Virginia Distillery Company Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask 750ML

Virginia Distillery Company Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask 750ML is a 46% ABV American single malt whisky matured exclusively in former sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. Awarded 92 points by Whisky Advocate (Fall 2021) and a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this expression stands as one of the most critically recognized American single malts in its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46% (92 proof)  |  Origin: Lovingston, Virginia, USA  |  Minimum 4 Years  |  Distillery: Virginia Distillery Company

Production & Heritage

Virginia Distillery Company operates in Lovingston, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. The distillery produces American single malt whisky from a 100% malted barley mashbill, distilled, matured, and bottled entirely on-site. The Sherry Cask expression distinguishes itself within the Courage & Conviction range through its exclusive maturation in three types of former sherry casks sourced from Jerez, Spain — Pedro Ximénez, Fino, and Oloroso — each contributing a different layer of dried fruit sweetness, nuttiness, and oxidative complexity. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration and with natural color, preserving the full influence of those casks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with honeycomb and ripe apricot before shifting toward jammy plum and bright lemon zest. Sugared almonds and a subtle figgy richness develop as the whisky opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is silky and immediately coats the palate with hazelnut and toffee. Mid-palate, red raspberry coulis emerges alongside soft leather and fig, adding a savory counterpoint to the sweetness. At its peak, firewood smoke and dried fruit intertwine, revealing the layered influence of the three distinct sherry cask types.

Finish: The finish unfolds slowly, led by soft caramel and warm baking spice that linger without bitterness. It fades gently with a final echo of toasted nuts and dried stone fruit.

How to Drink Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask

At 46% ABV and non-chill filtered, this whisky is built for neat sipping — a few drops of water will open up the figgy, nutty layers without diminishing the body. It also performs well in spirit-forward cocktails where sherry-cask character can shine. A Rob Roy benefits from the whisky's dried fruit and toffee weight in place of Scotch. A Blood and Sand gains depth from the natural sherry influence, complementing the cherry liqueur and orange juice. An Old Fashioned made with this expression leans into caramel and baking spice, requiring little more than a dash of aromatic bitters and an orange peel.

Best For

• Gifting a whisky enthusiast exploring American single malts
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cheese course
• Sherry-cask Scotch drinkers looking for a domestic alternative
• Building an American single malt tasting flight alongside bourbon- and cuvée-cask expressions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask taste like? It delivers a rich, layered profile of hazelnut, toffee, and fig with a silky mouthfeel, finishing on soft caramel and warm baking spice. The three sherry cask types — Pedro Ximénez, Fino, and Oloroso — contribute complementary layers of dried fruit sweetness and nuttiness.

How does Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask compare to Westward American Single Malt? Westward uses a pale ale–inspired brewing process and matures primarily in new American oak, yielding a more hop-influenced, robust whisky at 45% ABV. Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask takes a more European-influenced approach through its Jerez sherry cask maturation, producing a profile that reviewers have likened more to certain Irish whiskey experiences than to typical American single malts.

Is Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask good for sipping neat? Yes — bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration, it retains full texture and flavor complexity that reward neat drinking. A small amount of water can further open the aroma without thinning the palate.

Where is Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask made? It is distilled, matured, and bottled at Virginia Distillery Company in Lovingston, Virginia, located in the central Virginia foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The sherry casks used for maturation are sourced from bodegas in Jerez, Spain.

What foods pair well with Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask? Manchego cheese complements the nutty, sherry-driven character. Dark chocolate with sea salt mirrors the toffee and dried fruit notes. Roasted lamb with rosemary bridges the soft leather and firewood undertones. Fig tarts echo the jammy fruit on the palate. Toasted almonds reinforce the sugared almond note on the nose.

What sizes does Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask worth the price? It positions as a premium American single malt, and its 92-point Whisky Advocate score and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition place it among the most awarded expressions in the emerging American single malt category, offering strong value relative to similarly scored sherry-cask Scotch single malts.

Why Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask?

What separates this whisky from most American single malts is its triple-sherry-cask maturation program — the interplay of Pedro Ximénez, Fino, and Oloroso wood creates a more nuanced, layered profile than a single cask type could deliver. The 92-point score from Whisky Advocate and a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are not common accolades for the still-young American single malt category. Non-chill filtration and natural color signal a distillery committed to transparency and cask-driven character over cosmetic consistency. For drinkers who appreciate sherry-matured Scotch but want to explore what American single malt can achieve under similar conditions, this bottling makes a compelling case.