A stout-finished American single malt with a creamy palate, ripe banana and an earthy, candy-like character that rewards a little time in the glass.
Part of the Bourbon Bishop Virginia Craft Whiskey Starter Trail
This distillery is featured on my Bourbon Bishop Virginia Craft Whiskey Starter Trail in the Virginia Spirits Trail app, a curated way to explore some of the Commonwealth’s craft distilleries.
Stats
- Type: Finished American Single Malt
- Age: 5 years
- Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
- Mashbills: 100% Malted Barley
- Origin: Virginia Distillery Company — Lovingston, Virginia
- Finish: The Bruery “Black Tuesday” stout from Placentia, California
- Blend Size: 6 barrels
- Release: Limited release
- MSRP: $54.99 / 750 mL (via Virginia Distilling Co.)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Dark chocolate lava cake leads, followed by bright, overripe banana and citrus. A touch of malted graininess sits underneath, creating a dessert-like profile that is inviting without being particularly forceful.
- Palate: The mouthfeel is moderately full and creamy, with banana bread, black currant and cinnamon. The fruit comes forward more than expected, while the chocolate character takes a back seat to the softer, baked-dessert notes.
- Finish: Moderate pepper gives way to snowcap candies and earthy notes with a “cup o’ dirt” dessert-like sweetness (gummy worms, pudding, crushed Oreos) that adds an unusual twist. The finish is relatively quick, with a short-to-moderate linger rather than a lasting crescendo.
The Virginia Distillery Company’s “Brewer’s Coalition” collaboration with The Bruery uses Black Tuesday stout as the finishing partner for an American single malt aged at least five years. At 100 proof and $54.99, it sits in the same general territory as the other stout-finished releases in the series, but its flavor profile takes a different path than the name might lead you to expect.
Rather than delivering an overwhelming wall of chocolate, this whiskey leans into ripe banana, banana bread, black currant and cinnamon, eventually developing an earthy, almost candy-like quality. It’s a whiskey that benefits from a little patience in the glass, even if its moderate finish and relatively gentle spice keep it from reaching the heights of the more compelling releases in the collection.
Presentation
The black-and-white label has an almost Oreo-inspired look, making it immediately recognizable within the VDC Brewers Coalition lineup.
The visual identity works particularly well for a stout collaboration, and the series’ consistent design language makes it easy to distinguish the individual releases.
Distinctiveness
This whiskey is less chocolate-forward than its stout association might suggest.
Banana bread, black currant and an earthy gummy-candy note give it an unusual identity, although the overall experience remains fairly gentle and the finish is less persistent than I’d prefer.
“The Bruery Black Tuesday Stout Finished American Single Malt takes an interesting detour from the chocolate-heavy profile many drinkers might anticipate.”
Transparency
VDC clearly identifies The Bruery and Black Tuesday stout as the collaboration partners, which is a meaningful strength, along withe barrel size of the blend.
More detail on the finishing duration and the precise ages of the whiskey components would make the release more transparent.
Value
At $54.99, this is reasonably priced alongside the other stout-finished offerings in the collection.
It offers a distinctive fruit-and-dessert profile, though it doesn’t separate itself quite enough in depth or finish to make it the strongest value in the lineup.
Buy if:
- You enjoy banana bread and ripe banana flavors in whiskey.
- You prefer a creamy, approachable palate over aggressive proof or spice.
- You’re curious about unusual stout-finished American single malts.
- You like earthy, candy-like flavors alongside dark fruit.
Skip if:
- You’re expecting an intensely chocolate-forward stout-finished whiskey.
- You prefer a long, lingering finish with substantial spice.
- You dislike earthy notes.
- You want the most distinctive or best-performing bottle in the VDC Brewers Coalition lineup.
Verdict
The Bruery Black Tuesday Stout Finished American Single Malt takes an interesting detour from the chocolate-heavy profile many drinkers might anticipate. The nose opens with dark chocolate lava cake, but ripe banana and citrus quickly change the direction. On the palate, banana bread, black currant and cinnamon take center stage, while the finish introduces a curious combination of earthy notes and gummy-candy sweetness.
This is also a whiskey that seems to open up with time in the glass. The initial pour is less revealing than the whiskey becomes after sitting for a while, so I’d give it a few minutes before making a final judgment. Even with that improvement, the relatively short finish and moderate overall intensity keep it behind the more memorable releases in this series. At $54.99, it’s a reasonable choice for drinkers who enjoy fruit-driven American single malt, but it isn’t the first bottle I’d reach for if the goal were maximum complexity or impact.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
A creamy, banana-bread-driven stout-finished single malt with black currant and earthy candy notes, but a finish that fades too quickly.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 4 / 7
- Palate: 4 / 7
- Finish: 4.25 / 7
- Presentation: 5.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5.25 / 7
- Transparency: 6 / 7
- Value: 4.75 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 4.82 / 7 – Angelic
Good to great. Often high value for the price.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often high value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
About Virginia Distillery Co.
Virginia Distillery Co. is an American Single Malt distillery located in Lovingston, Virginia, founded by George G. Moore with a vision of creating world-class American whisky inspired by the traditions of the Old World while embracing the possibilities of American production. Today, the distillery is operated by George’s wife, Angela, and son, Gareth Moore.
The distillery is best known for Courage & Conviction, its flagship American Single Malt, along with a broader range of American Single Malts featuring cask finishes drawn from both Old and New World traditions. Its work frequently explores the influence of different maturation and finishing casks, making experimentation and innovation central to the Virginia Distillery Co. approach.
Through projects such as The Brewer’s Coalition, Virginia Distillery Co. has expanded that experimentation into collaborations with breweries around the country, using distinctive beer barrels to explore new expressions of American Single Malt while building connections between American whisky and craft brewing.
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