There’s a new American malt whisky company in town, and it hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Virginia Distillery Company is making its UK debut with the release of eight American single malt whiskies. The family-owned producer is introducing both of its core whisky ranges simultaneously, giving UK drinkers a broad view of its house style and production philosophy.
Founded in 2011, the distillery was the vision of George Moore, an Irishman with a lifelong affection for Scotch single malt and a belief that the style could be authentically reinterpreted in the United States. Moore passed away in 2013 before the distillery was completed, and it was his son, Gareth Moore, who chose to carry the project forward, bringing the distillery into operation in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Production is centred around a 100 per cent malted barley mashbill sourced through long-term partnerships with farmers in Wisconsin, Montana and Canada…
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to Britain
Operating on a 100-acre site in Lovingston, Virginia, the company works exclusively with 100 per cent malted barley, copper pot stills and used oak. While it sits comfortably within the global definition of single malt whisky, its identity is shaped by Virginia’s warm, humid and highly variable climate, which drives accelerated cask interaction, creating depth and structure at a younger age than is typical in cooler, more stable maturation environments.
Production is organised around two complementary whisky lines. The Virginia Distillery Company (VDC) range is defined by secondary maturation and cask finishing, while Courage & Conviction focuses on primary maturation, with new make spirit filled directly into its final casks and partially managed through a solera-style system to maintain consistency.
The Luxe Review was invited to the brand’s UK launch event, held at ACME Fire Cult in Dalston, where a menu of wood-fired dishes was designed to showcase and complement the character of the whiskies.
The evening was hosted by Gareth Moore, who outlined the distillery’s history, its Scottish influences, and its approach to American single malt, which is rooted in traditional production methods albeit shaped by climate, and cask management.
Courage & Conviction range
All Courage & Conviction bottlings are bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour, non-chill filtered, and sell for £63.95.
Sitting at the heart of the range, the Signature Malt is matured for a minimum of six years across a carefully structured combination of first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, European red wine STR cuvée casks and a selection of sherry casks including Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Fino. Designed as a house-style expression, it opens with aromas of caramel and soft butterscotch, before moving into a palate of bright red fruit, cocoa, vanilla and gentle barrel spice. The finish is creamy, rounded and notably smooth, offering a balanced introduction to the distillery’s American single malt identity.
Aged for a minimum of six years in premium first-fill Kentucky bourbon barrels, the Bourbon Cask expression is built to highlight the clarity and purity of American oak maturation. The nose shows classic vanilla, shortbread and a light touch of cedar, while the palate develops into orange oil, toasted coconut and warm graham cracker. The finish offers cinnamon and subtle barrel spice rather than overt sweetness, making this the most oak-forward and structurally clean-cut of the Courage & Conviction bottlings.
The Cuvée Cask expression is matured for at least six years in first-fill European red wine casks that undergo the STR process (shaved, toasted and re-charred) to draw out deeper sweetness and complexity. Aromatically, it leans into darker fruit and patisserie notes, with plum, dark raspberry, rich chocolate torte and clove rising from the glass. On the palate, tart cherry, blood orange, cocoa and burnt sugar create a layered profile, while the finish carries candied walnut and ginger.
Matured for a minimum of six years in carefully selected former sherry casks from Jerez, including PX, Fino and Oloroso, the Sherry Cask expression presents a more classical fortified-wine profile. The nose unfolds with honeycomb, apricot, bright lemon and sugared almond, leading into a silky palate of hazelnut, soft leather and toffee. The finish tapers gently into soft caramel and warm baking spice, offering a rounded, composed style that will feel familiar to drinkers accustomed to sherried Scotch single malts.
Virginia Distillery Company range
All VDC bottlings are bottled at 46.5% ABV, non-chill filtered, and natural colour. These whiskies are typically aged for five to six years in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing.
After initial ageing in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, this American single malt is finished in traditional tawny port casks sourced from premium Portuguese bodegas, alongside port-style wine casks from Virginia. The nose shows honeycomb, walnuts and gingerbread, while the palate delivers a brighter contrast of lemon, red berries, soft smoke and cocoa.
Virginia Distillery Company Blue Ridge
Aged for several years in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in virgin toasted oak barrels from the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Blue Ridge expression is built around regional identity as much as cask influence. Aromas of honeysuckle lead into a palate of baked apple and cinnamon, creating a clean, orchard-fruit driven style with restrained oak sweetness and a clear sense of place.
This expression begins its life in first-fill bourbon barrels before finishing in a range of Cabernet casks, including premium Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from France and California. On the nose, black cherry, cedar, apricot and soft smoke set the tone, while the palate develops into blackberry, plum, candied ginger and rich chocolate. The profile is darker and more structured than its stablemates, shaped by red wine tannins and fruit.
After years of ageing in ex-bourbon barrels, this American single malt undergoes a robust finishing period in French calvados casks, premium Virginia cider barrels and Laird’s Apple Brandy barrels. Honeysuckle aromas introduce the whisky, while the palate is driven by baked apple and cinnamon, creating a distinctly orchard-led profile.
