Copper Fox Distillery

Before starting Copper Fox, Wasmund apprenticed for six weeks at the Bowmore distillery on the Isle of Islay, learning the art of floor malting.[1] Copper Fox was licensed to begin distilling by the Virginia ABC board in 2005 as a limited distiller (<5,000 gallons), and that year Copper Fox opened its first distillery in Sperryville, VA, in a converted apple packaging plant.[2] Pursuing an additional location, Copper Fox purchased the historic Lord Paget Motor Inn in Williamsburg, VA, in 2015. They opened their second distillery location in July 2016, and both are operational today.

Barrels aging at the Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, VA

Copper Fox uses barley bred specifically for the distillery and grown in Virginia, and Copper Fox is the only distiller in the United States to do 100% of its own malting.[3] During the malt drying process, fruitwood (including applewood and cherrywood) smokes the grain, similar to peat smoke use in Scotch whiskies. All the wood used for the smoke comes from local orchards.[4] In addition to malting for their own products, Copper Fox sells a portion of their malt to breweries, who use it to make beer.[5]

Copper Fox whisky is distilled in a copper pot still and aged in used bourbon barrels (from another Virginia distillery, A. Smith Bowman, maker of Virginia Gentleman bourbon). Copper Fox utilizes 'chipping' in the aging of their whisky, adding a sachet of small chunks or 'chips' of charred wood to the aging barrel.[6] Using this accelerated technique, Copper Fox whiskies are aged at a minimum of twelve months, compared to the 3 year minimum for Scotch Whisky. In addition to single malt whiskies, Copper Fox produces whiskies made from rye, clear spirits, and a botanical gin. They also plan on releasing a bourbon in the future. All bottles of alcohol produced at Copper Fox are filled and labelled by hand.[4]

In 2018 Copper Fox launched new packaging.

The new packaging and label design better organize the current product portfolio, better communicates the rich brand story at the shelf, and provides a cohesive and recognizable design that helps support our distributor partners and helps consumers shop across products and tiers.

Across the complete portfolio, the front label shape is consistent and each whiskey category has its own unique color in the descriptor section of the face label. The Copper Fox brandmark on the front label has been enlarged and highlighted with copper and silver foil embossing accents which adds to the upscale feel and provides easier brand name recognition on the back bar and retail shelf.  Front labels describe our process in detail, back labels tell our story and the closures have been upgraded to a wood bar top to represent our connection to “the wood”. The necker label sayings and batch designations are a way for us to continue to have fun and be creative. Awards, tasting notes and cocktail recipes for each whisky will eventually be provided on hanging neck tags.

Current fans familiar with Copper Fox will no longer see “Wasmund’s” on the labels. Although the label has changed, the “original” spirits are the same. According to founder Rick Wasmund, “in a way, it is somewhat bittersweet, but it’s not about me. The consolidation of our products under the Copper Fox brand reflects our mission and strong commitment and plans for continued growth”

• Copper Fox Original Single Malt Whisky
• Copper Fox Original Rye Whisky
• Copper Fox Peachwood Single Malt Whisky
• Copper Fox SASSY Rye Whisky
• Copper Fox :Dawson's Reserve" Bourbon
• Copper Fox Chestnut American Whisky
• Copper Vir Gin
• Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Aged Single Malt
• Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Aged Rye Whisky
• Copper Fox Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Single Malt
• Copper Fox Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Rye
• Copper Fox Cognac Barrel Aged Rye
• Copper Fox Single Malt Spirit
• Copper Fox Rye Spirit
• Copper Fox Bourbon Mash Spirit
• Copper Fox Barrel Kits for aging spirits
• Belle Grove 1797 Whiskey

• Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky
  • 92 points (Exceptional), Beverage Testing Institute[7]
  • Gold Medal, International Review of Spirits, Beverage Testing Institute[7]
  • Best in Class (Class: Malt Whiskey - Un-aged), American Distilling Institute 2011 Judging[8]
• Copper Fox Rye
  • 94 points (Exceptional), Beverage Testing Institute[9]
  • Gold Medal, International Review of Spirits, Beverage Testing Institute[9]
  • Bronze (Class: Rye - Un-aged), American Distilling Institute 2011 Judging[8]

• Official Copper Fox Distillery Website

38.658°N 78.217°W / 38.658; -78.217