Virginia Distillery Co. Scholar’s Craft Coffee Craft Whisky at 46% ABV) — at $59.99, the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
The coffee aromas fill the nose with the smell of a boutique coffee shop. Heavy aromas of malted barley arise after, manifesting as roasted wheat and iodine. There is no peat, but notes of lapsang souchong tea arise alongside caramel and honey.
Palate
A great sipper, the unique blending of coffee, bourbon, and single malt somehow balances classic Scotch flavors and sweeter American bourbon notes. A must for single malt and coffee lovers. If you dont like coffee, I would recommend their fruit forward Cuvee cask expression. Yet, for the price, this single malt satisfies and has the additional benefit of supporting womens education in the spirits industry. Well done.
Finish
Again, the coffee is readily apparent, but does not overwhelm. It retreats quickly to reveal bitter chocolate, cinnamon, and tobacco. There are light fruit flavors of apricot and blueberry that dance around the body of the whisky with the finish darkening considerably, returning to the coffee flavor. Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Virginia Distillery Co. Scholar’s Craft Coffee Craft Whisky is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $59.99, the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
