Whiskey is thicker than water—or at least, just as thick as blood—at the Inn at Warner Hall. Its original builder, Augustine Warner, was George Washington’s great-great-grandfather, which makes the Gloucester inn’s connection to America’s first president, and the spirit he helped make famous, something to toast.
This storied estate was founded in 1642, long before the word “bourbon” ever reached a distiller’s lips. Through fire, restoration, and the passage of centuries, the property has become one of Virginia’s most distinguished stays, now stewarded by the BluWater Group, who recently completed a thoughtful refresh of the inn and its grounds.
Last weekend, Warner Hall celebrated 25 years as a luxury inn with an anniversary fête worthy of its history—and the launch of its inaugural American Whiskey Weekend.
A Toast to 25 Years
“We wanted to honor the 25 years that the Inn at Warner Hall has been here, as well as our continued commitment to continue the legacy of Warner Hall in a way that we feel is elevated, stately, honorable,” says Bryan Guillot, CEO of the Thomas Lee Group, which manages the property.
The weekend kicked off the evening of Friday, Oct. 10, with Champagne before a private dinner that offered a preview of Austin’s, the inn’s soon-to-open restaurant named for Augustine Warner. Guests savored burrata with citrus and prosciutto, halibut in tomato broth, and ribeye with red wine jus, ending on a sweet note with croissant bread pudding.
Throughout the night, guests peeked into a handful of the 11 stately rooms open for touring—each one a blend of 17th-century elegance and 21st-century comfort. Parlors buzzed with conversation beside crackling fireplaces, continuing the spirit of hospitality that has defined the estate for generations.
Whiskey Wisdom
Saturday belonged to whiskey. Led by premier whiskey authority Noah Rothbaum, author of The Whiskey Bible and editor-at-large of BARTENDER magazine, guests enjoyed a guided tasting. The pours traced centuries of American whiskey-making—from its colonial origins to a special pour of Eagle Rare from a barrel selected just for the event.
“When you look at George Washington, we know he had a love for whiskey,” Guillot says. The Eagle Rare bottles seemed like an obvious must-have. “Of course, the eagle, symbol of our country, along with George Washington, his love for whiskey.”
Each guest took home a bottle of the select Eagle Rare and a copy of Rothbaum’s book—an elegant souvenir of the inn’s newest tradition.
Firelight and Friendship
As dusk settled, the celebration continued outdoors on the Blue Stone Terrace, where guests gathered around fire pits overlooking the Severn River. Plates piled high with roasted oysters from the nearby Rappahannock Oyster Co., smash burgers, and pimento mac and cheese made the rounds, while laughter carried on into the evening.
Down by the river, the boathouse—a future gathering spot complete with its own kitchen—hinted at what’s next for Warner Hall: more to savor, more to share, and more reasons to return.
From Augustine Warner’s 17th-century estate to George Washington’s ancestral connection and beyond, Warner Hall remains a place where Virginia history strikes the oh-so-delicate balance with modern hospitality. The weekend may have ended, but the inn’s legacy—and the promise of what’s next—continues to endure.
