The Dads were joined by a member of the Dilawri family, owners of Filibuster Distillery in Virginia. Now in 21 states, this craft is redefining rules of what you think of a craft whiskey with their finished offerings at a palatable price point. Join us for a spirited conversation where we learn how they got to where they are while drinking some of their whiskey while we do it!

OK, we’re not going talking about politics this week, but whisky has been made in and around Washington, DC for 400 years, including a distillery owned by George Washington himself. There may not be quite enough local whisky available to calm the nerves of politicians awaiting the results of Tuesday’s presidential election, but it’s a good start. We’ll talk with Sid Dilawri of the appropriately-named Filibuster Distillery just outside Washington and Ali Anderson of Joseph A. Magnus & Co., which started out in Washington and is now moving to Michigan where there’s room to expand. In the news, Kentucky’s Bourbon distillers put in another record year of production, while bars and restaurants in many countries are being hit with another round of Covid-19 lockdowns. We’ll also have the week’s new whiskies, along with November’s Whisky Club of the Month!

Filibuster Distillery was originally based in Washington, DC, not far from the Capitol Building (hence the name), before moving to Virginia. It is a woman and minority-owned distillery that prides itself on strong character and freedom of expression.

We were recently sent a 15 Year Single Barrel from the folks over at Filibuster that we were excited to try. Although these bottles are hard to come by, we always find it fun to try some of the Indiana sourced whiskey that’s over 12 years. You never know what you might find.

On today’s episode of A Tasting at The Murder Table, we head down to Virginia for a visit to Filibuster Distillery for a taste of two of their whiskey expressions. The first is called The Boondoggler, and the second is a Straight Rye.

The World Whiskies Awards has an unfortunately clunky title. Blame it on the fact that the primary regions of production can never agree on how the liquid is spelled in its singular form. So just make it plural and problem solved, I guess. At any rate, the annual competition’s purpose and methodology is quite straightforward by comparison: to assess the very best whisky across all recognized styles, with the help of renowned industry experts.

All of us will be glad to see the back of 2020, and at VinePair we wanted to go out with a bang. So it is with great pleasure that we publish our first-ever 50 Best Spirits of the Year, joining our annual beer and wine rankings.

A new era of American whiskey is pushing us past our old bourbon and rye standbys. Recently, a new whiskey category has been making space for itself on the shelves: American single malt. New whiskey categories don’t just pop up overnight. It takes years, sometimes decades, for styles to establish themselves, create an agreed upon set of regulations, and carve out a large enough piece of the market to get consumers to recognize a difference.

The bespoke cocktail bar is no longer an entirely new idea in D.C. To step up the cocktail game, two new restaurants are pouring exciting, wildly original drinks made to match the vibrant, exotic flavors of the dishes.

Putting together the 2020 gift guide was a challenge this year, usually, in addition to cool gadgets and gear, the gift guide is usually filled with travel adventures and unique experiences, but with travel restricted for most people through the holiday season and early 2021 it seemed like a better idea to focus on gifts that might be closer to home. So I decided to share a gift guide of products I use myself and highly recommend. No affiliate links or sponsored inserts, each product here is something I personally use and believe in.

The folks at Filibuster sent us over their newest expression, Single Estate Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and we can’t wait to try it. Filibuster has previously released Dual Cask finished products, so we were very interested to see what their single barrel had to offer.

The days are shorter and the nights are colder – and this year, let’s be real, that’s way more excuses than we need for a stiff drink. Make the most of nights at home by the fire with this rich, herbal cocktail mixed with Filibuster Dual Cask Bourbon. The bourbon, with its politically-inspired name, claims to be “so good you won’t stop talking about it” and the 2 oz pour in the drink is perfect for a week when the talking heads on the TV won’t stop either. A toasted oak wine barrel finish on the Filibuster brings a deep, cozy feel to the drink, while orange peel adds a citrus pop. Mix one up tonight and fall forward into autumn flavors!

It is the most wonderful time of the year. Okay, it’s usually the most wonderful time of the year and you know what? We are sticking with that notion. So it’s time to start thinking how you’re going to make those you care about most merry & bright. We started curating a list here. As we gather more interesting things to buy and places to shop, we will share the love with you:

What’s better than a giant plate of holiday cookies? A giant plate of holiday cookies and a glass of wine, of course! With this universal truth in mind, we have gone ahead and created the ultimate guide to pairing wine with holiday cookies. Yes, tasting through all of those baked goods and wines to curate this list was a tough job, but someone had to do it. You’re welcome.

