Virginia Distillery launches Whisky Experience

Lovingston-based Virginia Distillery Company is to open The Virginia Whisky Experience, an educational guided tour which includes an interactive museum space.

A tour in Virginia Distillery Company’s new Whisky Experience. Image: Tom Daly

Opening on 11 June, the 1,000 sq ft museum space houses vintage distilling equipment, informative panels and an original video which highlights the origins of single malt whisky in Scotland, and how production was brought to Virginia during the Great Migration

The film also explains Central Virginia’s seasonal maturation climate which, along with its water sources, makes it well-suited to whisky-making.

In addition to the guided museum tour, guests to the Whisky Experience will have the opportunity to undertake a walking tour of the distillery. Tours take in the cask house, where tastings take place, as well as a cocktail sampling exercise in the visitor centre.

Tours will be offered daily, with each lasting around one hour and 15 minutes.

“The team is excited to launch our tour program, which will offer a one-of-a-kind interactive experience right here in Nelson County,” said Maggie Moore, chief experience officer at Virginia Distillery Company.

“We’re inserting modern methods into time-honoured whisky making traditions and we look forward to showing our guests a behind the scenes look at our distilling process.”

In addition to the new Whisky Experience, Virginia Distillery Company has opened a new 2,000ft patio installation. The space seats around 50 people and features a water and fire fountain, and a bandstand.

The distillery partnered with several local businesses on the development of the museum, including Thayer Design, ID Company and McBride Signs. EDGE Design served as the construction partner for the patio.

Virginia Distillery Company opened in 2015 with Virginia Highland Malt its flagship product. Malt whisky arrives from the Scottish Highlands and is then finished in Virginia Port-style wine casks for an additional six-to-12 months.