Westland Dropping New Beer and Wine Cask-Finished Whiskeys
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The American single-malt category finally got its official designation last December, but there are distilleries that have been making this style of whiskey for many years. One of those—and one of the best—is Westland, a distillery in Seattle founded in 2010. Its latest release is a pair of whiskeys that were finished in craft beer and wine barrels, and we have the details.
Westland, which was acquired by Rémy Cointreau in 2017, is known for experimenting with the concept of terroir in its single-malt production, making whiskeys like the Garryana line that are partially aged in Quercus garryana, a type of oak that is native to the Pacific Northwest. There are a couple of other expressions in the Outpost Range, including Solum, which is made using locally sourced peated malt, and Colere, which is mean to highlight the effects of specific barley strains on the whiskey’s flavor.
The two new whiskeys are part of the distillery’s Cask Exploration Series: Beer Cask Finish American Single Malt Whiskey, Batch No. 2, and Wine Cask Finish American Single Malt Whiskey, Batch No. 2. “Westland set out to express the place we live,” said master blender Shane Armstrong in a statement. “The Cask Exploration Series extends that through collaboration with brewers and winemakers of the PNW—notes woven with our whiskey are pieces to the puzzle of our region. The second batch incorporates new varietals/beer types made from trusted Washington producers, continuing the connection from a different vantage.”
The Beer Cask Finish was made from a mashbill of Westland Signature Five Malt and Washington Pale Malt and was aged for six to nine years, initially in new American oak, bourbon, and rye barrels. Then it was put into a series of beer casks for a secondary maturation—stout/porter, brown ale, imperial Munich lager, and foudre ale. Official tasting notes describe malt powder, coffee cake, dried red apple, and orange marmalade on the palate. The Wine Cask Finish was made using the Signature Five Malt mashbill and aged for five to nine years in first and second-fill American oak, and then finished in Tempranillo, Washington Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot casks. Look for notes of toasted almonds, cooked plum, cinnamon roll, and dark chocolate on the palate. Both are bottled at 46 percent ABV.
Initially, both of these whiskeys are for sale at the Westland website (SRP $75), but will be available nationwide starting in September. You can also find other Westland expressions available to purchase from websites like ReserveBar now.
