Reservoir Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Reservoir Distillery is located in Richmond, Virginia and is a craft distillery established in 2008. The distillery specializes in 100% single-cereal mashbills — rye, corn, and wheat — and focuses on local ingredients, small-batch processes, and pot-still distillation. The combination of locally grown grain, Virginia oak, and experimental maturation yields whiskies with a distinctive regional identity.

History

Reservoir opened in 2008 and was early known as one of the first American producers outside Kentucky to distill and release bourbon after Prohibition. Founder Dave Cuttino led the establishment, and over the following years the distillery built close relationships with local farmers and cooperages. In the 2010s, Reservoir earned numerous national and international awards, including recognitions at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and acknowledgments at New York competitions. In 2019 and the surrounding years, the distillery achieved additional top placements at regional competitions such as the Virginia Bourbon Invitational, cementing its role in the Virginia whiskey scene.

Raw Materials and Production

Reservoir works with a grain-to-glass approach: grain grown in Virginia (within roughly 45 miles) is used as the basis for 100% single-cereal mashbills for rye, corn (bourbon), and wheat. Production takes place in small batches with pot-still distillation and handling at every step, from mashing to small-batch filling. The distillery’s team includes a head distiller and a barrelman, and they combine classic techniques with ongoing experiments — from proofing adjustments to stave-aging and leveraging seasonal variations in the warehouses. Collaborations with local farmers, stave-makers, and coopers are central to maintaining a consistent, locally rooted style.

Maturation and Cask Types

The whiskies are aged in specially made, charred white oak barrels; many of the staves and wood come from Virginia forests and are fitted by collaborating cooperages. Reservoir highlights the interplay between the wood’s chemical components — vanillin, eugenol, furfural, and lactones — and how they contribute to the spirit’s development. There is also stave-aging and experiments, where the warehouses’ seasonal climate fluctuations are used as an asset in the maturation profile.

Whiskies

Reservoir’s core consists of single-cereal-based expressions: Reservoir Bourbon (corn), Reservoir Rye, and Reservoir Wheat, all produced in small-batch and aged in charred white oak barrels. In addition to the core products, the distillery has several limited and experimental lines, including Maison de Cuivre and the Holland’s series (Holland’s Ghost, Holland’s Blade Rummer, Holland’s Milkman) as well as the Hunter & Scott line. The products celebrate local ingredients and range from everyday bottles to more niche releases.

Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies

Overall, Reservoir’s material points to a style where the wood’s breakdown products contribute vanillin/vanilla, spicy notes, and lactone-based oak character. In addition, both fruity and nutty elements are noted, along with floral and earthy tones from experimental grains. The combined use of Virginia wood and local grains yields a profile in which spice, fruit, and nut notes are recurring elements.

Visiting the Distillery

The distillery’s tasting room in Richmond is open several days a week with set hours. Guests can purchase bottles, participate in tastings, and attend events and release evenings; the distillery regularly announces events in an events calendar. The official hours are Sunday 13:00–18:00, Monday 13:00–21:00, Tuesday closed, and Wednesday–Saturday 13:00–21:00.

The stated opening hours are Sunday 13:00–18:00; Monday 13:00–21:00; Tuesday Closed; Wednesday–Saturday 13:00–21:00.

Philosophy and Craft

Reservoir explicitly works with a terroir approach: the flavor should reflect Virginia through local grain varieties, wood, and aging conditions. Emphasis is placed on grain-to-glass collaborations with farmers and cooperages, small batches, and artisanal pot-still production. Experiments, ongoing professional development, and a conscious approach to sustainability in collaboration with coopers are part of the value base.

Sustainability

• Prioritizing local ingredients to strengthen regional agriculture.

• Collaboration with cooperages that pursue sustainable log sourcing and reuse of by-products.

Awards and Recognitions

• GOLD Medal (2023, GOLD Medal, Reservoir Bourbon)

• SILVER Medal (2023, SILVER Medal, Reservoir Rye Whiskey)

• DOUBLE GOLD Medal (2021, DOUBLE GOLD Medal, Holland's Blade Rummer)

• Virginia Bourbon Distillery of the Year (2016, Virginia Bourbon Distillery of the Year)

• 1st Place, People’s Choice (2019, 1st Place, People’s Choice)

Latest News

The Women of Reservoir – 2022-03-23

Portrait of female key personnel at Reservoir and a review of the distillery’s focus: 100% single-cereal mashbills, locally grown organic grains, custom-made charred white oak barrels, pot-still production, and ongoing experiments with terroir, stave-aging, and proofing.

Barreling Through the Speyside Bourbon Cooperage – 2021-06-16

Post about the collaboration with Speyside Cooperage and the importance of the origin of the lumber. Describes how Virginia wood and cooperage practices contribute vanillin, eugenol, furfural, and lactones, shaping the whiskies’ flavor profile, as well as coopers’ sustainability practices.