Tasting Notes

Producing WhiskyCast has given me the opportunity to taste some really amazing whiskies, and I’m pleased to share my tasting notes with you here. You can search my entire database of tasting notes from this page, and I hope you’ll find it useful.

Westland American Single Malt

Westland American Single Malt Whiskey. Image courtesy Westland Distillery.

Country: USA

Region: Washington

Type: Single Malt

Bottler: Distiller

ABV: 46%

Score: 95 Points

This 2021 release becomes Westland’s flagship American Single Malt, and replaces the three single malts that made up the Seattle distillery’s original lineup (American Oak, Sherry Cask, and Peated). It’s made from a complex recipe that includes six different types of barley and five different types of casks, including ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry, and is matured for 40 months in Westland’s warehouse on the Olympic Peninsula. The nose is aromatic and warm with a gentle kiss of smoke, plums, fig cookies, hints of baking spices, and toasted raisin bread. The taste is well-rounded with an excellent balance and a complexity that’s hard to describe. Spices and a touch of smoke at the start fade as dark fruits, maple, and cedar come alive while touches of barley sugar, raisins, and chocolate add character in the background. The finish is equally complex, well-balanced, and long. Outstanding! (July, 2021)