Review: Virginia Distillery The Brewer’s Coalition Old Rasputin and Madagascar Cask Single Malt
The American craft distilling movement has surged over the past decade, with standout producers like Virginia Distillery Company helping define its character. Since 2015, the distillery has focused on producing quality American single malt whisky, contributing to a rapidly expanding marketplace of craft spirits. Alongside many other independent makers, it has broadened the range of choices available to drinkers, while nudging long-established heritage distillers toward fresh ideas and experimentation.
This modern whiskey revival did not develop in isolation. It follows in the footsteps of the American craft brewing movement, which began reshaping palates years earlier. By introducing drinkers to bold, unconventional flavor profiles built from thoughtful processes and locally sourced ingredients, craft brewers fostered a deeper curiosity and appreciation for nuance. That shift in mindset laid the groundwork for whiskey producers to later champion similar values: regional identity, creative technique, and a wider spectrum of taste.
With its Brewer’s Coalition Series, Virginia Distillery Company acknowledges that lineage. The series features fully matured American single malt whisky finished in barrels that once held stout from some of the country’s most respected breweries, creating a bridge between two influential movements in American beverage culture.
For early 2026, the distillery released two new entries in the lineup. One expression is finished in casks that previously held Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing Company. The other draws on a combination of barrels from 4 Hands Brewing Co. that once contained Madagascar Vanilla Milk Stout and Raspberry Milk Stout. Both releases continue the series’ exploration of how stout cask finishing can reshape and elevate American single malt.
The Brewer’s Coalition Series has already earned a strong reputation. The question now is whether these latest releases carry that momentum forward. Let’s take a closer look.
Virginia Distillery The Brewer’s Coalition North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout Cask Finish American Single Malt Whisky Review
The collaboration with North Coast Brewing Company begins with American single malt aged between 5-7 years, averaging 6 years old. The whisky was drawn from its original ex-bourbon barrels on February 6, 2025, yielding a natural harvest strength of 119 proof. After a month of marrying, it was transferred on March 6, 2025 into 53-gallon casks that had previously held Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, also at 119 proof. Before receiving the whisky, these casks housed Russian imperial stout for more than a year.
From there, the barrels rested for ten months in the front-left quadrant of palletized, metal-clad Caskhouse No. 2 at Virginia Distillery Company. The whisky was finally dumped on January 2, 2026, at a natural proof of 118 before undergoing a gradual reduction to 100 proof over six weeks.
The nose immediately signals something special, shaped in no small part by its time in stout-seasoned wood. Honey rises first, followed by a note that recalls caramel and vanilla cream from Cow Tales candy. With a little time in the glass, the aroma turns toward baked Granny Smith apples with a lightly oxidized quality, alongside bittersweet cocoa powder. It is an appealing introduction that sets a high bar.
On the palate, the whisky opens with dates and a gentler take on dark chocolate. The midpoint brings orange zest and oatmeal sweetened with brown sugar. The mouthfeel leans toward medium to full, giving the flavors a presence without feeling heavy.
The finish moves into espresso and a flicker of chili pepper heat, then settles into cinnamon and intense dark chocolate. That dance between gentle heat and slight bitterness gives the closing moments a memorable edge.
This stands as the best release yet in the Brewer’s Coalition Series. It also ranks, in my view, as perhaps the best American whiskey I have encountered that has been finished in beer casks, regardless of category. Virginia Distillery Company has delivered something exceptional here. 100 proof. A / $55
Virginia Distillery The Brewer’s Coalition 4 Hands Madagascar Milk Stout Cask Finish American Single Malt Whisky Review
The collaboration with 4 Hands Brewing begins with whisky aged 5-6 years in ex-bourbon barrels, averaging 5 years of maturation. The base whisky was dumped on January 31, 2025, at a natural harvest proof of 119.4. On March 5, 2025, the single malt entered four 53-gallon Madagascar Milk Stout barrels provided by 4 Hands Brewing. Three of these barrels previously held Madagascar Raspberry Milk Stout, while one contained Madagascar Vanilla Milk Stout. The casks aged milk stout for 9-12 months. Before their time with stout, each barrel held bourbon distilled by Heaven Hill.
All four milk stout barrels were dumped on January 6, 2026, after a secondary maturation of ten months, at a natural harvest proof of 116.3. The whisky was then reduced to 100 proof over a period of more than five weeks.
The nose opens with caramel apple, bright and candied, followed by strawberry jam. With time in the glass, coconut cream pie and milk chocolate come forward, rounding out an appealing and well-formed nosing profile. Much like the expression finished in Old Rasputin casks, the aroma sets high expectations for what follows.
The palate begins with dried cherries coated in bittersweet dark chocolate. The mid-palate introduces burnt lemon peel and graham cracker, carried by a medium-thick mouthfeel. The finish delivers salted caramel and rich vanilla bean, followed by a rising heat that recalls chili pepper before settling into dry cocoa powder.
From beginning to end, this is a complete American single malt that makes a compelling argument for the category. While the collaboration with North Coast remains my preferred release in the Brewer’s Coalition series, this partnership with 4 Hands Brewing stands close behind. Both expressions build anticipation for what is yet to come. 100 proof. A / $55
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