Description
About Virgil Kaine Ginger Infused Bourbon Whiskey
Virgil Kaine was founded by successful chef duo David Szlam and Ryan Meany in 2013. Szlam trained under award-winning Chef Daniel Humm now at Eleven Madison Park, while Meany helped launch the Charleston’s Husk restaurant. Virgil Kaine began with one goal: to create high-quality whiskey. Inspired by culinary practices, Szlam and Meany experimented with various blends and infusions, tinkering with choice ingredients to craft their paradigm-shifting whiskeys.
What It Is & Production Details
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Brand / Maker: Virgil Kaine Lowcountry Whiskey Co., based in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
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Type / Style: Flavored whiskey (bourbon base infused with ginger). It uses bourbon as a base, then they infuse it with yellow Hawaiian ginger (sometimes described as heirloom ginger)
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Mash Bill / Base Bourbon: The underlying “young” bourbon is made from a mash of 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley — the same as their “High‑Rye Bourbon” base.
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ABV / Proof: 40% ABV (80 proof)
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Age / Maturation: It’s a NAS (no age statement) whiskey. The bourbon base is relatively young.
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Filtration / Additives: The base whiskey is non‑chill filtered (at least for the bourbon base) per some sources.
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Infusion Details: The ginger infusion is done after the bourbon base — they macerate / infuse the ginger into the bourbon. The label is TTB‑approved (i.e. federally allowed) for its classification as a “flavored whiskey.”
Tasting Notes & Flavor Profile
Here’s what drinkers and reviewers generally pick up:
| Component | Typical Notes & Impressions |
|---|---|
| Nose | Fresh, noticeable ginger upfront, with vanilla, oak, light corn sweetness, citrus / orange zest, oats/sorghum notes. |
| Palate / Taste | Strong ginger root impact (earthy, spicy), medium sweetness (vanilla / butterscotch), touches of dried fruit (apricot, sultana), light oak, mild rye spice. Some say it’s akin to a Kentucky Mule (ginger + bourbon) in character. |
| Finish | Ginger lingers; mild spice and warmth; a sweet finish with vanilla notes and subtle tannins. The finish isn’t extremely long but has character. |
One reviewer (Drinkhacker) describes it as “very clean and pleasant, a refreshing and easygoing whiskey that’s touched with a light smacking of ginger root … the finish is more akin to a good ginger ale than anything else.”
Strengths & What Makes It Interesting
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Unique flavor twist: Infusing ginger gives it a distinctive edge. If you enjoy whiskey with character, or cocktails like whiskey + ginger, this gives you a head start.
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Accessibility: At 40% ABV and with approachable sweetness + spice, it’s not too aggressive, which helps for casual sipping.
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Good for mixing / cocktails: Because it already brings ginger and body, it can work well in simpler cocktails (or even neat with ice).
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Craft / small batch appeal: The brand leans into culinary roots (chefs founding it) and local sourcing (ginger from ~30 miles away) in their narrative.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.