Virginia Spirits

06/02/2026

Where do the flavors of Virginia begin? 🌿

In this behind-the-scenes look at the VA250 Gin, Peter Ahlf of Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery shares the inspiration behind creating a spirit that captures Virginia's diverse landscape through botanicals.

Rather than relying on a single ingredient, the team brought together a carefully selected blend of botanicals that reflect the commonwealth's mountains, heartland and coast. The result is a gin that is bright, balanced and deeply rooted in place, showcasing the natural ingredients and craftsmanship that define Virginia spirits.

Crafted through a collaboration of Virginia distilleries and inspired by the landscapes that shape our state, the VA250 Gin was designed to answer one question:

What does Virginia taste like?

Watch the story behind the blend and explore the full VA250 collaboration at:
virginiaspirits.org/va250

05/30/2026

An unforgettable evening at Vault & Cellar. ✨🥃

Chef Kari Rushing crafted a thoughtful, detail-driven menu that perfectly complemented each spirit in the VA250 Trio Pack, creating pairings that highlighted new flavors, stories and connections with every course.

Beyond the incredible food and cocktails, the evening was filled with great conversations, shared experiences and new friendships around the table. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a night celebrating Virginia spirits, Virginia hospitality and the people who make both so special.

Learn more about the Trio Pack at virginiaspirts.org/va250

05/27/2026

Virginia distilleries continue to raise the bar. 🥃

The 2026 First Landing Cup celebrated some of the best spirits being produced across the commonwealth, recognizing standout products across a wide range of categories from whiskey and gin to rum, vodka and ready-to-drink cocktails.

Here are the 2026 Best in Category winners:

🏅Best in Category (Rye Whiskey), Whiskey Best in Class & Best in Show: KO Distilling, Bare Knuckle Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey
🏅Best in Category (Navy Strength Gin), Gin Best in Class & Raccoon’s Pick: KO Distilling, Battle Standard 142 Gin (Navy Strength)
🏅Best in Category (RTD) & RTD Best in Class: Tarnished Truth Distilling Co., Coastal Cocktails Orange Crush
🏅Best in Category (Vodka), Vodka Best in Class & Best New Spirit: KP Spirits, Luna Vodka
🏅Best in Category (Unaged Rum) & Rum Best in Class: Virago Spirits, 151 ‘High Proof’ Rum
🏅Best in Category (Flavored Rum): Sandy River Distillery, Banana Vanilla Rum
🏅Best in Category (Agave): Old House Vineyards, Three Birds
🏅Best in Category (Bitter/Amaro): Copper Fox Distillery, Amaro Y Arroyo
🏅Best in Category (American Single Malt Whiskey): Copper Fox Distillery, Copper Fox Peachwood Single Malt Whisky
🏅Best in Category (Bourbon): KO Distilling, KO Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey
🏅Best in Category (Wheat Whiskey): KO Distilling, Bare Knuckle Cask Strength Straight Wheat Whiskey
🏅Best in Category (Other American Whiskey): Belmont Farm Distillery, Inc, Virginia Lightning Corn Whiskey

These award-winning spirits showcase the quality, creativity and craftsmanship helping define Virginia as the Birthplace of American Spirits.

Learn more at FirstLandingCup.com

Please enjoy Virginia Spirits responsibly.

05/26/2026

Virginia spirits took the spotlight on Morning Washington last week. 🥃

Chef Kari Rushing of Vault & Cellar and Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek joined the show to share the story behind the Virginia Spirits 250th Celebration Trio Pack, a first-of-its-kind collaboration bringing together Virginia distilleries to create three limited-edition spirits inspired by Virginia’s mountains, heartland and coast.

They also gave viewers a preview of this Friday’s VA250 Pairing Dinner at Vault & Cellar, an intimate dining experience designed to pair the Trio Pack spirits with thoughtfully crafted dishes inspired by the ingredients, grains and botanicals found within each pour.

This collaboration is about more than spirits. It’s about craftsmanship, storytelling and showcasing Virginia as the Birthplace of American Spirits.

Watch the full interview below and learn more about the VA250 Trio Pack and upcoming experiences at VirginiaSpirits.org/VA250.