During this holiday season, many will scramble to find the perfect gift for family, friends and loved ones – contemplating their likes and dislikes. Likes and dislikes can be funny things. They aren’t always absolute. Some stick with us our entire lives while others change. Within the whisk(e)y community, there has (and will continue

Thomas i understand that tonight Filibuster is going to have a program. is that right.
that’s correct. yeah, we’re going to do roughly 40 minutes, you know, of a virtual tasting. I’m going to talk about all the six spirits that filibuster has in its repertoire and i’m going to be mixing two drinks as well.

I will be interested in discussing the legislative filibuster at noon EST on January 20, 2021—and in the meantime, I’ll be drinking and reviewing as much whiskey as possible, and also voting in person as early as possible (Editor’s Note: Graham submitted this review before Election Day).

Pizza and beer is a ticket all parties can get behind, and you can get them both for $20.20 at the pizzerias until November 3. Order any $20 pie and add a can of DC Brau’s VOTE Kristallweizen for 20 cents. The election deal has already kicked off at the Shaw location and starts on Thursday at Capitol Riverfront. Details: Pick up and delivery until November 3.

While election watch parties are largely on hiatus this year in order to stem the spread of COVID-19, area restaurants have plenty of to-go specials planned to keep anxious voters fed and buzzed on Tuesday, November 3.

Hosting a get together is a lot of work even without all of the added health concerns we’re all facing right now. Now more than ever you should show your friends and family how much you appreciate their graciousness, and generosity with a thoughtful host or hostess gift!

According to a press release issued by the Governor of Virginia’s office on Tuesday, Filibuster Distillery is set to invest $795,000 in an expansion project. The expansion will create a projected eight new jobs at the distillery.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Filibuster Distillery. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.

It is not an uncommon thing in the bourbon world to find a distillery or group putting together a charity auction of a single barrel of whiskey. Typically, the bottles are sold at a much higher price than retail and the profit goes to a charitable organization. Back at the start of 2020, I received word of a charity single barrel that was released by Filibuster Distilling that was sold through Modern Liquors to the tune of $200.

With the start of fall/winter comes sweaters, hearty dinners, bonfires, apple cider & pumpkin spice. Filibuster Distillery has loads cocktail options that are perfect for the cooler weather. Whether you are watching your favorite football team on your couch or planning your Thanksgiving crowd pleaser, they have something for everyone.

All of us will be glad to see the back of 2020, and at VinePair we wanted to go out with a bang. So it is with great pleasure that we publish our first-ever 50 Best Spirits of the Year, joining our annual beer and wine rankings.

With the start of fall/winter comes sweaters, hearty dinners, bonfires, apple cider & pumpkin spice. Filibuster Distillery has loads cocktail options that are perfect for the cooler weather. Whether you are watching your favorite football team on your couch or planning your Thanksgiving crowd pleaser, they have something for everyone.

Filibuster Distillery has loads of cocktail options that are perfect for the cooler weather. Whether you are watching your favorite football team on your couch or planning your Thanksgiving crowd pleaser, they have something for everyone.

Register today to virtually experience your favorite whiskeys & fine spirits at home while master distillers and specialists virtually guide you and your friends!

As the story goes for so many young professionals, Filibuster Distillery started out in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington D.C. and eventually moved to the Northern Virginia suburbs. Well, calling Maurertown, VA, the suburbs may be a bit of a stretch. Nevertheless, Filibuster aims to maintain its original home’s contentious character as it pays homage to the great American tradition of freedom of expression. Nice backstory, but lets see if the bill passes with the Filibuster Distillery Dual Cask Bourbon review!

A Virginia rye from a craft producer, this whiskey has tons of character. Notes from the French oak wine cask finishing process hit you first, but are quickly followed by dill and black pepper, ensuring you know this is a rye whiskey you’re drinking. There’s great concentration of flavor, with baking spices building on the notes from the nose. A weighty texture coats the palate before a lingering rye-spiced finish. Excellent stuff!

