Virginia Distillery Co. is located in central Virginia, in a small town called Lovingston. Nestled among the hills, its mission is to carry on the legacy of the founder, George G. Moore. A native Irishmen and immigrant to the United States, Mr. Moore’s passion was single malt whiskey. Looking to continue this tradition, Mr. Moore’s family now operates the distillery. Courage & Conviction is their first end to end internally produced product. Today we see how it turned out with the Virginia Distillery’s Courage & Conviction review.

Per the description from the distiller, the mash bill contains 100% malted barley as is required for American Single Malts. The whiskey is aged for a minimum of three years in Bourbon, Sherry, and Cuvee casks. The profile aim is 50% Bourbon, 25% Sherry, and 25% Cuvee. The final product clocks in at 92 proof (46% ABV). With that, on to the taste test!

Appearance and Bottle

In the glass, the drink presents a rather bright yellow straw coloring. Swirling it around does little to coat the sides of the vessel, although some tiny beads do form near the top of what little residue remains. The bottle itself presents nicely, and the color from the bottle into the glass remains the same. Bold and upright, it buttresses the name Courage and Conviction well.

Nose

Taking the glass to the nose reveals a slightly pungent burst. Despite this pungency, sweet notes quickly rise to the top and dominate throughout. Initially, a vague citrus attempts to hide but continually buoys to the top. It may be grapefruit, but something about it wants to remain hidden. Slight vanilla undertones wrestle with hints of geranium, but neither reach much prominence. The effect as a whole feels more akin to a wine, perhaps a strong sherry, than whiskey. Not surprising given the aging method.

Palate

Despite the situation in the glass, a coating scenario plays out upon entrance to the mouth. The wine sensation from the nose develops into full blown notes of brandy on the palate. Additional sweetness rides along in the form of a simple syrup. The citrus from the nose also remains, but becomes outright nebulous and difficult to place in this environment. The overall effect as a whole embodies a crisp sensation, as though the mouth posts a ‘One Way’ traffic sign.

Finish

Upon exit, the syrup takes center stage and now allows a cotton candy note to pop out. The sweetness, unfortunately, quickly dissipates and degrades into an astringent alcohol burn. The whole turn of events unfolds fairly hastily. Despite the less than appealing last turn, the finish as a whole ends somewhat abruptly. It leaves some unanswered questions on the way out.

Drinkability

This drink may appeal to someone looking for a sweet experience on the tongue. Under certain conditions it may work, and may even shine. A hot, humid midsummer afternoon looking over the pear orchards waiting for news from ‘out east’ seems to fit this whiskey. Conditional ennui may even need to be present. Pouring a dram for a friend or a night cap after a long day’s work, not so much.

Food Pairing

Given the wine/brandy qualities Courage & Conviction exudes, it seems only right to stay in that lane. A cheese plate, perhaps with manchego or sharp cheddar, with salty crackers and a side of roasted almonds would work. Perhaps, the addition of some grapes or brie could prove useful as well.

Facial Hair Rating

We grant the Imperial style to this whiskey. Something about it presents an aura of authority, yet the preoccupation with grooming seems to play the role of highest importance. Queen Gertrude may remark that this whiskey “Doth protest too much, methinks.”

Overall

To conclude Virginia Distillery’s Courage & Conviction review, the whole experience of the drink seemed to forget where we were going despite the directness of the expression. Though attempts were made, complexity did not materialize. In fact, no hidden mystery (aside from the citrus) really appeared and no variations occurred. It seemed as though this American Single Malt is a brandy hidden under a scotch veneer. I would like to see the product with less of a wine influence. Finally, while I don’t typically comment on price, $75 seems a little steep.

Final Grade: C+

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