O
ver the last decade Copper Fox distillery has become one of
whiskies are typically aged between 12 and 15 months. Rick
the leaders among the craft distillery movement. Opened
is proud of the system they developed which involves aging
in 2005 in Virginia, Copper Fox has gained recognition for its
their spirits in upright barrels, facilitated by the cutting of a
products and their unique methods. Owner Rick Wasmund uses
trap door in the top of the barrel. Copper Fox puts applewood
his international learning to keep Copper Fox at the forefront of
and oakwood chips inside the barrels to augment the spirit’s
innovation. We spoke to Rick who told us about where he learned
maturation, which is why a shorter time is effective for their
his craft, how he developed his distillery’s unique methods and
aging program. So far the results have spoken for themselves,
how proud he is of the spirits that result.
with their products winning several awards. Rick said, “We’re
When Rick chose to open a distillery in America that honored the great tradition of Whisky, he decided first to travel to
very happy with it, and the public seems to be, so we’re rolling with that.”
Scotland. While there in 2000, he had an opportunity to learn
Copper Fox currently makes Wasmund’s Single Malt Whisky,
at Bowmore Distillery on Islay. There he learned the added value
a Rye Whisky, and VirGin. Their single malt is made from hand-
of being one of the few distilleries in the world, at the time, to
malted barley after the barley is smoked with apple and cherry
malt their own barley. Rick wanted advantages like that with his
wood. Using a mash bill that includes some of the same smoked
own distillery, and these lessons were invaluable when finally
malts, their rye whisky is aged in used bourbon barrels with oak
starting Copper Fox in 2003.
and applewood chips. VirGin is made from locally sourced grain
Besides just malting their own barley, Rick wanted to further differentiate the process from other distilleries he could find.
and each small batch is slightly different, depending on what’s growing in the distillery’s garden that season.
So he went about developing a special flavor profile utilizing
After a decade in their current location in Sperryville, Virginia,
fruitwood, mostly applewood, to smoke their malt. Another
Copper Fox is expanding to a second locale in Williamsburg.
unique aspect of Copper Fox is their shortened aging time. Their
With their current facility operating seven days a week for the
WWW.ARTISANSPIRITMAG.COM 43