An often overlooked beneficiary of the bourbon boom has been the resurgence of rye. Initially made in the northeastern states of the U.S., there was once a time when rye enjoyed similar popularity to bourbon among American drinkers. That all changed after Prohibition, and rye’s market share slowly slipped for decades before becoming all but forgotten.

As if we needed another reason to drink bourbon, September happens to be National Bourbon Heritage Month. Distilleries often time some of their most high profile releases to coincide with this celebration of our beloved “distinctive product of the United States,” as designated by a 1964 congressional resolution. For those who might need a refresher, there are certain specifications that bourbon has to meet. Some of the main points: the mash bill must consist of at least 51 percent corn, it must be aged in new charred oak containers (nearly always barrels) and no color or flavor can be added. There are so many new bourbon releases available now and in the coming months, from small craft distillery releases to major brand extensions to annual limited release bottles. Here are 15 of the best new bourbons to look for now.

Ingredients:
2 oz Filibuster Dual Cask Bourbon
3/4 oz Cynar
3/4 oz Sweet vermouth
1/4 oz benedictine
Few dashes Angostura & Peychauds
Orange peel (for garnish)

As if we needed another reason to drink bourbon, September happens to be National Bourbon Heritage Month. Distilleries often time some of their most high profile releases to coincide with this celebration of our beloved “distinctive product of the United States,” as designated by a 1964 congressional resolution. For those who might need a refresher, there are certain specifications that bourbon has to meet. Some of the main points: the mash bill must consist of at least 51 percent corn, it must be aged in new charred oak containers (nearly always barrels) and no color or flavor can be added. There are so many new bourbon releases available now and in the coming months, from small craft distillery releases to major brand extensions to annual limited release bottles. Here are 15 of the best new bourbons to look for now.

Adistillery tour is a great way to get out of the house, mask up and learn something. But Filibuster Distillery in Maurertown has sweetened the deal, giving all the more reason for Northern Virginians to make the drive. In honor of Virginia Spirits Month, visitors get a complimentary cocktail when they visit the distillery. Best of all, it’s socially distanced, with only 15 outdoor seats at a time.

Since their operations began in Washington, D.C., not far from the U.S. Capitol, the owners of Filibuster Distillery thought it only appropriate to name their company after something the locals could relate to. Led by the Dilawri family, the business now distills in the Shenandoah Valley, utilizing fresh, local ingredients from the area.

We previously encountered Maurertown, Virginia-based Filibuster only briefly back in 2017, when we saw a trio of the craft distillery’s bourbons in a MashBox sampler kit. Now we’re diving deeper into the whiskeys of Filibuster with this unusual offering, a limited edition release billed as a Single Estate bourbon. Per the company, that means “one farm [growing corn, rye, and barley], one distillery, one barrel” and bottled uncut/unfiltered. This batch was aged 2 years and 3 months in oak barrels made from wood that was air dried for 18 months.

With Christmas upon us and New Year’s just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to call your loved ones, give back as much as you can and recycle those annual traditions. It’s also a time to reflect on the events of an unprecedented year that changed us all in many ways and look forward to the future. So, if you’re like us and feeling a little existential, here are a few fun ways to let off some steam this holiday weekend.

As part of a proud 400-year distilling history, 21st-century Virginia distilleries have joined the wave of independent craft beverages. Virginia wineries began their ascent in the 1970s, craft breweries in the 1990s, followed by cideries and meaderies. In 1934, A. Smith Bowman Distillery began turning grain into whiskey, followed by Belmont Farm Distillery in 1988. But the big craft distillery burst began in 2005, with Copper Fox Distillery, which is still making fine spirits in 2020. Many other craft distilleries followed suit. Which brings us to today, with 73 licensed distilleries and 11 licenses pending. And to Virginia Spirits Month, officially celebrated every September.

