Three spirits. Multiple distilleries. One shared identity rooted in place.
The Virginia Trio brings together some of the state’s leading distilleries to create a gin, rum, and whiskey that reflect the Commonwealth’s ingredients, history, and evolving identity. Each bottle stands on its own—but together, they form a broader story about collaboration and terroir.
The Bottles
The Concept
A rare multi-distillery collaboration where each component — grain, fermentation, distillation, and aging — remains rooted in Virginia. The goal isn’t uniformity, but expression.
The Distilleries Behind the Gin
Mt. Defiance C & D
- Location: Middleburg, VA
- Specialty: Cider, brandy, botanical spirits
- Role: Botanical development & distillation
Virago Spirits
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Specialty: Botanical-forward spirits
- Role: Blending & botanical integration
Vitae Spirits
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Specialty: Rum, gin, experimental spirits
- Role: Distillation support & blending
The Distillers & Blenders
The gin project was led by Peter Ahlf of Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery with blending and distillation support provided by Barry Haneberg (Virago Spirits) and Peter Morgner (Vitae Spirits).
The Distilleries Behind the Rum
Belmont Farm
- Location: Middleburg, VA
- Specialty: Farm to glass whiskey and moonshine
- Contribution: Aged rum component
Virago Spirits
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Specialty: Botanical & experimental spirits
- Contribution: Core blend + leadership
Vitae Spirits
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Specialty: Rum, gin, experimental spirits
- Contribution: Major blend component
The Distillers & Blenders
The rum blending was led by Barry Haneberg of Virago Spirits located in Richmond with blending support provided by Chuck Miller (Belmont Farms) and Chris Richeson (Chesapeake Bay Distillery).
The Distilleries Behind the Whiskey
Ironclad Distillery
- Location: Newport News, VA
- Specialty: Bourbon
- Contribution: 5-year bourbon (55% Corn, 35% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley)
Virginia Distillery
- Location: Lovingston, VA
- Specialty: American single malt
- Contribution: 7-year American single malt (100% malted barley)
Catoctin Creek
- Location: Purcellville, VA
- Specialty: Rye whiskey and gin
- Contribution: 7-year rye (100% rye)
- -> Read about my visit
Reservoir
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Specialty: Bourbon and wheat whiskey
- Contribution: 6-year wheat whiskey (100% wheat)
The Distillers & Blenders
Blended by Amanda Beckwith, Lead Blender of Virginia Distillery Co (Lovingston, VA) and Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek Distillery (Purcellville, VA).
Presentation
The packaging carries equal weight alongside the spirits themselves. Norfolk-based artist Mark Todd (M.C. Todd Design) was commissioned to create a triptych-style design where each bottle contributes to a continuous visual narrative of the James River flowing from Virginia’s mountains to its coastline. A subtle river-shaped window cut into the display box reinforces the connective thread between regions, distilleries, and styles—less three separate bottles than one shared idea expressed three different ways.
Todd’s work feels deeply rooted in Virginia itself. Raised in Suffolk and now based in Norfolk, his background in advertising and illustration informs a design approach that is both highly detailed and story-driven. The artwork captures the Commonwealth’s landscape, history, agriculture, and sense of place without feeling overly romanticized or forced. The deeper you look, the more details reveal themselves.
It’s among the most thoughtful presentations I’ve seen from a modern craft spirits release. My only criticism is practical rather than artistic: the complexity of the label artwork appears to require a thicker application, leading to occasional bubbling that slightly detracts from the otherwise premium feel.
Why It Matters
This project captures a moment in Virginia distilling, bringing together different styles, philosophies, and histories into a single release. It’s less about perfection and more about representation.
Final Take
An ambitious, collaborative release that prioritizes identity over consistency. Not every element lands, but the overall statement is hard to ignore.