The cuvée cask is the signature of Virginia Distillery Co., and this Courage & Conviction release puts it front and centre. The profile was developed by the late Dr Jim Swan, and only a handful of distilleries anywhere work with these casks.
Red wine casks are re-toasted and re-charred before filling, a process that energises the wood sugars and pushes barrel spice, bright red fruit and toasted pecan into the spirit. The nose carries plum, dark raspberry, rich chocolate torte and clove, while the palate turns to tart cherry, blood orange, cocoa and burnt sugar.
The most distinctive bottling in the Courage & Conviction line-up, and the clearest look at what makes this American single malt taste the way it does.