Part 2: Our Visit to The copper Fox Distillery

The entrance of The Copper Fox Distillery

Travel west on the Fairfax County Parkway then west on I-66, then the Lee Highway takes you the rest of the way.  A turn onto Sons Lane leads to a quiet alley lined with parking areas and a cluster of old barns that have been repurposed into shops. Each barn now houses something different - The New Iberia Kitchen and The Copper Fox Antiques Store, among others. For clarity, that last one isn’t associated with our destination - The Copper Fox Distillery.

We first stumbled upon Copper Fox years ago, not long after moving to Virginia. On a family trip to Luray Caverns, I noticed the distillery sign along the way. Never one to pass up the chance to sample a good whisky, I made a mental note, and we stopped in on our drive home. It turned out to be the kids’ first encounter with the heady aroma of a working fermenter, rich with carbon dioxide, and let’s just say, they weren’t fans - it’s overpowering. For me, though, the tour was fascinating, and I’ve wanted to return ever since.

Several shops in the old factory complex.

The distillery’s surroundings are straightforward and functional, with a gravel parking lot and simple, well-kept grounds. The buildings themselves have a sturdy, workhorse character.  You can tell they’ve seen plenty of use over the years. At the entrance, two sleek black cats keep watch. Fortunately for us, they decided to supervise from a distance; my dog, unfamiliar with cats, would likely have learned a quick and memorable lesson from those two if they hadn’t repositioned.

It was a perfect autumn day - clear, crisp, and full of that unmistakable fall energy. As I pushed open the heavy wooden doors, I was greeted by a rush of warmth and the unmistakable aroma of whisky. Few things compare to that first breath inside Copper Fox. Of all the pleasures here, enjoying the “angel’s share” might just be the best.

We arrived about ten minutes after opening, and a couple was already relaxing in the lounge chairs. Another group followed soon after. Kara welcomed us with a smile and led us to a table. I introduced myself and asked if the master distiller might be available. She smiled and said she’d check. 

A few moments later, production manager Jesse joined us and greeted us warmly. After a quick introduction and a chat about Whiskey and Politics, we hit it off right away - just as I’m sure you will when you meet him.

I was genuinely surprised to learn that the original Sperryville location runs with a team of only four people. For such a polished operation, that’s impressive. The tasting area’s neatness and attention to detail speak volumes about their pride and hard work.

Nice and cozy inside.

The space itself feels both vintage and comfortable - eclectic furniture that’s clearly been chosen with care, and a relaxed vibe that makes you want to linger. The tasting room, housed in a renovated barn, features heavy wooden beams, rustic floors, and a cozy wood stove crackling in the corner. Old farm tools hang on the walls, giving the space a warm, unfussy, and welcoming feeling

Step outside and you’re treated to beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Flights are served on old barrel staves - a clever nod to the craft - and there’s a well-stocked gift shop full of merch your friends and family will love.

Sperryville makes for an easy and pleasant day trip from anywhere in the DMV area. Since my last visit, Copper Fox has expanded with a second distillery in Williamsburg - just a mile from Colonial Williamsburg. The Sperryville location focuses on tours, while the Williamsburg site hosts tours, events, and can be rented for private functions.

At Sperryville tours are offered Thursday through Sunday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. for just $10, with free admission for kids under 12.

When I asked Jesse how business was holding up amid talk of a slowdown across the whisky industry, he smiled and said, “Give it an hour or two - this place will be packed.” Despite trends showing younger generations drinking less, Copper Fox’s whisky sales are still strong. Good news for them - and for all of us who appreciate their craft.

Copper Fox holds a special place in American whisky history as one of the first distilleries to produce a single malt whisky here in the U.S. 

It’s too bad you can’t smell the whiskey. It was wonderful.

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Copper Fox Distillery first opened its doors in Sperryville in 2005.  It was founded by Rick Wasmund after years of hands-on experience at Scotland’s Bowmore Distillery. After a period of experimentation and refinement, he introduced Wasmund’s Original Single Malt Whisky - the first single malt whisky smoked with applewood.

