Virginia Distillery Company (VDC), a woman-owned and women made business, proudly celebrates Women’s History Month by announcing its ‘Angela H. Moore – Women in Distilling Scholarship’. The scholarship will provide $100k of aid for female students at Appalachian State University entering the field of distillation and whisky production.
The renewable scholarship will provide annual aid to female fermentation sciences majors above the age of 21 in a 5 year endowment. Half of VDC’s investment will be used to conduct student driven research projects on distillation. With the help of VDC, students will now have the necessary funds to develop research ideas and carry them out under the mentorship of the fermentation sciences faculty. 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.