Filibuster Dual Cask Bourbon is the flagship whiskey from Virginia’s Filibuster Distillery. A prime example of the distiller’s “dual cask” approach to whiskey making, the bourbon is first aged in American oak before undergoing a second, briefer maturation in wine-seasoned French oak barrels. Altogether, its aging process accounts for four years. It is bottled at a punchy

A great bartender will lure you back to a restaurant or bar time and again by putting a new twist on a classic cocktail, introducing innovative ingredients, and keeping the room humming with smooth service, stories, music, and a sympathetic ear. We’re playing bartender by sharing a few recipes inspired by our “best cocktail” winners.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Filibuster Single Estate. This 2 year 5 month old bourbon is 117.6 proof and $50 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

Filibuster Straight Rye Whiskey is an American whiskey produced by Virginia’s Filibuster Distillery. The spirit is made from a mash bill of rye and barley and is initially aged in char 4 white American oak barrels before undergoing a second maturation in a total of five used wine barrels: ex-chardonnay, ex-pinot, ex-cabernet, ex-fino sherry, and ex-Pedro Ximénez.

The colorfully named Boondoggler Whiskey is an American whiskey produced by Virginia’s Filibuster Distillery. The spirit is made from a mash bill of corn and rye and is initially aged in ex-bourbon barrels before undergoing a second maturation in a total of five used wine barrels: ex-chardonnay, ex-pinot, ex-cabernet, ex-fino sherry, and ex- Pedro Ximénez.

Although most people associate bourbon with American whiskey production, rye whiskey was actually the first whiskey distilled in the United States. Drier and less sweet than bourbon, ryes must contain at least 51% rye and be aged no less than 2 years in charred, new oak barrels.

We’ll talk with Sid Dilawri of the appropriately-named Filibuster Distillery just outside Washington and Ali Anderson… of Joseph A. Magnus & Co., which started out in Washington and is now moving to Michigan where there’s room to expand.

Almost all whisky is made up of multiple barrels, with varying flavor profiles combined to create a specific style for that particular expression. But many distilleries also release single-barrel whiskies: drawn from just one cask, with a unique taste profile. Think of Blanton’s, the first true single-barrel bourbon to hit shelves, or Baker’s, a standout from Whisky Advocate’s 2019 Top 20 list. Both are highly regarded whiskeys from big distilleries whose nuances vary from barrel to barrel.

What’s better than a giant plate of holiday cookies? A giant plate of holiday cookies and a glass of wine, of course! With this universal truth in mind, we have gone ahead and created the ultimate guide to pairing wine with holiday cookies. Yes, tasting through all of those baked goods and wines to curate this list was a tough job, but someone had to do it. You’re welcome.

Filibuster Barrel Aged Gin is a barrel-finished, New World-style gin produced by Virginia’s Filibuster Distillery. Following its distillation with botanicals including rosemary, verbena, and rose petal, the gin is aged in both American oak and wine-seasoned French oak barrels. Brand tasting notes describe it as having citrus, pine and rose aromas with pine and white apples on the palate.

A filibuster is a political procedure that involves an elected official (or more than one, in some cases) talking at great length in a non-stop manner about any variety of things to prevent the governmental chamber of which he (or she) is a part from voting on a piece of legislation. Historically it was marked by people talking for days about the legislation or just simply reading from a book, but almost always involved the actual continuation of talking to uphold. Somewhere along the line the U.S. Senate got extraordinarily lazy and it was decided that to hold up a piece of legislation, a person could simply say they intended to filibuster it, at which point it could be put up to a cloture vote, wherein they have to have 60 votes to kill the filibuster and vote on the legislation. Bottom line…filibuster is a lost art.

We were recently sent a 15 Year Single Barrel from the folks over at Filibuster that we were excited to try. Although these bottles are hard to come by, we always find it fun to try some of the Indiana sourced whiskey that’s over 12 years. You never know what you might find!

Sid Dilwari, master distiller at D.C.’s Filibuster Distillery, joins to chat about surviving and prospering during COVID 19;

We were not compensated for this post. However, we did receive sample products from the companies and the opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. We are disclosing this in accordance with the FTC guidelines.

It’s a new day and that means there are new bourbon whiskeys on the shelf. The rate of new bourbons hitting shelves all around America is pretty much non-stop this time of year, so much that it’s almost impossible to keep up with. But that’s where we come in. Folks, it’s time for another brand-new bourbon blind taste test (a BNBBTT, if you will).

According to Filibuster Distillery’s co-founder and Master Blender Sid Dilawri, the name is apropos because the whiskey is “so good… that you won’t stop talking about it.” He in fact developed the brand after years of experience as a spirits buyer in Washington D.C.