Review: Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Select American Single Malt

Virginia Distillery has been putting out excellent American single malt for several years and just released a new addition to its core product lineup: Blue Ridge Select. The new release boasts a total maturation exceeding 6 years. Virginia Distillery utilizes two-row spring barley for brewer’s pale malt. The malt is fermented for a minimum of 72 hours in a 10,000 liter jacketed closed-top steel tank. The Lovingston distillery operates pot stills manufactured by Northern Fabricators of Elgin Scotland, a subsidiary of Forsyth. Heart cuts average 146 proof with barrel entry at 125 proof. Blue Ridge Select initially ages for over 5 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky, mostly from Brown-Forman. Following initial aging, the whiskey is transferred to virgin toasted oak from the Blue Ridge Mountains for an average of one year. For the toasted secondary maturation barrels, Virginia Distillery utilizes medium, medium-plus, and heavy toasted barrels from West Virginia Great Barrel Co. All of the aging occurs in metal clad warehouses at an elevation of 920 ft without climate control.

Lead Blender Amanda Beckwith has a history of success with Virginia Distillery, but how does Blue Ridge Select turn out? Let’s explore.

Jasmine and vanilla are the first aromas to release from the Glencairn. Following the initial nosing, honey and orange zest surface. Allowing the single malt to sit for a few minutes, juicy pear completes the nosing experience.

Blue Ridge Select greets the palate with cinnamon and thick brown sugar. The midpalate transitions to more juicy pear followed by burnt orange peel, with a thick mouthfeel. The finish introduces a new array of flavors. Coconut and black pepper enter the picture, followed by vanilla and black walnut.

Blue Ridge Select is a welcome addition to the core product lineup for Virginia Distillery. The nose and palate offer new profiles that will be very popular with American single malt enthusiasts. Beckwith continues to demonstrate that she is very good at her craft. Perhaps the most surprising feature of this excellent whiskey is the suggest price of just $45. Virginia Distillery could easily have priced this bottle $10 higher and consumers would not have blinked an eye. That’s commendable.

93 proof.

A- / $45 / vadistillery.com

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