A Leading American Single Malt Distillery Is Launching a Whiskey Blending Experience Alongside The Ritz-Carlton

(Photos: Virginia Distillery Company)

On Tuesday, Virginia Distillery Company unveiled a “Create-Your-Own” American single malt whiskey experience alongside the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

The experience is named “The Draftsmen,” and it invites whiskey fans to craft their own personal whiskey blends.

Participants will choose from a variety of single malt whiskeys crafted by Virginia Distillery Company — aged in either bourbon, cuvée red wine or sherry casks — and blend them together to customize a personalized flavor profile.

Once blended, the whiskey will be bottled and customized with a name or logo.

The Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown became the first luxury hotel to have chosen its own blend of The Draftsmen. The hotel’s selection will be available at the hotel’s bar, the Degrees Bistro, where it will be featured in a cocktail, “The Draftsmen Black Manhattan.”

The Ritz-Carlton’s bottle of Virginia Distillery The Draftsmen

“We are thrilled to launch The Draftsmen in collaboration with The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown, Washington D.C.” Virginia Distillery Company CEO Gareth Moore said in a news release. “This project is a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and personal expression. It allows whisky enthusiasts to step into the shoes of the distiller, crafting a unique whisky blend that’s truly their own. We can’t wait for hotel guests to experience this one-of-a-kind offering, and we’re equally excited to see how people craft their ideal whisky at-home.”

What If I’m Not in Washington, DC?

Fear not! Those who don’t have the chance to taste the Ritz-Carlton’s blend can get the experience online. If you click this link, you’ll be directed to a page that will offer you the chance to order a blending kit or a custom bottle.

When curating a custom bottle, you can choose how much of whiskey finished in bourbon, cuvée red wine and sherry casks you want to go into your blend — just be sure to list your choices in increments of 10%. For example, you could select a blend that’s 40% finished in bourbon casks, 40% finished in cuvée red wine casks and 20% finished in sherry casks.

These custom 750-milliliter bottles blended and customized by Virginia Distillery Co. are priced at $69.99.

Virginia Distillery Company’s The Draftsmen at-home blending kit

If you’d rather do the blending yourself, you can order a blending kit, which comes with sample bottles of Virginia Distillery Company single malt finished in bourbon, cuvée red wine or sherry casks; a dropper for precise blending; and a branded tasting glass.

The blending kit is priced at $21.99 for Virginians or $24.99 for those outside of the state.