Charlottesville made the whisky. Now Charlottesville picks the cocktail.
The Charlottesville 29 Blend is a custom American Single Malt, blended by hand in Charlottesville from three fully matured Virginia Distillery Co. whiskies. It exists only for this collaboration.
Every participating bar and restaurant has created an original cocktail around it. They're on menus from October 19 through November 16. Try them, then tell us which one should win.
This year we moved the competition a month later on the calendar, and that's on purpose. The Charlottesville 29 Blend is a bigger, richer whisky, and it's at its best once the weather turns: cool nights, stirred drinks, and a reason to stay for another round.
Year 1 grew into cocktail-list placements across town, local press features, and even an ice cream collaboration. Year 2 goes bigger, and this time the city gets a vote.
The recipe
Bourbon cask
Courage & Conviction matured in ex-bourbon barrels. The backbone of the blend.
Cuvée cask
Single malt matured in STR casks: red wine casks that have been shaved, toasted and re-charred, bringing fruit and depth. The STR technique was developed by Dr. Jim Swan, one of Virginia Distillery Co.'s founders.
Sherry cask
A smaller share of sherry-cask malt for richness on the finish.
Taste the components
The Charlottesville 29 team started with three fully aged single malts from bourbon, red wine and sherry casks.
Draft the blend
Using a dropper and glass, they built their blend in 10% increments until it tasted like Charlottesville.
Bottle it
Virginia Distillery Co.'s team blended the final recipe at the distillery in the Blue Ridge and bottled it for the competition.
The 2025 Malt Masters
Year 1 put The Charlottesville 29 Single Barrel, Virginia Distillery Co.'s first single-cask American Single Malt finished in a port cask, in the hands of the city's top bartenders.
Early Harvest
A dry Perfect Manhattan riff that joins Dikmen's two homes. The whisky is olive oil–washed and infused with mastic gum and oregano his mother harvested in Turkey, then stirred with Cocchi di Torino, Cap Corse Mattei, and Amaro Montenegro.
The judges singled it out for pairing a beautifully balanced drink with a true sense of place and community. Read the winner's story
Every entry earned the judges' praise
Appalachian Autumn
Kate Corey, Cafe FrankVDC29, Albemarle Ciderworks reduction, pecan-infused amaro, black walnut bitters, dehydrated fig
The Monticello Philosopher
Josh Dickerson, Black Cow ChophouseVDC29, Aperol, local peach butter, house cranberry bitters, fresh citrus
The Virginia Seasons
Nycholas Hittinger, The Milkman's BarVDC29, muddled mint, Paco Rojo, Amaro y Aroyo, soda water
Domo Arigato Mr. Ramato
Ryan Kaufman, Lampo / Bar BalenoVDC29, house amaro blend, bitters
There Can Only Be One
Erek Lane, Oakhart SocialVDC29, Drambuie, Nochino, lemon and blackstrap bitters, honey, port rinse
Grandpa's Banana Bread
Micah LeMon, The Alley LightVDC29, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Malört, crème de banane
Last Exit
John Lindsey, Public Fish & OysterVDC29, fig-pineapple cordial, Ramazzotti, lemon
Virginia Sour
Harvey Mayorga, Guajiros Miami EateryVDC29, egg white, lemon, demerara, Ancho Reyes, local Petit Verdot float
Golden Hour
Amanda Wood, TavolaVDC29, Amaro del Capo, pear liqueur, butter pecan brown sugar syrup, lemon, Angostura
Judged by Amanda Beckwith (Virginia Distillery Co.), Joel Cuellar (Speakeasy), and Simon Davidson (The Charlottesville 29).
How it works
Order the cocktail
Visit any participating location between October 19 and November 16 and order its Charlottesville 29 Blend cocktail.
Scan the card
Look for the Malt Masters card on your table or menu and scan the QR code.
Cast your vote
Pick the location and cocktail you tried. One vote per person for the competition.
Two titles on the line
Cville29 Judges' Champion
The official competition winner, scored on flavor, balance, creativity, and how well the cocktail showcases the Charlottesville 29 Blend.
People's Choice Champion
The cocktail with the most guest votes by November 30. Every location has a shot, so every order counts.
Both champions take home a championship belt, pro-wrestling style.
You've tried the cocktails. Now you decide.
People's Choice voting runs October 19 through November 30, so you have two extra weeks after the cocktails come off menus to cast your vote. Winners are announced the first week of December.
We won't post live vote counts. Instead, watch for the Top 5 reveal at the halfway point in early November and the Top 3 once the cocktails come off menus.
The month ahead
- Now through October 18
Bar teams develop and dial in their recipes.
- October 19
Cocktails launch across Charlottesville and People's Choice voting opens.
- Early November
People's Choice Top 5 revealed.
- November 10–16
Final week on menus. Last call to try the cocktails.
- November 16
Cocktail menus close and the People's Choice Top 3 is revealed.
- November 30
People's Choice voting closes and judging wraps up.
- First week of December
Both champions announced, with the winning cocktails served side by side at the championship event.
Where to find the cocktails
Each of these locations has an original Charlottesville 29 Blend cocktail on the menu from October 19 through November 16.
For participating locations
Competition pricing on the Charlottesville 29 Blend for the full competition, October 19 through November 16.
A locally created whisky at an approachable cocktail cost, available to participating locations only.
What participants get
- Press coverage from multiple local outlets
- All the point-of-sale materials you need for People's Choice voting
- Your cocktail recipe featured at the Virginia Distillery Co. distillery
Recipe samples
Want liquid to work with before October 19? Sam Bolt with Virginia Distillery Co. can bring samples of the Charlottesville 29 Blend for recipe development. Request one on the order form or reach out directly.
Place your launch order
The order form will ask for:
- Quantity needed
- Best contact name
- Email address and phone number
- Preferred delivery day and time
- Payment method: check, card, or Fintech
- Whether you'd like a recipe sample, and a preferred drop-off date