Westland Sherry Wood American Single Malt Whiskey (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 46%           Age: No Age Statement           Country: America

Located in downtown Seattle the distillery has the perfect single malt making ingredients on its doorstep. It now rivals the spirit being produced in Japan, Taiwan, India, Australia and Scotland. Through hard work the team at the distillery have created their own way of mashing, fermenting, distilling and maturing which leads to a unique product which is one of the finest in the world. Malt barley is used, yeast is used, peat is used and soft fresh water is used in producing the spirit. However this is a new category of single malt whiskey, it’s American.

The facility itself is home to a 5,000 litre mash house that operates full-time, seven days a week, to fill 10,000 liter fermenters. In the still room, the still men perform a traditional double distillation on a 7,560 litre wash still and a 5,670 liter spirit still. Westland then fills into a variety of full-size oak casks including two types of new American oak, ex-bourbon casks and also ex-sherry casks imported fresh and whole from Montilla, Spain. Once filled, all of the distillery’s whiskeys are brought to the coast of Washington State, where the temperate and humid climate of the rainforest offers an ideal environment for the maturation of whiskey.

House style is a sweetness and ease on the palate accompanied by a fruity and complex but ultimately grain-focused finish worthy of its place in this new world.

The Westland endeavour is one that lives up to the heritage of the region and the ambitions of its forefathers. Like them, the whiskey makers at Westland now step confidently in a new direction, free from the confines of convention. While they honour the traditions of single malt whiskey, they also embrace the opportunity to add something new and distinctly American at the same time.

Whisky producers have been using ex-sherry barrels to mature whisky for decades, this technique is favoured in Scotland and many other whisky producing countries. Westland Distillery take their unique sprit and create something new and exciting for the palate. The sherry casks sourced are of the highest standard previously holding the world’s finest Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry. The barrels which have been cared for by the hands of Rafael Cabello and his team at Tonelería del Sur in Montilla, Spain they have been given new life and purpose.The Westland distilleries long standing partnership with this family owned cooperage now provides them with one of the largest supplies of sherry casks in America.

Official Tasting Notes

Nose: Immediate richness, with honey-dipped oatmeal raisin cookies. Maple syrup follows closely behind, drizzled over banana pancakes.

Taste: Initial offerings of kiwi with more maple and raisin syrup notes. Sweet cookies and pastries.

Finish: Rich with yellow fruits.

Awards

Double Gold/Best Craft Whiskey, 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Double Gold/Best Singe Malt, 2015 American Distilling Institute
90 Points/Gold Medal, 2015 Beverage Tasting Institute
95 Points/Top 100 Spirits, 2105 Wine Enthusiast
98 Points, Distiller App