Virginia Distillery Company’s $100K endowment for scholarships, research at Appalachian State University is part of distillery’s goal to support women entering the distillation field.

As part of its celebration of Women’s History Month, Virginia Distillery Company has announced it will invest $100,000 in a new endowment at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. in honor of its Board Chair, Angela H. Moore. The endowment will provide annual scholarship support as well as funds for research projects.

The scholarship is renewable and will provide annual aid to female fermentation sciences majors above the age of 21 in a five-year endowment.  Half of the investment will be placed into student-driven research projects on distillation.

Additionally, Virginia Distillery Co. is offering paid-internship opportunities to those students that receive aid from this scholarship, giving them on-site, real world experience working inside a whisky distillery. Interns will work across all facets of whisky production including distilling, cask house operations, and packaging. 

“I’m incredibly proud to launch this program and hope it encourages those who are interested in a career in distilling to pursue their passions,” said Angela H. Moore, board chair at Virginia Distillery Company. “As a minority in a male-dominated industry, my goal is to grow representation and create opportunities for women in the production of world-class whiskies.”

In 2012, App State became the first university on the East Coast to offer a bachelor’s degree in fermentation sciences. “This scholarship and the research monies are critical for attracting and retaining women in the fermentation sciences program as well as in the distillation industry,” said Dr. Brett Taubman, professor in and director of the fermentation sciences program in App State’s A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation. “Women are currently underrepresented in the distillation industry and this investment represents a great start in changing that.”

In support of this initiative, Virginia Distillery Company will be introducing a new limited-edition release: Scholar’s Craft Coffee Cask American Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $59.99), with all proceeds going towards the scholarship fund. The Scholar’s Craft Coffee Cask is made from 100% malted barley, aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in barrels that previously held ethically sourced small-batch coffee. Coffee was selected for this expression to acknowledge the vital role that it plays in the lives of college students. The new release will be available for purchase nationwide later this month on ReserveBar.com. 

For more information about Virginia Distillery Company or American Single Malt whisky, visit the distillery’s website, www.vadistillery.com. For more information on the scholarship program, visit Appalachian State University website, www.appstate.edu. 

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