Courage & Conviction Bourbon Single Cask S1B19

The bottle we received is only one of a handful produced from this single cask, distilled and aged in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Virginia Distillery Company.

Courage & Conviction Bourbon Single Cask #1157 was filled for aging on March 29, 2017, seeing a low temperature of 17 degrees Fahrenheit on December 17, 2018, and a high temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit on July 22, 2020. This single cask showcases distinctive notes of grilled pineapple, butterscotch, and honey nut vanilla. A rounded mouthfeel leads to a soft and complex finish, with a lingering hint of barrel spice.

Used bourbon cases form the foundation of our whisky maturation program. Aging our American Single Malt in cases with many of the dominant tannins removed in their first life allows for a more delicate and bright flavor profile where the subtle notes that arise from fermentation and the pure malt character of our whisky can shine.

This single cask is unique, combining the originating grain-forward distillate with a cask of superior quality. Bottling at cask strength allows the whiskey to be displayed in pure form, as Virginia Distillery Company does not chill filter the whisky before bottling.

Color is never added, allowing the cask's influence to be seen through natural color development. Similarly, by not using chill filtration, a richer mouthfeel can develop — every time.

From Brian Schmidt Topflight Series Panel Member: 

The American Single Malt is coming. Really it's been here for over a decade. Still, the TTB is currently in the final phases of establishing standards of identity for this distinctive spirit of the U.S. Among the leaders of the American Single Malt movement is Virginia Distillery Company. For this pull, their core Courage & Conviction product was aged in an ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at a cask strength of 117.6 proof. This is a great pour for two different types of whisk(e)y drinkers who may be trying our American Single Malts for the first time. For the Single Malt Scotch Whisky drinker, the nose of this pour is very reminiscent of a Highland or Speyside Single Malt. A light fruit, nuts, and a little smoke paired with a classic maltiness. For the Bourbon drinker, the smoke here is classic bourbon (rather than peaty), and the finish is caramel, vanilla, and oak. It's hard to find much wrong with this pour as a drinker who loves whisk(e)y of wide varieties. This is the first single cask we've pulled from the Lovingston, VA-based distillery, and it definitely won't be our last.

TOPFLIGHT: Series 1, Barrel No. 19

PROOF: 117.6

FINISHING BARREL: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel

BARRELED ON: March 29th, 2017