BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE
Wasmund’s Single Malt Whisky
Gold Medal — 92 Points
“Exceptional”
Tasting notes: Rich amber copper color. Intriguing aromas and flavors of suede, olive tapenade, honey, dried fruit chutney and clay with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and long, spicy orange marmalade on rye toast and root beer float-like finish. Distinctively flavorful and a great choice for artisan cocktails or sipping. (Tasted Feb. 26, 2013.)
Copper Fox Rye Whisky
Gold Medal — 94 Points
“Exceptional”
Tasting notes: Rich amber copper color. Intriguing aromas and flavors of suede, olive tapenade, honey, dried fruit chutney and clay with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and long, spicy orange marmalade on rye toast and root beer float-like finish. Distinctively flavorful and a great choice for artisan cocktails or sipping. (Tasted Feb. 26, 2013.)
Copper Fox Peachwood American Single Malt Whisky
Gold Medal — 92 Points
“Exceptional”
Tasting notes: Medium-full body; just slightly tannic/drying, sweet but earthy at the same time; syrupy mouthfeel; flavors of marzipan, clove, orange zest, and underneath it all a subtle, salty smokiness. Both as a smoking medium during the kiln drying process and as a maturing catalyst inside our barrels, peachwood contributes a symphony of fruity, floral notes to our signature single malt.
Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015
Wasmund’s Single Malt Whisky
94.5 Points
"Wasmund gets flavors into and out of his whiskey like a magician conjures a dove ...superb!”
Copper Fox Rye Whisky
91 Points
“Crisp, meaningful rye with bells on …beautiful!”
Copper Fox Peachwood Single Malt
95 Points
“A magnificently distilled malt with a gorgeous light oiliness without recourse to extra feints. A deeply attractive finish with ulmo honey and vanilla. If this distillery has produced anything better than this then it is escaping my memory.” (2022)
Tasting notes: Copper color. Vibrant aromas of clay, butter roasted chestnuts, pickling spices, and rye grain sacks with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a honeyed rye toast, peppery spice, cola, fig, and mineral laden finish. A spot-on, wonderfully balanced rye whisky for all applications and occasions. (Tasted Feb. 26, 2013.)
Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2022: On the Peachwood American Single Malt: “A magnificently distilled malt”
The Free Lance-Star August 2020: "Distillery’s new bourbon honors late local farmer"
Coastal Virginia Magazine December 2017: "Rick Wasmund Reinvents Spirits at Copper Fox Distillery"
Virginia Lodging, Restaurant and Travel October 2017: "VLRTA Awards"
Flaviar Times July 2017: "Copper Fox is making some pretty smokin' American whisky"
Esquire Magazine June 2017: "The Best Whiskeys in Every State Right Now"
Virginia ABC May 2017: "Virginia Distilleries"
WYDaily March 2017: "Places to visit on one tank of gas: Williamsburg Tasting Trail"
WYDaily February 2017: "New year brings new releases from local craft brewers and distillers"
Virginia Living Magazine January 2017: "We've Got Spirit"
The Washingtonian December 2016: "20 Things to Look For at Farmers & Distillers"
Virginia Living Magazine November 2016: "Made in Virginia 2016 Awards"
Competitive Enterprise Institute November 2016: "I: Whiskey: The Human Spirit Wins Gold"
The Washingtonian October 2016: "Farmers & Distillers"
Washington City Paper October 2016: "From Founding Fathers to Founding Farmers"
The Old Town Crier August 2016: "The Road to Williamsburg and Copper Fox Distillery Part Deaux"
When in Virginia July 2016: "Whisky-Wine Excursions from Shenandoah National Park"
WY Daily July 2016: "New Whisky Distillery Opens Saturday in Williamsburg"
The Malt Impostor May 2016: "The Copper Fox Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky"
Williamsburg Yorktown Daily May 2016: "Copper Fox Distillery Prepares For June 'Taste Test'
Axis of Whisky March 2016: "Copper Fox Rye"
Artisan Spirit Fall 2015: "Copper Fox Distillery"
Artisan Spirit October 2015: "From the Floor Up"
Drink Micro October 2015: "10 Whiskeys You Need in Your Life"
WTOP July 2015: "Local Barrel-Aged Cocktails Coming to Ashburn Whole Foods"
HRGrowler July 2015: "Farm to Mug"
Wine Enthusiast July 2015: "Your Guide to American Spirits"
The Washington Post July 2015: "They've farmed, fished, and baked. Now they're getting into distilling."
Playboy.com July 2015: "The Best Spirit Distilled in Each of the 50 States"
A Girl and Her Travels Blog May 2015: "Copper Fox Distillery"
Wine Enthusiast March 2015: "Dixie Distillers"
Palate Press March 2015: "What We're Drinking"
American Craft Spirits Association February 2015: Copper Fox wins Gold for Single Malt at the American Craft Spirits Association Conference.
Punch Drink February 2015: "The Rebirth of Truly Local American Craft Whiskey"
Thrillist February 2015: "5 Small Distilleries to Watch Right Now"
The Washington Post January 2015: "Street Smart: What to do in Rappahannock County"
Bourbon Blog January 2015: "Bourbon Summit"
Rappahannock News January 2015: "Expansion to Williamsburg"
Inside Business December 2014: "Copper Fox Williamsburg"
December 2014: Dooby's Dinner
October 2014: Idle Hour Cocktail
January 2013: C Ville Whisky Town!
New York Times January 16, 2013: New York Times article on American Single Malts.
The Fifty Best September 2012: Copper Fox Rye awarded Gold Medal at The Fifty Best
March 1, 2009: 2009 International Review of Spirits.
First Quarter 2009: "Small Stills, Big Whiskeys: The State of American Craft Whiskey" by Jay Erisman and Lew Bryson.
Flavor Magazine Summer 2008: "Single Malt Whiskey" by Theresa Curry
dcist.com June 2, 2008: "Chewing the Fat: Copper Fox Distillery's Rick Wasmund" by Eric Denman
Shenandoah Insights Magazine February 2008: "It's not Scotch whiskey, it's not Irish whiskey; it's Virginia whiskey" by Heather Wilson
Spirits Review November 2007: "American Whiskey - Wasmund's Whisky Copper Fox Distillery" by Chris Carlsson
American Spectator September 18, 2007: "Single Malt in the Blue Ridge" by Alfred S. Regnery