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The Luxe Review 
There’s a new American malt whisky company in town, and it hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Virginia Distillery Company is making its UK debut with the release of eight American single malt whiskies. The family-owned producer is introducing both of its core whisky ranges simultaneously, giving UK drinkers a broad view of its house style and production philosophy.
Founded in 2011, the distillery was the vision of George Moore, an Irishman with a lifelong affection for Scotch single malt and a belief that the style could be authentically reinterpreted in the United States. Moore passed away in 2013 before the distillery was completed, and it was his son, Gareth Moore, who chose to carry the project forward, bringing the distillery into operation in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to Britain
Operating on a 100-acre site in Lovingston, Virginia, the company works exclusively with 100 per cent malted barley, copper pot stills and used oak. While it sits comfortably within the global definition of single malt whisky, its identity is shaped by Virginia’s warm, humid and highly variable climate, which drives accelerated cask interaction, creating depth and structure at a younger age than is typical in cooler, more stable maturation environments.
Production is organised around two complementary whisky lines. The Virginia Distillery Company (VDC) range is defined by secondary maturation and cask finishing, while Courage & Conviction focuses on primary maturation, with new make spirit filled directly into its final casks and partially managed through a solera-style system to maintain consistency.
The Luxe Review was invited to the brand’s UK launch event, held at ACME Fire Cult in Dalston, where a menu of wood-fired dishes was designed to showcase and complement the character of the whiskies.
The evening was hosted by Gareth Moore, who outlined the distillery’s history, its Scottish influences, and its approach to American single malt, which is rooted in traditional production methods albeit shaped by climate, and cask management.
Courage & Conviction range
All Courage & Conviction bottlings are bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour, non-chill filtered, and sell for £63.95.
Courage & Conviction Signature Malt, £64.95
Sitting at the heart of the range, the Signature Malt is matured for a minimum of six years across a carefully structured combination of first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, European red wine STR cuvée casks and a selection of sherry casks including Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Fino. Designed as a house-style expression, it opens with aromas of caramel and soft butterscotch, before moving into a palate of bright red fruit, cocoa, vanilla and gentle barrel spice. The finish is creamy, rounded and notably smooth, offering a balanced introduction to the distillery’s American single malt identity.
Courage & Conviction Bourbon Cask, £64.95
Aged for a minimum of six years in premium first-fill Kentucky bourbon barrels, the Bourbon Cask expression is built to highlight the clarity and purity of American oak maturation. The nose shows classic vanilla, shortbread and a light touch of cedar, while the palate develops into orange oil, toasted coconut and warm graham cracker. The finish offers cinnamon and subtle barrel spice rather than overt sweetness, making this the most oak-forward and structurally clean-cut of the Courage & Conviction bottlings.
Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask, £64.95
The Cuvée Cask expression is matured for at least six years in first-fill European red wine casks that undergo the STR process (shaved, toasted and re-charred) to draw out deeper sweetness and complexity. Aromatically, it leans into darker fruit and patisserie notes, with plum, dark raspberry, rich chocolate torte and clove rising from the glass. On the palate, tart cherry, blood orange, cocoa and burnt sugar create a layered profile, while the finish carries candied walnut and ginger.
Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask, £64.95
Matured for a minimum of six years in carefully selected former sherry casks from Jerez, including PX, Fino and Oloroso, the Sherry Cask expression presents a more classical fortified-wine profile. The nose unfolds with honeycomb, apricot, bright lemon and sugared almond, leading into a silky palate of hazelnut, soft leather and toffee. The finish tapers gently into soft caramel and warm baking spice, offering a rounded, composed style that will feel familiar to drinkers accustomed to sherried Scotch single malts.
Virginia Distillery Company range
All VDC bottlings are bottled at 46.5% ABV, non-chill filtered, and natural colour. These whiskies are typically aged for five to six years in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing.
Virginia Distillery Company Port Cask, £50.95
After initial ageing in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, this American single malt is finished in traditional tawny port casks sourced from premium Portuguese bodegas, alongside port-style wine casks from Virginia. The nose shows honeycomb, walnuts and gingerbread, while the palate delivers a brighter contrast of lemon, red berries, soft smoke and cocoa.
Virginia Distillery Company Blue Ridge
Aged for several years in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in virgin toasted oak barrels from the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Blue Ridge expression is built around regional identity as much as cask influence. Aromas of honeysuckle lead into a palate of baked apple and cinnamon, creating a clean, orchard-fruit driven style with restrained oak sweetness and a clear sense of place.
Virginia Distillery Company Cabernet Cask, £50.95
This expression begins its life in first-fill bourbon barrels before finishing in a range of Cabernet casks, including premium Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from France and California. On the nose, black cherry, cedar, apricot and soft smoke set the tone, while the palate develops into blackberry, plum, candied ginger and rich chocolate. The profile is darker and more structured than its stablemates, shaped by red wine tannins and fruit.
Virginia Distillery Company Cider Cask, £50.95
After years of ageing in ex-bourbon barrels, this American single malt undergoes a robust finishing period in French calvados casks, premium Virginia cider barrels and Laird’s Apple Brandy barrels. Honeysuckle aromas introduce the whisky, while the palate is driven by baked apple and cinnamon, creating a distinctly orchard-led profile.
Both ranges are now available in the UK via Master of Malt.
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