The Whiskey Trip - Season 2, Episode 42 - Chuck Miller, Founder & Distiller - Belmont Farm Distillery

The Bourbon Life

This week on The Whiskey Trip, the journey takes us to Culpepper, Virginia, home to one of America’s oldest craft distilleries—Belmont Farm Distillery. Big Chief sits down with Founder and Distiller, Chuck Miller.

Known from his time on Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners, Chuck helped folks like Tim Smith bring their products into the legal market. But Big Chief didn’t come for the moonshine—he came to sample the whiskey Chuck has been distilling since 1989, using grain from his own farm.

Chuck distills with a historic 1933, 3,000-gallon kettle still, seized from an illicit site by the state of Virginia. They begin the tasting with Belmont Farm’s Virginia Bonded Whiskey, aged in used oak barrels to soften the oak influence.

Next, they savor the Virginia Reserve 10-year-old whiskey, a cask strength beauty at 116 proof, made from a mash bill of 50% corn, 25% wheat, and 25% malted barley. Big Chief declares this the perfect whiskey for a desert island.

Wrapping up the first half, they enjoy a smooth Virginia Bourbon at 92 proof—a testament to Chuck’s incredible still.

The second half kicks off with an American Single Malt, aged 4 years and bottled at 86 proof. It delivers a sharp taste and a stunning nose, underscoring why these whiskies are making waves. Then comes the Rye Whiskey, crafted from 70% rye, 25% corn, and 5% malted barley, offering that root beer candy note Big Chief loves. To close out, they sample a 100% corn whiskey at 100 proof, with flavors reminiscent of buttered popcorn.

This trip was a true highlight, and it was an honor to sit down with a whiskey legend.

Cheers to another memorable ride on The Whiskey Trip!