Nestled in the rolling hills of Middleburg, where horse farms stretch out under wide Virginia skies, a fresh name in bourbon has quietly stepped onto the scene. The Middleburg Barrel Company rolled out its 1787 Provenance Bourbon brand just last month, giving whiskey fans in Northern Virginia something new to chase down. This isn't some mass-produced bottle from a giant factory—it's a careful project built around hand-selected barrels and a real hands-on feel for the spirit.
The lineup starts with two solid offerings. There's the 1787 Provenance Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which has spent a full seven years maturing in the barrel. Then there's the step-up version, a 14-year premium expression that's meant for those moments when you want something extra special. All the whiskey comes from established distilleries down in Kentucky, but the key here is the selection process. Jay West, the company's main whiskey maker, personally picks each cask to make sure only the best make the cut.
Image credit: 1787 Provenance Bourbon
The whole operation kicked off earlier this year when the Middleburg Barrel Company got founded. They didn't waste time—they opened up the Provenance Estate, a 21-acre spread that's now the heart of everything. Two brand-new rickhouses sit on the land, holding more than 2,000 casks of bourbon as they age away. It's the kind of setup that lets the whiskey develop slowly, pulling in those deep flavors from the wood and the Virginia air.
Viyas Sundaram, the guy who started it all, keeps things exclusive. The estate and the tasting experiences are open only if you have a reservation or an invite. No walk-ins, no crowds. He wants every visit to feel personal, like you're stepping into a private world of bourbon. “Provenance is about honoring the past while shaping bourbon’s future. We built this brand to showcase how exceptional barrels and thoughtful blending can create whiskeys that stand with the very best,” said Sundaram.
He goes on to explain the thinking behind it: “Today’s consumers are more thoughtful about what they choose to drink, and Provenance is designed for that mindset. It’s an invitation to experience bourbon in a way that’s immersive, personal, and meant to be savored with intention,” Sundaram continued.
Pull up to the estate, and the fun starts right away. Two donkeys named Martha and George roam the property—they've been there longer than anyone new, and guests get to say hello by feeding them a bit. From there, it's a walk through the rickhouses, where you can see rows of barrels doing their thing. There's even a converted barn that used to rehab horses; now it holds the rarest casks in the collection.
The real highlight is getting involved yourself. They call it the “thieving” process—using a long tool to pull a sample straight from the barrel, then tasting it with a guide who knows the ins and outs. It's raw, direct, and gives you a true sense of what the whiskey is before it ever hits a bottle.
For folks who want to take it further, there's a barrel pick option. You taste through several, pick your favorite whole cask, and buy it on the spot. They bottle it up with a label you design yourself and ship it right to your door. Word is, a handful of restaurants in DC already have these custom barrel picks pouring at their bars, adding a local twist to their whiskey lists.
Sundaram didn't jump into this out of nowhere. He co-founded The Bourbon Concierge, a spot in DC and online where rare whiskeys are the specialty. After years of hunting down scarce bottles, he figured the next move was sourcing and aging barrels himself. Moving to the area back in 2003, he watched Loudoun County's wine scene take off with real community backing. That got him thinking: why not do the same for bourbon in Northern Virginia?
He leaned on pros who've been in the game for decades, learning how to spot and collect top barrels. The goal was simple—bring something outstanding to local drinkers without reinventing the wheel. Stick with proven methods from Kentucky, but curate it all in Virginia's horse country.
Even with the private vibe at the estate, Sundaram's making sure the bourbon gets out there. He's teamed up with The Fountain Inn in DC for a dedicated Provenance tasting room right inside the place. Bottles are already stocked at nearby spots like Georgetown Spirits and Verified Wines. And the team's pushing to land shelves in ABC stores all across the DMV area, so more people can grab a bottle without the trip.
What sets 1787 Provenance apart in a crowded bourbon world? It's that blend of tradition and personal touch. The whiskey honors Kentucky's long history, but the experience happens in Virginia, with barrels chosen one by one. Aging in those new rickhouses means each batch picks up subtle notes from the local climate—think warmer summers and cooler falls influencing the wood.
Visitors leave with more than a taste; they get stories. Feeding the donkeys, pulling samples from barrels, maybe even naming your own cask. It's the kind of day that sticks with you, especially if you've spent years chasing good pours.
Sundaram sees this as just the start. With over 2,000 casks already in play, future releases could explore different ages or blends. The premium 14-year is a teaser of what's possible when time and selection align.
For anyone who's ever cracked open a bottle after a long day, or shared one around a fire with friends, 1787 Provenance offers a fresh chapter. It's not about hype—it's about quality you can taste and an experience that feels earned. Reservations are filling up, bottles are moving, and Northern Virginia's bourbon story is getting a solid new entry.
If you're in the area or passing through DC, keep an eye out. A seven-year straight or that lush 14-year might just become your go-to. And if you snag an invite to the estate, don't skip the thieving—it's where the magic happens, straight from the source.
