Filter by Listing Categories
Accommodations
Bed & Breakfast
Campgrounds
Hotels
Real Estate
Vacation Rentals
Attractions
Family Friendly
Indoors
On the Water
outdoors
Dining
American
Bakery
Barbecue
Breakfast
Brewery
Burger
catering
chinese
Coffee
Delivery
Fast Food
Ice Cream
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Mexican
Pizza
Sandwiches
Seafood
southern
steak
sushi
Takeout
Thai
Vegetarian and Vegan
vineyards
Wine
Local Services
Rentals - Equipment
Spas, Salons, Barbers, and Massages
Specialty Services
Weddings
Regions
Blue Ridge Highlands
Abingdon
Bristol
Christianburg
Floyd
Galax
Meadows of Dan
Pulaski
Radford
Smyth
Wytheville
Central Virginia
Appomattox
Ashland
Blacksburg
Charlottesville
Chester
Chesterfield
Colonial Heights
Farmville
Glen Allen
Halifax
Henrico
Hopewell
Lanexa
Louisa
Lynchburg
Mechanicsville
Midlothian
Petersburg
Richmond
Sandston
Wintergreen
Chesapeake Bay
Colonial Beach
Irvington
Kilmarnock
Tappahannock
Urbanna
White Stone
Coastal Virginia | Hampton Roads
Charles City County
Chesapeake
Franklin
Hampton
Newport News
Norfolk
Portsmouth
Smithfield
Southampton
Virginia Beach
Williamsburg
Yorktown
Eastern Shore
Cape Charles
Chincoteague Island
Onancock
Tangier Island
Heart Of Appalachia
Big Stone Gap
Coeburn
St. Paul
Town Of Tazewell
Northern Virginia
Alexandria
Arlington
Ashburn
Burke
Centreville
Chantilly
Culpeper
Dulles
Dumfries
Fairfax
Falls Church
Fredericksburg
Gainesville
Herndon
Leesburg
Lovettsville
Manassas
McLean
Middleburg
Purcellville
Reston
Spotsylvania
Springfield
Stafford
Sterling
Tysons Corner
Vienna
Warrenton
Woodbridge
Shenandoah Valley
Augusta
Harrisonburg
Lexington
Luray
Natural Bridge
Staunton
Waynesboro
Winchester
Woodstock
Southern Virginia
Clarksville
Danville
Emporia
Martinsville
South Boston
South Hill
Virginia Mountains
Bath County
Roanoke
Salem
Shopping
Antiques and Thrift Shops
Clothes
Gifts & More
Grocery
Sports Gear & Outdoor
Sips
Breweries
Distillery
Spirits
Vineyards
Winery
Filter by Listing Tags
Accommodations
Attractions
Breweries
Brewery
Dining
Distillery
Local Services
Shopping
Sips
Vineyard
Wine
Winery
Filter by Categories
Accommodations
All Categories
All News
Attractions
Cider
Cider News
Cider: Tasting & Reviews
Contests
Best Of
Savor Virginias’ Best
The Remy 1738 Challenge
WIne Classic
Craft Beer
Beer Features
Beer News
Breweries
Craft Beer: People
CRAFT BEER: SPONSORED CONTENT
Craft Beer: Tasting & Reviews
Departments
Editor's Note
Publisher's Note
Dining
Dining Features
Dining: Farm to Table
Dining: Food Finds
Dining: People
Dining: Recipes & Pairings
Distilled Spirits
Distilled Spirits: Features
Distilled Spirits: People
DISTILLED SPIRITS: SPONSORED CONTENT
Distilled Spirits: Tasting & Reviews
Distilleries
Distillery News
Distilled Spirits: Cocktail Recipes
Festivals & Events
Getaways
ADVENTURES/ACTIVITIES: SPONSORED CONTENT
Getaways - SavorVA
Getaways: Adventures & Activities
Getaways: Features
GETAWAYS: SPONSORED CONTENT
Getaways: Weekend Trips
Local Services
Main Editor's Picks
Main Features
large
small
Regions
Blue Ridge Highlands
BLUE RIDGE HIGHLAND: SPONSORED CONTENT
Blue Ridge Highlands: Features
Central Virginia
Central Virginia: Features
CENTRAL VIRGINIA: SPONSORED CONTENT
Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay: Features
CHESAPEAKE BAY: SPONSORED CONTENT
Coastal Virginia-Hampton Roads
Coastal Virginia-Hampton Roads: Features
COASTAL VIRGINIA-HAMPTON ROADS: SPONSORED CONTENT
Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore: Features
EASTERN SHORE: SPONSORED CONTENT
Heart Of Appalachia
Heart of Appalachia: Features
HEART OF APPALACHIA: SPONSORED CONTENT
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia: Features
NORTHERN VIRGINIA: SPONSORED CONTENT
Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley: Features
SHENANDOAH VALLEY: SPONSORED CONTENT
Southern Virginia
Southern Virginia: Features
SOUTHERN VIRIGNIA: SPONSORED CONTENT
Virginia Mountains
Virginia Mountains: Features
VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS: SPONSORED CONTENT
Shopping
Sips
Wine
October Wine Wednesday
Virginia Wine Month
Wine Classic Awards
Wine News
wine trail
211 wine trail
Wine: Features
Wine: People
WINE: SPONSORED CONTENT
Wine: Tasting & Reviews
Wineries
Filter by content type
Custom post types
Taxonomy terms

