Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Select Single Malt 700ML

Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Select Single Malt 700ML is an American single malt whiskey bottled at 46.5% ABV (93 proof) from Virginia Distillery Company in Lovingston, Virginia. Scored 92 points by Tastings.com in September 2024, this expression stands apart through a dual-maturation process that finishes the whiskey in virgin toasted oak harvested from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46.5%  |  Origin: Central Virginia, USA  |  Aged 5+ Years, Finished in Blue Ridge Oak  |  Distillery: Virginia Distillery Company

Production & Heritage

Virginia Distillery Company operates at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County, Virginia. The distillery uses traditional copper pot stills manufactured by Northern Fabricators of Elgin, Scotland, and a mashbill of 100% malted barley made from two-row spring barley processed into brewer's pale malt. Blue Ridge Select initially matures for over five years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels sourced primarily from Brown-Forman, then transfers into virgin toasted oak barrels made from trees grown in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains for an average of one additional year. That local finishing step is the defining characteristic of this expression, layering regional terroir onto a classically structured single malt profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Jasmine and vanilla arrive first, giving way to honeysuckle and honey with a thread of orange zest. Deeper breaths reveal juicy pear and freshly baked brioche.

Taste: The entry is rich with cinnamon and thick brown sugar, broadening at mid-palate into bright citrus, apricot, and honeyed walnuts. A second wave introduces toasted coconut, baking spice, and soft caramel, building toward a peak of burnt orange peel and black pepper.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering coconut, black walnut, and a gentle vanilla sweetness. A faint peppery warmth persists alongside traces of toasted oak.

How to Drink Blue Ridge Select

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal serve, allowing the virgin oak influence and stone-fruit notes to open fully. At 46.5% ABV, it holds up well over a single large ice cube without losing structure.

• Gold Rush: The honey and citrus character melds naturally with lemon juice and honey syrup.
• Penicillin: Blue Ridge Select's baking-spice backbone and pear notes complement ginger and honey without needing a smoky float.
• Whiskey Sour: Bright apricot and brown sugar tones balance egg white and citrus for a layered, fruit-forward sour.

Best For

• Scotch drinkers exploring American single malt for the first time
• Gifting to a whiskey enthusiast interested in terroir-driven spirits
• Adding a domestic single malt with verifiable provenance to a home bar
• Tasting panels comparing American single malts side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Blue Ridge Select taste like? Blue Ridge Select leads with cinnamon and brown sugar, develops into bright citrus, apricot, and honeyed walnuts, and finishes with toasted coconut, black walnut, and lingering vanilla. The overall profile balances stone fruit sweetness with warm baking spice from its dual-oak maturation.

How does Blue Ridge Select compare to Stranahan's? Both are American single malts made from 100% malted barley, but their aging strategies differ significantly. Blue Ridge Select finishes in virgin Blue Ridge Mountain oak after bourbon-barrel aging, while Stranahan's core expressions rely on new American oak, giving Blue Ridge Select a more pronounced stone-fruit and coconut character versus Stranahan's typically chocolate-forward profile.

Is Blue Ridge Select good for sipping neat? Yes — the 46.5% ABV is robust enough to carry its layered flavors without being harsh, and the dual-maturation process provides enough complexity to reward slow, attentive sipping.

Where is Blue Ridge Select made? Blue Ridge Select is produced entirely at Virginia Distillery Company in Lovingston, Virginia, situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County. The finishing barrels are made from oak sourced from those same surrounding mountains.

What foods pair well with Blue Ridge Select? Roasted pork loin works well against the whiskey's brown sugar and cinnamon notes. Aged Gruyère mirrors its toasted-nut character. Apple tarte tatin amplifies the baked-apple and caramel tones. Dark chocolate with orange peel echoes the citrus-and-cocoa undertones. Honey-glazed pecans align with the honeyed walnut flavors in the mid-palate.

What sizes does Blue Ridge Select come in? Blue Ridge Select is available in a standard 700ml bottle.

Is Blue Ridge Select worth the price? Blue Ridge Select positions as a premium American single malt, justified by over five years of aging plus a secondary maturation in locally sourced virgin oak. Its 92-point score from Tastings.com and A- rating from Drinkhacker place it among the better-reviewed expressions in the still-emerging American single malt category.

Why Blue Ridge Select?

The defining detail here is the finishing step: virgin toasted oak barrels made from Blue Ridge Mountain trees, a production choice that no other widely distributed American single malt replicates at this scale. That local oak imparts the coconut, baking spice, and toasted-nut layers that separate Blue Ridge Select from bourbon-barrel-only competitors. The distillery's use of Scottish-made copper pot stills grounds the spirit in traditional single malt methodology while the Virginia terroir gives it a distinct regional identity. With a 92-point score from Tastings.com and an A- from Drinkhacker, the whiskey has earned critical recognition that validates the approach.