Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky

VA ABC- $69.99

Total Wine - $70.99

Class VI - $XX.xx

A 4-pack of minis  (Single Malt, Bourbon Cask, Cuvee Cask, and Sherry Cask Whiskey) - $27.99

45% ABV

NAS

https://vadistillery.com/

Aged a minimum of five years, this 100% malted barley whisky is matured in former bourbon, sherry & cuvée wine casks.

From the ABC website:  The whisky line was named in honor of the distillery’s founder, Dr. George G. Moore, as he was known to say “have the courage of your convictions.” Courage & Conviction focuses on a trio of aging cask types: Sherry, Cuvée wine and Bourbon casks.  Courage & Conviction Flagship has notes of caramel and butterscotch and evolves on the palate with hints of dark dried fruit, raspberry, cocoa, barrel spice and vanilla. The finish is creamy and exceptionally smooth.

Aged in cuvee casks.  Wow!  That’s really special.  So, uh, what’s a ‘cuvee cask’?  Well, to quote Bart Simpson, if there are no easy answers, you’re not looking hard enough:  I went to Wikipedia to find the easy answer.  Simply put, ‘cuvee’ is French wine.  It has no official definition, “however, discerning producers who market both regular blends and blends they call "cuvée..." usually reserve the word for special blends or selected vats of higher quality—at least in comparison to that producer's regular wines.”  I’m not a wine drinker so I didn’t know any of this.  We’re learning something together.  Whiskey and Politics is here for you.  

Like scotch, this exceptional whiskey is 100% malted barley.  So if it’s the same recipe as scotch, can we call this ‘scotch’?  The answer is an emphatic ‘Níl!’.  Naming it scotch brings all sorts of legal problems.  A generation ago governments got together at the United Nations, deliberated for years and agreed that only whisky made in Scotland can be called ‘scotch’.  This proclamation was signed by every UN member and is an iron-clad law across the entire Earth.  It comes with a ten-year prison term.  Nah, just kidding.  There’s no universal law, just an agreement among liquor makers.  We don’t step on their scotch toes, they don’t step on our bourbon toes.  I’m a fan of that agreement and think it should continue across the industry.

Okay, so we can’t call it scotch, but it’s really just scotch, right?  Again, that’s a ‘No’ (only a little less emphatically and in American, not Gaelic).  The original mashbill is exactly the same, but things diverge quickly after that.  It’s possible the yeasts used to make the alcohol are different thereby making different juice.  And while both distillates are aged in used bourbon barrels, the Virginian climate is considerably different than that of Scotland.  Virginia gets cold in the winter and much warmer in the summer.  The tops of the rickhouses (whiskey warehouses) can reach temperatures much higher than on the ground.  So even before moving the whiskey from the bourbon barrels to the finishing casks, you’ll taste a significant difference between what Virginia Distillery makes and an equivalent scotch.  Don’t believe me?  VA distillery sells packs of minis.  Compare/contrast a mini of their whiskey with a single malt scotch like Glenturret - last week’s WotW.  I’m confident you’ll see a difference and also enjoy Courage & Conviction’s single malt.  

As with other places (like India), Americans are making some exceptional single malts.  Don’t limit your whiskey sipping to only bourbon.  American whiskey includes single malts, whiskies with mashbills that have less than 50% corn, even mashbills with unusual grains like quinoa.  There’s a great big whiskey world out there.  Drink with gusto.  

Iubilate! 

Cocktail

Dram About Town

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask: The distinguished base with a tapestry of raspberry and tart cherry whispers.

0.75 oz High Wire Southern Amaro: A bold herbal presence with an undercurrent of black tea complexity. ($38 at Total Wine - unavailable at VA ABC.  Lucano Amaro $33 at VA ABC)

0.5 oz Hardy Pineau Des Charentes: For a honeyed depth that complements the Cuvée Cask's profile. (Good luck finding that.  I think a quality cognac will do.)

0.25 oz Creme de Peche: A delicate peach infusion that brightens with its fruity undertone. (Giffard Creme De Peche - $30 for a fifth)

Garnish: An artful twist of orange peel accompanied by a single raspberry

Ice: Rocks

Glassware: Rocks Glass

Instructions:

Concoct with Care: Begin by introducing the ensemble of ingredients into the mixing glass, each selected for their harmonious interaction with the Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask.

Stir to the City Beat: Add ice and stir, not just to cool the concoction but to invite each flavor into a graceful urban ballet.

Serve with Style: Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass, laying the groundwork for an exquisite drinking experience.

A Citrus Kiss: Express orange oil over the top, casting a bright citrus glow atop the cocktail.

Adorn Thoughtfully: Place the orange peel and raspberry garnish as the crowning jewels of this metropolitan masterpiece.

A reminder to all my friends that there are many extra elections after the November ballots - some people move to a new office leaving their past office open.  Other politicians get nominated secretary positions in the federal government, again, requiring another election for their seat.  The next few weeks will be the primaries will take place.  Look at your county’s election website to see the dates, locations, and candidates.  After you vote, I’ve got the perfect whisky for you…

In response to a suggestion last week, Whiskey and Politics is discovering another Virginia whiskey, Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky.  This fruity, approachable single malt whisky is just like scotch, so it’s scotch, right?  Not so fast.  Open a bottle of Courage and Conviction and read on…