Yes, I gladly admit; I enjoy a good whiskey. That’s also why it was such a great pleasure to get a first-hand insight into whiskey production at the small family-driven Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, Virginia, yesterday. This distillery is the result of a man following his dream and capitalizing on its hometown’s strength in quality apple trees. His small-batch, hand-made whiskey differs from others as the first applewood chip-aged whiskey in the world. I’ve been to large distilleries and breweries earlier, but for us who know whiskey largely as end-consumers, a micro-distillery offers the opportunity to study and learn the processes far better than the giants.
How pleasant to breathe in the angle’s share of Copper Fox Distillery…
This company surely reminds all visitors that passion is the competitive edge needed to provide excellent customer experiences even in ancient and competitive industries. Our guide Tom guided us passionately through the whiskey-making processes in the facilities that looked like a barn and included a living room for the fonder’s family and a small factory outlet. The atmosphere was very pleasant – strengthened by the scent of sweet warm alcohol. In fact, as much as 20 % of the whiskey vanish into the air from the standing barrels…
Rick Wasmund started his distillery in 2000 and bottled the first whiskey in 2003. His preparations included study tours to among others the Bowmore distillery on the isle of Islay. Today, he produces single malt whiskey and rye whiskey with the help of his mother, daughter, and friend Sean McCaskey, and also offers the clear spirit that the processes give before aging in barrels. Wasmund dries and smokes his Virginia Tech-recommended type of barley and rye grown in Pennsylvania, and from thereon produces his whiskey. For you to have the chance to take part of what I experienced, the production process of Copper Fox whiskey is briefly and superficially explained in the following photo gallery:
Among American whiskeys I have found the rye whiskey to be a personal favorite independent from labels, and I’m therefore just about to enjoy a generous glass of straight Copper Fox Rye Whisky. Cheers!
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Further information:
- If you can’t visit Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, visit their homepage at www.copperfox.biz.
- Wikipedia on Copper Fox Distillery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_Fox_Distillery.
- Wikipedia on whiskey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky.
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