VA Distilling Co. Cider Cask Finished (Mine is Batch 4 but my notes were similar enough to previous tastings that a new entry wasn't warranted ). Pours into my Glencairn a pale straw in color. Think Apple Juice or Lipton bottled Green Tea. Nose: The Cider greets you on the cork pop as the scent of Apple hits you square in the face. In the glass you get Granny Smith Apple, Malt, Cream, Buttery Biscuits, Tea, a wisp of smoke, and a hint of Sourness. The more it sits the more complex it gets. I really like this nose. Neat: Despite the lack of wood on the nose, it is the first note I get on the palate. Apples, Beeswax, Barrel Wood, Ginger, and some smoke as well. It also has a nice Peppery Tingle throughout. There is a Mild Bitterness hanging out, but it never becomes dominant or offensive. It leaves with a slightly Warming finish that coats with with sweet'ish Vanilla and Oak. The Apple is definitely there, but to me it's not much more than I get from a fruit forward Highland Single Malt. Splash: Sweetened the finish a good bit by removing the bitterness that had been lurking. Verdict: Pleasantly surprised by this one. I was hoping for something in the 3'ish range, but I got a solid 4. I had been reluctant to try this at $65 per bottle, but I found a gift pack that has 3 half-size bottles (Cider, Chardonnay, and Port) for only $30. A great deal. A combination of American and Scottish Malt blended and given a secondary aging sounds like something that would be hard to pull off, but VA Distillery has managed to do it. Cheers!