Virginia Distillery Company Old Rasputin Stout Finished Whiskey Review.

    Virginia Distillery Company has quietly become one of the more interesting names in the American single malt category. Between their focus on blending, finishing techniques, and pushing deeper into brewery collaborations, they’ve carved out a lane that feels genuinely creative instead of gimmicky. Their earlier Goose Island collaboration already proved they understood how to handle stout finishes without completely overwhelming the whiskey underneath, so expectations were high heading into this Old Rasputin release.

    That curiosity only grows once you realize this wasn’t a quick secondary finish tossed together for marketing. This is a six-year-old American single malt aged in ex-bourbon barrels before spending roughly ten months in Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout casks. For beer lovers, especially fans of that rich North Coast stout profile, this bottle immediately sounds like something special. The real question becomes whether the stout finish complements the whiskey or completely dominates it.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/J5uydiEdwpk.

Age Statement: 6 years.

ABV: 50%.

Mash bill: 100% malted barley.

Area of Distillation: Lovingston, Virginia.

Finishing: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout Casks.

Appearance: Golden amber.


On the nose:

    The stout influence immediately jumps out of the glass. Rich malt, dark chocolate, roasted grain, and lingering beer foam notes instantly evoke a freshly finished pint of Old Rasputin. It genuinely smells like the remnants left behind in a stout glass after the final sip. Underneath that beer-forward character sits a softer layer of sweet barley, caramelized oak sugars, and faint char. 

    Tart green apple begins to emerge with time in the glass, leaning heavily into Granny Smith territory with a slightly candy-like edge. There’s also a subtle seasonal spice note hiding underneath everything else, bringing hints of orange zest, cinnamon stick, star anise, and fading holiday potpourri. The impressive part is how balanced it all feels. The stout notes are unmistakable, but they never become sour, funky, or overly bitter. Instead, they weave naturally into the American single malt profile.

Taste:

 The sip opens softer than expected, showcasing sweet malted barley, toasted grain, and that tart green apple note almost immediately. Mid-palate is where the stout influence fully takes over, layering the whiskey with dark chocolate shavings, roasted malt, and rich cocoa bitterness. The texture becomes one of the standout qualities here. There’s a coating richness that lingers across the palate, giving the chocolate notes real depth without turning syrupy. 

    The oak introduces a peppery spice that almost drinks like rye whiskey at times despite there being no rye in the mash bill. Whether that spice comes from the oak itself or the ex-bourbon casks used previously, it adds an excellent contrast against the sweeter malt profile. Subsequent sips continue building darker chocolate notes alongside cinnamon spice and lingering roasted grain. The beer finish remains front and center throughout, but the underlying single malt never disappears beneath it.  

Finish:

    The finish lingers with soft pepper spice, roasted malt, dark chocolate, and lingering beer-like richness. The tart apple note hangs around longer than expected, helping brighten what could otherwise become a very heavy profile. There’s a slight waxiness to the mouthfeel as the whiskey fades, giving it a dense and satisfying conclusion. 

Final Thoughts:

    This is one of the better stout-finished whiskeys currently on the market and possibly one of the strongest examples of beer finishing done right within American single malt. The stout influence is undeniably bold, but it never feels lazy or overpowering. Instead, it enhances the whiskey while still allowing the underlying malt character to shine through. Beer-finished whiskey can be divisive, especially when distilleries push too far into bitterness or roast-heavy territory. 

    Virginia Distillery Company manages to avoid those pitfalls entirely here. The Old Rasputin casks bring deep chocolate richness, roasted malt complexity, and layered spice while still preserving balance and drinkability. At around $54.99, this feels like a genuinely impressive craft whiskey release, especially considering the age statement, finishing time, and overall execution.

Rating: B+ (Great).

Cost: $54.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/J5uydiEdwpk.

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