This is a collaboration between spirits industry veteran Brent Hocking and Canadian superstar Drake…with a lot of help from the folks at MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The whisky is a blend of two to four-year-old MGP stock, and while it’s not specified on the label, the fact that it’s called “American Whiskey” opens the door to tweaking the taste with added flavorings.

The nose has a very brandy-like aroma heavy on orange peel, along with caramel, molasses, allspice, dark chocolate, honey, and brown sugar notes. The taste starts off with orange, dark chocolate, honey and an unusual honeydew melon note, followed by a kick of black pepper and allspice. The finish is dry and once again, very brandy-like. Whisky purists may blanch a bit, but it’s still an interesting dram. The purists can take some comfort in Virginia Black’s full disclosure on the rear label, noting that it’s distilled in Indiana and clarifying that it’s not from Virginia – since some consumer is likely to look at the name and assume that’s where it comes from. (October, 2016)