A highly anticipated collection is hitting local shelves just in time to mark a monumental milestone in American history.As the nation prepares to celebrate it

05/22/2026

Why four grains? Because Virginia whiskey isn’t just one thing. 🥃

In this behind-the-scenes look at the VA250 Whiskey, Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek and Amanda Beckwith of Virginia Distillery Co. share the thought process behind creating a whiskey that truly represents Virginia.

Instead of focusing on a single style, the team chose four distinct grains to build something layered, balanced and unmistakably Virginian, combining spice, richness, softness and depth into one cask-strength blend.

Crafted from Virginia-grown grains and distilled by some of the commonwealth’s leading distilleries, the VA250 Whiskey was designed to answer one question:

What does Virginia taste like?

Watch the story behind the blend and explore the full VA250 collaboration at:
virginiaspirits.org/va250

05/21/2026

Last call, bartenders. 🥃🔥

The Virginia Cocktail Games are back and this is more than just a cocktail competition. It’s your chance to put your skills, creativity and storytelling on display in front of some of the industry’s top names while competing against bartenders from across Virginia.

Create an original cocktail inspired by Virginia history using Virginia-made spirits for a chance to win a trip to Tales of the Cocktail in 2027. ✈️🍸

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to make your mark behind the bar, this is it.

⏰ Applications close TOMORROW, May 22.

Don’t miss your shot:
https://virginiaspirits.org/cocktail-games/compete/

05/20/2026

A rare opportunity to sip, dine and connect one-on-one with the distillers behind the VA250 Trio Pack. 🥃✨

Join us at Vault & Cellar on Friday,May 29 for an intimate Meet the Distillers Pairing Dinner celebrating the collaborative spirits of VA250 through guided tastings, handcrafted cocktails and an unforgettable culinary experience from Chef Kari.

Spend the evening alongside the distillers behind the bottles as they share the stories, blending decisions and inspiration that brought this limited-edition collection to life. From the bright botanicals in the gin to the layered complexity of the rum and cask-strength whiskey, every pour offers a deeper taste of Virginia’s craft spirits story.

Seats are limited and this experience is expected to sell out, so claim your seat at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virginia-spirits-250-year-celebration-dinner-tickets-1986037447468

05/19/2026

Think your cocktail skills are neat? Prove it. 🥃

The Virginia Cocktail Games are your opportunity to showcase creativity, technique, presentation and storytelling through an original cocktail made with Virginia spirits.

Whether you’re known for perfectly balanced classics, inventive flavor combinations or creating unforgettable guest experiences, we want to see what you can do behind the bar.

One bartender will earn a trip to Tales of the Cocktail in 2027. ✈️🍸

Know someone who should compete? Tag them below. 👇

⏰ Applications close May 22.

Learn more + apply:
https://virginiaspirits.org/cocktail-games/compete/

05/18/2026

New this year at the First Landing Cup: the Raccoon’s Pick award. 🦝🥃

Designed to recognize exceptional value and craftsmanship, this category highlights spirits that deliver an outstanding balance of quality, character and price.

After reviewing scores alongside retail value, these spirits rose to the top as this year’s Raccoon’s Pick winners:
🏆 Virginia Beach Distilling, Beach Vodka | Beach Vodka
🏆 Belmont Farm Distillery, Kopper Kettle Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Belmont Farm Distillery
🏆 KO Distilling, Battle Standard 142 Gin (Navy Strength) | KO Distilling

These bottles prove that remarkable Virginia Spirits can be both award-winning and approachable for everyday enjoyment.

Please enjoy Virginia Spirits responsibly.

05/16/2026

Introducing a new First Landing Cup award category: Best New Spirit. 🎉

This award recognizes the highest-scoring spirit released in 2025, celebrating standout innovation, craftsmanship and quality from Virginia’s distilling industry.

2026 Best New Spirit Winner
🏆 KP Spirits, Luna Vodka

Released in 2025 and coming from one of Virginia’s newest distilleries, Luna Vodka earned the top score among all newly released entries in this year’s competition.

Congratulations to KP Spirits on this exciting achievement and for continuing to push Virginia Spirits forward.

Please enjoy Virginia Spirits responsibly.