Unlike traditional Scotch producers who use peat to dry their malted barley, Copper Fox uses locally sourced fruitwoods, creating a distinctly American twist on a classic style. Most distilleries today rely on column stills, and very few who make malt whisk(e)y still operate their own malting floor. (We talked about malting floors in our Whiskey of the Week feature on Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch.) Copper Fox continues to use traditional pot stills and remains one of only five U.S. distilleries that malts its own barley in-house.

Shadow loved The Copper Fox

Their lineup extends beyond whisky, too. Copper Fox offers a range of spirits, including vodka and an upcoming gin that I was lucky enough to sample. It’s smooth, flavorful, and dangerously easy to sip. Unfortunately, it wasn’t yet available for purchase thanks to some state-level delays (bah humbug!). When you do see it on shelves, don’t hesitate to buy a bottle - it’s excellent.

They also offer some creative specialty options, like the chance to buy unaged whisky along with your own small barrel to age it in. I’ve done that before, and it’s a lot of fun watching your spirit mature over time.

If you’re tired of wine country, I recommend a trip to Copper Fox.  Because it’s so close, we’ll be back again soon - sooner than twelve years.  We said fair well to our new friends and continued on to our next destination.  

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I tasted The Flagship Flight - delicious.

I tasted all four of these whiskies and bought the following:  

The Copper Fox Original Rye - Non-chill filtered. 45% ABV - from their website, “Distilled from a unique blend of thoroughbred grains from the Northern Neck of Virginia; 2/3 rye, 1/3 barley, hand-malted and kiln-dried with applewood and cherrywood smoke.  Double pot-distilled at a low 150 to 160 proof to enhance the fruitiness and matured in ex-bourbon barrels with progressive infusions of toasted apple wood and oak chips.”

Color: Copper and Macintosh apple

Nose: Sensual aromas of butter roasted chestnuts, clay, dried apple and pickling spices, rye grain sacks

Palate: Silky, with dried fruit and nuts, medium-to-full body, warm and inviting

Finish: Honeyed rye toast, peppery spice, cola, fig and mineral rich

The Sassy Single Malt Rye - Non-chill filtered. 45% ABV - from their website, “The flavor journey continues! True to our craft and wanting to bring new flavors to the whisky world, this unique single malt rye is floor malted then lightly toasted and dried in our kiln with a light to medium sassafras smoke. The sassafras root actually comes from the farm in the Northern Neck where our grain is grown. It is then aged with a progressive series of hand toasted, select seasoned, new and used applewood and oak chips inside used bourbon barrels then transferred to a second used bourbon barrel.

Color: Light mahogany in appearance

Nose: Aromas of anise, cinnamon and cola.

Palate: Coats the tongue with a smoky spiciness that lingers on the palate

Finish: Eventually mellows into notes of cranberries and black licorice.

The Copper Fox Peachwood American Single Malt - Non-chill filtered. 48% ABV - from their website, “Our continuing quest to bring new flavors to the whisky world led us to the delicate complexities of peachwood. Both as a smoking medium during the kiln drying process and as a maturing catalyst inside our barrels, peachwood contributes a symphony of fruity, floral notes to our signature single malt.”

Color: Auburn, tarnished copper

Nose: Complex aromas of ripe stone fruit, sweet smoke/ash (campfire)and cinnamon pastry

Palate: Medium-full body; just slightly tannic/drying, sweet but earthy at the same time; syrupy mouthfeel; flavors of marzipan, clove, orange zest, and underneath it all a subtle, salty smokiness

Finish: Medium-long, dried fruit, raw honey, and toasted oak notes

Cocktail

Here’s a delicious cocktail that you can make with one of my purchases, their Original Rye:

Tropical Mule

1 Oz Copper Fox Original Rye

Q Tropical Ginger Beer

Candied Pineapple

AI was used on original content to polish the language for readability, fix grammar and punctuation issues, and slightly adjust structure where needed for smoother flow.