02/06/2026
Some bottles walk into the room before the Wh***ey does — and Virginia Black is one of them. The art-deco diamond label, the chevron glass, that heavy gold cap… it's one of the best-looking bottles I've ever put on a shelf.
So the only fair question is whether the juice is as good as the suit.
Honest answer: it's high-rye Bourbon sourced out of Indiana (the back label even says not from Virginia), blended young and proofed down to 40%. That makes it soft and sweet — vanilla, caramel, maple, buttered popcorn, with a gentle rye nip on the finish. It's not a barrel-strength Kentucky monster. It's an easy, buttery crowd-pleaser, and for that job it's a beauty.
I grew up on one VB. This is the other one. First came in a slab — this one comes in a suit.
Buy it for the bottle. Keep it for the easy pour. Pour it over ice, with good cola, or beside a slice of pecan pie, and it makes complete sense.
Want to taste it properly alongside a few others? Pick a topic — American Wh***ey, Bourbon, Whiskies of the World — and I'll build the night around a hero bottle. Mention this Cheat Sheet and $1,200 gets you me and up to 15 of your closest (normally $1,550).
https://www.whiskypetes.com/book/p/private-whisky-masterclass-sydney
Always drink responsibly. Enjoy in moderation.
**kyPetes ***ey **ky
