American single malt whisky has, in the space of a decade, gone from curiosity to credible category. Virginia Distillery Co's Cabernet Cask Select is one of the more interesting propositions I've encountered from the new wave — a single malt finished in cabernet sauvignon casks from Virginia's own wine country. It's a whisky that wears its terroir on its sleeve, and at 46.5% ABV without chill filtration, it arrives with enough conviction to be taken seriously.
Let me be direct: this is not a Scotch, and it would be unfair to judge it as one. What Virginia Distillery Co have done here is lean into a distinctly American sense of place. The use of local cabernet casks isn't a gimmick — Virginia has a genuine, if still maturing, wine industry, and the interaction between new-make malt spirit and those red wine barrels produces something that sits in its own lane. The NAS designation means we're working without an age statement, but the bottling strength and non-chill-filtered approach suggest a distillery that prioritises flavour delivery over marketing convenience. That earns respect.
At £51.25, this sits in competitive territory. You're paying a modest premium over entry-level Scotch single malts, but you're getting something genuinely different — a whisky shaped by Virginian climate and winemaking tradition rather than the familiar influence of ex-bourbon or sherry wood. The higher ABV gives it structure and presence without tipping into heat. It's a whisky that rewards patience and attention.
Tasting Notes
I'll reserve detailed tasting notes for a future revisit with a fresh bottle. What I will say is that the cabernet cask influence is unmistakable — expect the kind of fruit-forward, tannic character that red wine maturation tends to impart, balanced against the cereal sweetness of the malt base. This is a whisky built around that wine-cask interaction, and it doesn't apologise for it.
The Verdict
Virginia Distillery Co's Cabernet Cask Select is a confident, well-executed American single malt that does something genuinely its own. It won't replace your favourite Speyside dram, nor is it trying to. What it offers is a window into what American single malt can be when a distillery commits to local identity rather than chasing Scottish conventions. The 46.5% bottling strength is well-judged, the cabernet cask finishing is distinctive without being overwrought, and the overall package speaks to a producer with a clear vision. At just over fifty pounds, it represents fair value for a whisky this individual. I'd score it 7.8 out of 10 — a genuinely enjoyable and thought-provoking bottle that I'd happily recommend to anyone curious about where American whisky is heading beyond bourbon.
Best Served
Pour this neat at room temperature and give it ten minutes to open up in the glass. If you find the wine-cask influence a touch assertive, a few drops of water will soften the tannins and let the malt character come forward. This would also make an exceptional base for a Rob Roy — the red-fruit notes from the cabernet cask complement sweet vermouth beautifully. Avoid ice; you'll lose the nuance that makes this bottle worth the price.
