Virginia Distillery Company Highland Malt Bourbon County Stout Finish 700ML

Virginia Distillery Company Highland Malt Bourbon County Stout Finish is a 700ml, 50% ABV American single malt whisky finished in Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout barrels. Drawn from just twenty barrels, this limited release earned an A rating from Drinkhacker and stands as the first American single malt ever finished in these iconic beer casks.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Lovingston, Virginia, USA  |  American Single Malt, Stout Barrel Finish  |  Distillery: Virginia Distillery Company

Production & Heritage

Virginia Distillery Company operates in Lovingston, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This expression begins with a 100% malted barley mashbill, aged for over five years in premium ex-bourbon barrels before spending an additional eight to ten months in barrels that previously held Goose Island's celebrated Bourbon County Brand Stout. The result is part of The Brewer's Coalition, a limited-edition series pairing American single malt with casks sourced from preeminent American craft breweries. Unlike some other entries in the series, this release is bottled in bond at 100 proof, giving it added structure and intensity to stand up to the deeply flavored stout influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Brown sugar and roasted coffee beans emerge first, followed by layers of honeycomb and a subtle molasses richness. There is a bakery-like warmth underneath—think banana bread cooling on a rack.

Taste: The entry is malty and sweet, with rich mocha and dark chocolate spreading across the mid-palate. Honeyed nougat and hazelnuts build complexity, while hints of citrus and cinnamon add brightness and spice at the peak. A distinct malty beer character threads through each sip, anchoring the whisky's stout-barrel identity.

Finish: Long and layered, with lingering molasses, bitter dark chocolate, and a trace of roasted grain. The 100-proof bottling strength keeps the finish assertive without becoming harsh, fading slowly into warm espresso tones.

How to Drink Highland Malt Stout Finish

Neat is the ideal starting point here—the 100-proof strength carries the stout-barrel character without requiring dilution, though a few drops of water can open up the honeycomb and nougat sweetness. This whisky also brings distinctive depth to cocktails:

• Revolver: The mocha and coffee notes align naturally with the coffee liqueur in this modern classic, creating seamless integration.
• Old Fashioned: The inherent sweetness and chocolate richness reduce the need for added sugar, producing a darker, more complex variation.
• Irish Coffee (riff): Swap the traditional Irish whiskey for this stout-finished malt and skip the sugar entirely—the barrel character does the heavy lifting alongside fresh cream.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast exploring the whisky world
• Adding a rare, conversation-starting bottle to an American single malt collection
• After-dinner sipping as a dessert course substitute
• Side-by-side tasting with a bourbon-finished stout beer for a cross-category pairing night

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Highland Malt Stout Finish taste like? It leads with rich mocha and dark chocolate, layered with honeyed nougat, cinnamon spice, and a malty beer backbone. The finish lingers on molasses and bitter dark chocolate with an espresso-like warmth.

How does Highland Malt Stout Finish compare to Bardstown Bourbon Goose Island Stout Finish? Both use Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout barrels, but Virginia Distillery finishes an American single malt (100% malted barley) while Bardstown finishes bourbon, producing a distinctly different grain character. Bardstown's bourbon base leans more toward caramel and vanilla, whereas the malt-forward profile here emphasizes chocolate and coffee.

Is Highland Malt Stout Finish good for sipping neat? Yes—bottled in bond at 100 proof, it has enough structure and complexity to reward undiluted sipping, though a splash of water can soften the intensity and reveal additional sweetness.

Where is Highland Malt Stout Finish made? It is distilled and aged at Virginia Distillery Company in Lovingston, Virginia, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County.

What foods pair well with Highland Malt Stout Finish? Dark chocolate truffles complement the mocha and bitter chocolate notes. Espresso-rubbed short ribs mirror the roasted coffee character. Aged Gouda echoes the caramelized sweetness. Pecan pie aligns with the nutty, molasses-rich finish. Blue cheese provides a salty contrast that highlights the whisky's residual sweetness.

What sizes does Highland Malt Stout Finish come in? This expression is released in a standard 700ml bottle.

Is Highland Malt Stout Finish worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-edition American single malt—only twenty barrels were produced—and the extended aging plus specialty stout-barrel finish place it above entry-level expressions in terms of both complexity and collectibility.

Why Highland Malt Stout Finish?

This is the first American single malt ever finished in Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout barrels, a distinction that gives it genuine historical significance within a rapidly growing category. The twenty-barrel production run makes it one of Virginia Distillery Company's most limited releases, and the bottled-in-bond designation at 100 proof signals transparency and strength. Drinkhacker awarded it an A rating, confirming that the stout-barrel influence delivers real depth rather than mere novelty. For anyone tracking the evolution of American single malt whisky, this bottle represents a meaningful intersection of craft brewing heritage and new-world malt whisky ambition.