Virginia Black American Whiskey
⭐ Intro
Virginia Black Whiskey came into my house with more hype than a Drake album drop and more style than it has any business having. My wife gifted me this bottle — which, honestly, is the best part of the whole experience. The whiskey itself? Not terrible, not offensive, but about as memorable as elevator music. Still, every bottle has a story… so let’s pour one and talk about it.
🕰️ History
Virginia Black launched in 2016 as the brainchild of two very different worlds: Drake — multi-platinum artist, luxury enthusiast, and professional “why is he making whiskey?” guy — and Brent Hocking, the mastermind behind DeLeón Tequila and a man who knows his way around premium spirits.
Together, they teamed up with Diageo to create a whiskey designed for a new generation — smoother, stylish, and aiming to break away from the rugged, old-school bourbon aesthetic. The blend uses 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old MGP bourbons, crafted for approachability and that “Decadently Smooth” tagline they leaned hard into.
The brand pushed a lifestyle as much as a flavor — luxury, glam, nightlife, celebration. They even went for an IPO in 2018, inviting fans to literally own a piece of the brand.
🍾 Bottle Design
Say what you want about the whiskey, but the bottle looks like a fancy cologne from a hotel you can’t afford. Stacked ribbed glass, bold gold-and-black label, very “Drake on a velvet couch.” It’s meant to stand out — and it does. On a shelf full of dusty bourbon bottles that look like they survived a cattle drive, Virginia Black is the one wearing designer sunglasses indoors.
🥃 The Pour
In the glass, it’s a standard amber — nothing wild, nothing off-putting. It looks the part. Thin legs, medium swirl, and visually… fine. Just fine. If whiskey had an “average” setting, this is it.
👃 Nose
Maple, light fruit, vanilla… all the notes the marketing sheet promises are technically there. But they’re faint. Safe. Gentle. Honestly, the nose reminded me of something you'd hand to someone who says, “I don’t normally drink whiskey, what do you recommend?” Not bad — just not memorable.
😋 Palate
Here’s where my experience really settled in: It tastes like… whiskey. Just whiskey. A little sweetness upfront (light maple), some oak peeking in, maybe a touch of fruit. But nothing jumps, nothing stands out, and nothing lingers. It’s the definition of “okay.” If whiskey had a default setting, this is the one the game loads before you customize it.
🔥 Finish
Short. Thin. Slightly sweet. Gone before you even think about it. I’ve had bourbons that punched me in the chest and bourbons that hugged me gently — this one just taps you on the shoulder and quietly walks away.
💭 Final Thoughts
The honest truth? This whiskey didn’t do much for me. Not because it was bad — it wasn’t — but because it was forgettable. The biggest highlight of the bottle was that my wife gifted it to me, and that alone made it worth opening. And some joke that it's a giant bottle of cologne, which is a funny bartop piece.
But for the price and the hype, I expected more personality. More flair. More… something. Especially coming from MGP!
If you’re a Drake fan, love the bottle design, or want something smooth and simple for cocktails or beginners, it may be worth a pickup. For the father-in-law and me, though? It’s one-and-done.
Cheers to a dram good time! 🥃✨
The Details:
Proof: 80 • Distillery: MGP • Mashbill: Undisclosed • Aged: 2-4yrs • Price: $50
Brown Water Rating Scale:
Nose: 2 • Palate: 3 • Finish: 2 • Uniqueness: 4 • Value: 3 • Overall: 2.8
This is a 5-point scale based on my own preferences. This was also tested by my father-in-law, another whiskey lover. 