the late Dr. Jim Swan, and it’s a major reason this whisky reads both plush and precise.
Sherry Cask
A homage to Spain’s great wine tradition, this release matures in Pedro Ximénez, Fino, and Oloroso casks, layering cherry, fig, golden raisin, and caramelized plum over the barley core. The texture is silky; the afterglow is warm and steady. Like the others in the series, it sits at 46% ABV.
Signature Malt (the house style in one bottle)
Think of Signature Malt as the “why we’re here” expression: a marriage of bourbon, sherry, and cuvée casks, with a target profile of 50% bourbon / 25% sherry / 25% cuvée, bottled at 46% ABV. It’s the most complete picture of the distillery’s voice—caramel and butterscotch up front, then bright red fruit, cocoa, and a smooth, easy landing.
Double Cask Reserve
This is a two-cask conversation—whisky aged at least five years in first-fill bourbon and STR cuvée casks, then vatted for a slow, gentle marriage. It’s non-chill filtered and bottled a touch higher at 48% ABV (96 proof). On the palate, look for citrus and apricot meeting cherry and milk chocolate, with ginger-spice trailing the finish.
What we carry (and how each drinks)
Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky (Signature Malt)
The distillery’s calling card. Balanced, layered, and ridiculously versatile—equally happy neat, with a rock, or as a thoughtful base for stirred and citrusy cocktails alike. If you’re new to the range, start here for the “complete picture.”
Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky Bourbon Cask Creamy orchard fruit wrapped in vanilla and toffee. It’s the friendliest on-ramp for bourbon fans exploring Virginia whisky—familiar comfort, new perspective.
Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky Sherry Cask
Dessert-leaning without getting heavy: think dried fruit, toasted nuts, silk-smooth texture. A great “after dinner” pour that still keeps the barley singing.
Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky Cuvée Cask
Red-berry lift and baking-spice warmth, with cocoa peeking through. The STR treatment is the magic trick—unlocking fresh fruit and caramel tones without drowning the malt.
Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky Double Cask Reserve
A touch more grip and intensity at 48%: bright citrus/apricot on the nose, cherry-chocolate mid-palate, and a long, gingery fade. It’s a conversation starter—and a great “step-up” bottle once you’ve fallen for the core range.
Tasting the place (not just the cask)
Virginia’s climate does real work here. Hot summers and cool winters expand and contract the cask staves, moving spirit deep into the oak and back again. That’s why you get generous flavor without over-oaking, and why these whiskies feel “alive” even in their softer moments. The distillery leans into this, letting whisky tell them when it’s ready instead of chasing an arbitrary number.
Quick FAQs
Where is the distillery?
299 Eades Lane, Lovingston, VA 22949—right in the Blue Ridge. There’s a visitor center with tours and tastings.
What exactly is “American single malt” here? A house style built on 100% malted barley, distilled on copper pot stills, matured primarily in ex-bourbon casks with thoughtful finishing. The result tastes unmistakably like barley—seasoned, not covered up.
Who founded the distillery, and what’s with the name?
Dr. George G. Moore dreamed it up; his family carried it forward. “Have the courage of your convictions” was his line—so they put it on the label, then built a whisky to live up to it.
Is there a “starter” bottle?
Yes: Signature Malt gives the clearest read on the distillery’s voice, blending bourbon, sherry, and cuvée casks at 46% ABV.
What’s special about Cuvée (STR) casks?
They’re European red-wine casks that are shaved, toasted, and re-charred to re-awaken the wood; the late Dr. Jim Swan helped pioneer this approach. Expect bright fruit and gentle caramel/baking spice.
How does Double Cask Reserve differ from the core bottles?
It vattes mature bourbon-cask and STR cuvée-cask whisky (5+ years) and bottles at 48% ABV—more depth, a bit more structure.
One easy cocktail: Blue Ridge Highball
A tall, refreshing sipper that shows off the malt and the cask in equal measure.
You’ll need
- 1½ oz Courage & Conviction Signature Malt
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz honey syrup (1:1 honey to hot water, cooled)
- Cold soda water to top
- Lemon wheel
Build it
- Add whisky, lemon, and honey syrup to a chilled highball with ice.
- Top with soda and give it one gentle stir.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Why it works
Signature Malt’s caramel and red-fruit notes play beautifully with lemon and honey, while bubbles keep the texture lifted—not sweet, just bright and barley-true.
Final pour
Virginia Distillery Co. makes a compelling case for American single malt that feels both classic and new: barley first, smart cask choices, and an easy confidence that comes from doing the work. Whether you reach for bourbon cask, sherry cask, cuvée cask, the all-in Signature Malt, or the amped-up Double Cask Reserve, you’re tasting more than a finishing regimen—you’re tasting a place.
If you’re curious, come chat with us. We’ll help you pick the right bottle for your palate, your bar, and your next moment worth celebrating.
