In the quiet hills of Nelson County, something bold is happening inside the rickhouses at Virginia Distillery Co. Fresh off being named Best American Single Malt at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards, the Lovingston-based distillery is leaning into what it does best: thoughtful craftsmanship, creative cask finishes, and just enough risk to keep things interesting.
This season brings three limited releases—two collaborations in its Brewer’s Coalition series and the debut of a contemplative new Cigar Blend—that feel less like products and more like experiences waiting to be poured.
When Beer Meets Single Malt
The Brewer’s Coalition series has always been about cross-industry creativity, and this year’s additions continue that spirit.
The first, created in partnership with 4 Hands Brewing Co., finishes Virginia Distillery Co.’s American Single Malt in Madagascar Stout barrels. Only six barrels were sourced, making this a small-batch moment in every sense.
Photo Courtesy Virginia Distillery Co.
Aged more than five years in ex-bourbon casks before its stout-barrel finish, the whisky leans indulgent without tipping into excess. Think juicy raspberries, lemon-curd brightness, dark chocolate cake, roasted pecans, and warm ginger snaps. Bottled at 100 proof, it holds its structure beautifully, with a finish that lingers in dark cocoa and raspberry cola.
For those who love to chase nuance, a Cask Strength Select version will be available in limited quantities at the St. Louis brewery itself—a quiet nod to the collaboration at its core.
In March, the second Brewer’s Coalition release partners with North Coast Brewing Co., finishing the distillery’s American Single Malt in Old Rasputin Stout barrels. Eight barrels were selected for this expression.
Photo Courtesy Virginia Distillery Co.
Also made from 100% malted barley and aged more than five years before finishing, this release opens with aromas of almond kringle and honeycomb before shifting into bright citrus zest, dark chocolate, and malty hops. At 100 proof, it strikes that increasingly sought-after balance: robust, but refined.
Together, these collaborations underscore something important about Virginia’s whisky scene—it isn’t insular. It’s curious. It’s collaborative. And it’s willing to let stout barrels from across the country leave their imprint on Blue Ridge–born spirit.
A Whisky Built for the Ritual
If the Brewer’s Coalition expressions feel celebratory, the new First Cut Cigar Blend feels almost meditative.
Crafted specifically to pair with a fine cigar, this American Single Malt is aged a minimum of seven years and matured in an imaginative collection of casks: Spanish Oak, Sherry, Port, STR, Château Palmer Cabernet, Armagnac, Cognac, and Fino—with a whisper of smoke from Islay casks layered in for depth.
The result is complex but intentional. Aromas of red berries and leather give way to walnut and date cake, candied lemon peel, allspice, and clove. The finish lingers in dark chocolate and subtle smoke. Bottled at 108 proof, it’s bold—but not brash. This is a whisky for slowing down. For lingering. For conversation that stretches long past sunset.
Even for those who don’t light cigars, the spirit itself invites a ritual: a porch chair in early spring, a low hum of evening, a glass that evolves as it opens.
A Defining Moment for Virginia Whisky
Virginia Distillery Co. has long positioned itself at the forefront of the American Single Malt category, producing its flagship Courage & Conviction alongside a steady stream of innovative limited releases. But the recent World Whiskies Awards recognition feels like a larger marker—not just for the distillery, but for Virginia’s growing influence in the global whisky conversation.
These three releases underscore that momentum. Collaboration. Complexity. Craft without compromise.
All expressions will be available in limited quantities in February and March through the distillery’s online shop and select retailers nationwide. As with most limited releases from Lovingston, they likely won’t linger long on shelves.
For Virginia whisky lovers, this is a season worth savoring.
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