Copper Fox Distillery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Rick Wasmund |
| Headquarters | Sperryville and Williamsburg , United States |
Key people | Rick Wasmund (owner and manager) |
| Products | American whiskey, single malt whiskey, rye whiskey, clear spirits, botanical gin |
Copper Fox Distillery crafts American whiskey at locations in Sperryville, Virginia and Williamsburg, VA. The enterprise is owned and managed by Rick Wasmund.
History
Prior to establishing Copper Fox, Wasmund completed a six-week apprenticeship at the Bowmore distillery on the Isle of Islay, where he gained expertise in floor malting. In 2005, Copper Fox received a limited distiller license (under 5,000 gallons) from the Virginia ABC board and launched its initial operation in Sperryville by converting an old apple packing facility. A decade later, in 2015, the company expanded by purchasing the historic Lord Paget Motor Inn in Williamsburg, which started functioning as a second distillery in 2016.
Process
The distillery utilizes barley cultivated specifically for Copper Fox within Virginia and stands as the sole U.S. distillery performing the entire malting process independently. During malt drying, grains are smoked with fruitwoods such as applewood and cherrywood, a method akin to the peat smoke used in Scotch whisky production; these woods are sourced from nearby orchards. In addition to malting for its own whiskies, Copper Fox also supplies malt to breweries.
Distillation occurs in a copper pot still, and maturation takes place in previously used bourbon barrels obtained from Virginia’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery, known for Virginia Gentleman bourbon. To speed up aging, Copper Fox applies a 'chipping' technique that involves adding charred wood chips inside barrels. This process enables whiskies to mature over a minimum of twelve months, contrasting with Scotch whiskies that typically require three years. The product range features single malt and rye whiskies, clear spirits, and botanical gin, with plans underway to introduce bourbon. Each bottle is filled and labeled by hand.