Sipping by the River at Copper Fox Distillery

By:

While traversing the roads of Rappahannock County on a recent getaway, I find myself in the middle of Sperryville, a true small town complete with a charming Main Street that I quickly realize warrants more than just a pitstop. It may be old school, but Sperryville satisfies any modern foodie, including me. In a single afternoon, I discover an acclaimed restaurant, trendy café and artisanal coffee roaster. Over lunch and a cardamom latte, a few in-the-know natives recommend I press on to Copper Fox Distillery. I pretend to give the detour from my detailed agenda some careful consideration, but, honestly, they had me at whisky.

Spirits SceneCopper Fox founder Rick Wasmund

En route, I learn that Rick Wasmund founded the original Copper Fox in 2005 (a second location in Williamsburg opened in 2015) as the first distillery in the world to produce an applewood-aged whisky. With high expectations, I ring the bell on the oversized wooden doors and am led into a space that reminds me of my grandfather’s basement in the best way possible. Sinatra sings softly from the speakers, exposed pipes line the ceiling, and antiques like a copper fish and old moonshine still provide visual stimulation that pairs well with the drinks. The cozy corner fireplace makes it even easier to linger, along with another beloved spot—the outdoor cocktail garden set up alongside the peaceful Thorton River.

Tasting Notes

I find Wasmund himself behind the tasting bar, and he entertains me with an assortment of history, expertise and tricks of his trade, like using custom copper stills and floor malting his barley in the traditional style. He chats about being influenced by his time studying at distilleries in Scotland (where he developed his style) and how all of his grains are grown by a local farmer. And my tastes prove he’s not all talk. I opt for a flight of sippers and am particularly delighted with the Peachwood Single Malt Whisky, with infusions of toasted peachwood, and Port Barrel Single Malt, distilled like an original version but finished in Virginia port-style wine barrels.

Favorite Finds

Complete with a very warm palate, I head to a second bar that serves signature cocktails (available with classic, premium and cognac rye pours) and pick a few specialties to enjoy by the crackling fire. I sample the Hot Stinger, made with Copper Fox Original Rye, spicy honey, house-made bitters, lemonade and club soda, and the classic Copper Manhattan mixed with the Port Style Barrel Finished Rye and Antica Vermouth.

Hours and Events

Copper Fox Sperryville is open Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday from 1–6 p.m. Though tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19, as of Savor’s August publication date, whisky flights and cocktail service were available in the outside seating area. The distillery retail store is also open and stocked with bottles, cocktail kits, gift certificates and hand sanitizer. Online ordering and curbside pick-up are also available.

Copper Fox Distillery has two locations at 9 River Lane, Sperryville and Capitol Landing Road
Williamsburg. CopperFoxDistillery.com

VisitVirginia
Author: VisitVirginia

View Digital Magazine

Festivals & Events

Sponsored Content:

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT

SPONSORED CONTENT