*Virginia Distillery Company The Brewer’s Coalition 2nd Edition (2025) American Single Malt*

I received this sample as part of my interview with Amanda Beckwith, Episode 258 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. Overall, it surpassed expectations and fit well into my revisit (perhaps rediscovery) of Virginia Distillery Company’s current offerings.

Virginia Distillery Company’s 2025 second edition of The Brewer’s Coalition revisits its collaboration with Goose Island, finishing its American Single Malt in barrels previously used for Bourbon County Brand Stout. Aged for more than five years in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in stout casks, it brings together two expressions of malt that complement each other particularly well.

The opening note of Cap’n Crunch caught me completely off guard, but the combination of sweet malt, toasted biscuits, dark pretzel crusts, and stout quickly settled into familiar territory. On the palate, the stout becomes more assertive, bringing dark chocolate, Hobnob cookies, and freshly cracked chocolate malt, supported by a surprisingly rich, oily mouthfeel. White pepper and a touch of oak spice carry through a flavorful, medium-long finish. The overall impression is something akin to dark chocolate-covered pretzels, with the richness of the stout and the sweetness of the malt working comfortably together. It's a relatively simple, straightforward whiskey, and I mean that entirely as a compliment. There's no need to hunt for layers of complexity when what's immediately apparent is this delicious, especially if you're partial to stouts and darker flavors.

All Brewer’s Coalition releases are 50% ABV unless otherwise indicated and come in at a $54.99 price point, which for an American Single Malt is far below average (a good thing here).

Thank you to Virginia Distillery Company for the opportunity to taste this product. All opinions are my own.

Virginia Distillery Company The Brewer’s Coalition 2nd Edition (2025) American Single Malt: Specs

Classification: American Single Malt Whisky

Producer: Virginia Distillery Company

Grain Bill: 100% Malted Barley

Proof: 100º (50% ABV)

Age: 5+ Years Old

Location: Virginia

Virginia Distillery Company The Brewer’s Coalition 2nd Edition (2025) American Single Malt Price: $54.99

Official Website

Virginia Distillery Company The Brewer’s Coalition 2nd Edition (2025) American Single Malt: Tasting Notes

Eye: 18K gold. Medium rims, legs, and drops.

Nose: Captain Crunch - didn’t expect that as an opening note. Sweet and malty, malt and stout both crystal clear. Biscuits, warm and toasted. Dark and unsalted pretzel crusts, a bitter edge emerging late with some air.

Palate: Stout comes on stronger here with sweet malty essence. Piquant on the tip o fmy tongue from proof and oak, though not overwhelming. The malt underneath is decadent. Hobnob cookies, fresh-cracked chocolate malt. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and surprisingly rihc with dark chocolate and white pepper. Coating, oily, rolls back to mid-palate, barest tannin.

Finish: Coats the whole palate, heavy ont he white pepper and a surprisingly spicy cask influence at the end. Flavorful, continues from the nose and palate. Medium-long.

Overall: Simple, straightforward, delicious. The malt and stout are like dark chocolate-covered pretzels and Hobnobs. I don’t say simple to detract, just to say don’t expect overly complex, just enjoy it, especially if you like stouts and darker flavors.