Skip to main content

This Virginia Distillery Just Released a Beer-Finished Whisky

Can you really go wrong when you put beer and whisky together?

No. The answer is no. Sipped separately or served as a Boilermaker, it is one of our favorite combinations (outside of whiskey mixed with more whiskey, of course).

Recommended Videos

This is why we were excited when Virginia Distillery Company released its latest expression: Brewers Batch 1, a beer-finished whisky.

virginia-distillery-company-beer-batch-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Before we go on, if anyone out there is wondering, yes, there is no ‘e’ in this whisky. Virginia Distillery Company marries Highland Scotch whisky with a single malt whiskey that they make in their distillery, which they call Virginia-Highland whisky.

Now, onto the new release.

To accomplish this beer-finished expression, the Lovingston, Virginia-based distillery worked with Three Notch’d Brewing Company (located about 35 miles away in Charlottesville) on a beer brewed specifically for the collaboration: a Wee Heavy style beer named Stage Road.

virginia-distillery-company-beer-batch-1-three-notchd-tom-daly
Image used with permission by copyright holder

(Quick beer fact: Wee Heavys — sometimes also referred to as Scotch Ales — are typically sweet, full-bodied beers with an ABV of between 6-10 percent. Some of the Wee Heavys we love around here are Oskar Blues Old Chub, Founders Backwoods Bastard, and for both the name and the beer, Moylan’s Brewery’s Kilt Lifter.)

On the actual production side, Three Notch’d took Virginia Distillery Company whisky casks to age the beer. After a few months, the distillery took the casks back and put their whisky back in to finish it off.

The resulting whisky is rich in cocoa and caramel, with malty notes accentuated by the vanilla flavors that came from the casks.

In total, 250 cases of Brewers Batch 1 were produced. If you’re looking for this release, your best bet will be to head to a Virginia ABC store, as only a small number of bottles will be available online and in the Washington D.C. market. The bottles retail for $65 plus tax.

Virginia Distillery Company is already working on the second edition of Brewers Batch — this time with Three Stars Brewing, which is located in Washington D.C. There’s no word yet as to what style of beer Three Stars is using, but if it ends up as tasty as Brewers Batch 1, we can’t help but be excited.

Also, if Virginia Distillery Company plans to continue their Brewers Batch with breweries with the word three in them, we’ve gone and found a few they might want to think about (even though they’re not based in Virginia): Three Floyds Brewing Co, Three 3’s Brewery, or Three Four Beer Co, just to name a few. Three, in fact.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
All the new whiskies you need to drink this fall
Fall means the return to great brown spirits like whiskey — Here are the bottles to get your paws on
WhistlePig 18 Double Malt Rye

Fall means a lot of things, from significant changes in fashion to heftier fare on our plate. In the glass, it often means transitioning from summery spirits like rum and bright wines like Pinot Grigio to deeper, darker options. The cooler days are prime time for whiskey, especially now that we have a new single malt category to celebrate.

As whiskey fans through and through, there's really no bad time for the stuff. However, fall's shift to brisker conditions really welcome the warmth and lasting flavors of whiskey. Here are seven options to hand your whiskey-loving hat on.
St. George Spirits Single Malt - $100
California's foremost distillery has actually been making a mean single malt since 2000. This release, named Lot 22, drops at the end of October and is one of the most sought-after releases St. Georges puts out. It's incredible, with balance and finesse for ages. If you can't get your hands on the stuff, look out for a close second in the brand's Baller Single Malt release.

Read more
The 11 Best Whiskies for Whiskey Sours This 2022, According to Bartenders
how to make a whiskey sour 2 cocktail  garrison brothers distillery texas straight bourbon

Every cocktail is more nuanced than just combining liquor with a sugary mix. This rings especially true for the whiskey sour, an elegant and sweet American cocktail classic. It contains a frothy egg white (though optional, it makes your whiskey sour creamier), a freshly squeezed citrus juice, and a dash of simple syrup.

However, selecting the right whiskey with the right dimension and balance transforms your whiskey sour from lackluster to delectable. Here’s our roundup of the best whiskies for whiskey sours this 2022, all carefully hand-picked by expert bartenders.

Read more
New Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Release Out in September
makers mark 2020 wood finishing limited release maker s 2

Last year, Maker's Mark released its first nationally available limited release edition of its Wood Finishing series, which joined the ranks of other wood stave-finished bourbons from the distillery like Maker's 46 and Private Selection. The bourbon had the arguably inartful name of Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6, based on the name of the staves that were placed in the barrel as part of the whiskey's finishing process. This September, the distillery is releasing the second edition, which rolls a bit easier off the tongue: Maker’s Mark 2020 Limited Release.

Two different staves were used for this year's bottling, the result of about a year's work with Independent Stave Company -- SE4, made from virgin French oak cooked at medium heat to bring out flavors of caramel, and PR5, made from virgin American oak and cooked slow and low to augment the vanilla notes.

Read more