Spirited Virginia Q1 2022 - 14

DISTILLERIES
Virginia Distilling Company
The distillery's Irish roots inspired the creation of great new
products, including Courage & Conviction American Single
Malt, which scored 96 points from Wine Enthusiast.
Beckwith, lead blender and education
manager.
However, the Virginia Distillery
COURTESY OF VIRGINIA DISTILLERY CO.
W
TOP: Maggie
Moore, Chief
Experience
Officer; Gareth
Moore, Chief
Executive Officer.
ABOVE: Amanda
Beckwith, Lead
Blender and
Educational
Manager.
ith roots in Ireland, Virginia
Distillery Company is planted
firmly in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge
Mountains. The distillery was founded
in 2011 by George G. Moore, an Irishman,
businessman and single malt whisky
aficionado who had come to the U.S. in
the 1970s. In the fall of 2015, the distillery
opened its doors to visitors.
A vision of malt whiskies
" When we were starting, there was a
bit of pressure to release something
quickly, such as a vodka, gin or even a
white/unaged whisky, " explains Amanda
Co.'s vision was to focus on aged malt
whiskies. " Our first release was our VHW
Port Cask Finished Whisky: a blended
malt that showcased a malt whisky
distilled and aged for several years in
Scotland married with our own distilled
and aged single malt. That whisky really
tells our story: Old World meeting New
World and creating something truly
delicious and unique. "
The VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky
won the World Whiskies Awards best
in category in 2015 and has continued
to win every year since.
In the spring of 2020, the distillery
released the first in its Courage &
Convictions line.
" We've been aging our American
Single Malt since 2015, " says Beckwith,
" and it was a dream come true for our
team to be able to release our first batch
of Courage & Conviction American
Single Malt. "
The whiskey received 91 points
from Whisky Advocate, then 96 points
from Wine Enthusiast. Riffs on the line
include the limited release of Courage &
VIRGINIA DISTILLING: THE PRODUCTS
* Courage & Conviction America Single Malt Whisky
* Courage & Conviction America Single Malt Whisky - Bourbon Cask
* Courage & Conviction America Single Malt Whisky - Cuvée Cask
* Courage & Conviction America Single Malt Whisky - Sherry Cask
* VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky
* VHW Cider Cask Finished Whisky
* VHW Brewers Batch Whisky
* VHW Chardonnay Cask Finished Whisky
14 SPIRITED VIRGINIA
Conviction Single Cask, which showcases
the whiskey at cask strength.
When Beckwith references " American
Single Malt, " she's referring to a currently
unregulated whiskey category. Unlike
Scotch, bourbon and other spirits that
are strictly defined, American Single
Malt lacks specific guidelines. However,
Virginia Distillery Co. is a founding
member of American Single Malt Whiskey
Commission, which is working to support
a federal definition. The proposed
definition includes that the spirit must be
made from 100% malted barley, distilled
entirely at one distillery and mashed,
distilled and matured in the U.S.
" We're looking forward to ...
recognition by the TTB [the federal
alcohol regulatory bureau] of the
American Single Malt category, " Beckwith
says. " It's been an honor to be an active
player in the category, and I hope as
people learn more about the category,
they grow to love American Single Malts
as much as I do. "
Women as leaders
Amanda Beckwith has been with the
distillery since August 2015, first as guest
experience manager, developing the
distillery's tour and tasting program,
and then as education manager. As the
whisky matured, so did the need for
the company to develop a sensory and
blending program. Beckwith began to
increase her focus on the production
side, learning from leaders in the
industry. She was eventually named
lead blender for the company.
Though women are a minority in the
distilling industry, Beckwith reminds
COURTESY OF VIRGINIA DISTILLERY CO.
Spirited Virginia Q1 2022

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