Whisky: Virginia Distillery Co. 5 Year (2016), Single Cask Nation Cask 666

Country/Region: US/Virginia

ABV: 58.3%

Cask: Spanish Oak Butt

Age: 5 Years (Distilled June 2016, Bottled Jan. 2022)

Nose: Worn oak floorboard, polished counters, roasted nuts, leather, slightly meaty, bright cinnamon, hints of balsamic; subtle citrus, tobacco, and dried grass.

Palate: Full-bodied and tannic, dark chocolate, sour cherries, cinnamon, leather, lacquered wood, walnut and hazelnut pastries, hints of meat and leather.

Finish: Medium to long with chocolate, cherry, cinnamon, and a spirited prickle.

Score: 6+

Mental Image: Expecting the Spanish Inquisition

Narrative & Notes: Woody and spiced, the aroma immediately brought to mind the Spanish Inquisition, and not just because of the heady Spanish Oak and the cask, a devilish 666, but because the woody, spicy, nutty, and occasionally meaty notes called to mind Spanish tapas joints humming with activity as the heat of the day dissipates. Worn wooden floorboards pounded by leather shoes, polished counters with plates and bowls of roasted nuts, salty olives, balsamic vinegar, and sweet cured meat. Cinnamon played a starring role as the scent of the evening, between cocktails with cinnamon and nutmeg liqueur and spiced almond pastries. Subtle citrus appeared at times with cigar smoke and dried grass. Full-bodied and tannic, the palate was bursting with dark bitter chocolate, sour cherries, sweet cinnamon, and creamy walnut or hazelnut pastries. Laminated leather and lacquered wood ran throughout, slowly fading to sweet cured meat and worn leather. The finish was medium to long and drying with chocolate, cherry, cinnamon, and a spirited prickle.

Not bad at all, though I really wish I had more experience with Virginia Distillery Co.’s malt. I would love to try something with a more neutral, or at least toned down, cask influence to better understand where the malt was poking in and influencing the direction of flavors. Otherwise, this was all cask all the time, so thank goodness it was a great cask. Water smoothed out some of the rough edges and only seemed to further highlight the spice and fruit notes of the Spanish sherry butt.

The 2022 Malt Whisky Yearbook notes that while plans for Virginia Distillery took off in 2007 and really took shape with copper pot stills imported from Turkey in 2008,  distillation did not begin until 2015 due to financial difficulties. With a theoretical capacity of just over 1 million liters, the distillery has the potential to be one of the biggest malt distillers in the US.

Overall, an American-made sherry bomb sure to please your friendly rabid sherry head. I thought this stood up well and competed nicely against similarly bold Glenrothes and Bunnahabhain, though at half the age. I do not particularly care for these cask-driven malts and prefer more subtlety in my glass, but for those who want something rich and intense, I thought this was a fascinating option.