Westward American Single Malt

Ok, I'm already a fan of the three other Westward whiskies I've tasted (stout and pinot finishes and at barrel strength), so now it's time for the basic SM entry. Tasting neat. Light copper color and good coating legs in the glass. Nose is ripe stone fruit and malted cereal, vanilla oak, and a whiff of spice deep down. Sweet and savory. On the palate, brown sugar and malt, oatmeal with raisins, and a touch of orange peel and tannic leather. Oily and coating mouthfeel. No ethanol burn. Finish goes to oak and chocolate, with a low-burning spice that goes on and on, stretching that dry oats and bitter-sweet chocolate flavor. It's the base for all the other Westward whiskies, and I like it more than some of those, especially at the price differential. The nose and finish are outstanding. The palate is good but simpler, except for the oily mouthfeel, which is like tasting olive oils--silken beauty. This is a company making flavor-defining American single malts and experimenting along the way. Start here. You may not need to go further. Will keep thinking about and evaluating this as I enjoy the rest of the bottle.

Tarnished but vibrant brass in color. Few, but fast moving legs leave strings of beads behind on the glass. Nose is loaded with barley grain, but the wood makes its presence known too. Honeysuckle, vanilla, buttered white bread toast and conditioned leather. Front is sweet, mid palate has a nice warm spice and warm sweet grassy note. Finish is medium to long with burnt sugar, caramel, milk chocolate covered peanuts, and nougat. Overall, this is interesting and delicious. It's subtle by my personal preferences, but doesn't disappoint. It's a whiskey I'll be proud to share with any highland scotch or Irish whiskey drinker! Special thanks to Abby and Alex for this wonderful gift. We wish you all the marital bliss imaginable, and are so excited for your next chapter in PDX

N: ambrosia rice pudding straight from the tin, a little harshness of sour green apples provides a sharp contrast. A little syrupy sugary sweetness and a hint of dried fruits. P: wood forward, dry tobacco, plenty of barley and biscuit with more sharp sour apple crunch. Some chary to smoky undertones. F: medium. chocolaty with brown sugar sweetness and some drying tobacco or leathery final flavours. The nose is the best thing here as I see (smell?) it. I think the palate under-delivers a little from the initial nose. There is some roughness I think, but it isn’t too distracting or detracting. Pleasant and session-able, but nothing I’m writing home about. Would gladly drink again if offered but not something I’ll go hunting for. Distiller whisky taste #87

A balanced, American Single Malt Whiskey 'by Christian Krogstad for House Spirits Distillery in Oregon made with locally sourced, two-row malted barley & crisp water from the Bull Run Watershed, twice-distilled in copper pot stills, then aged in No. 2 char new American oak from the Ozarks for at least 2 years. It is fermented like an Ale & aged like Bourbon. It has a bold birth with notes of sweet malt, brown sugar & hints of honey, nuts & creamy vanilla; while a full & rich life adds notes of barely, sweet malt, lush fruit & cinnamon; that led to a long & dry death with notes of oaky sweetness, barrel spice, ginger, tobacco & dark chocolate. May / September 2019 / January / July 2020 / April / October / November 2021

Its like taking a walk through an apple orchard in the spring. The seeet smell of apple blossoms and fresh crisp green apples. Clean clear and refreshing air. This whiskey smells so good you could wear it out on a date! Forget drinking it — I’d give this whiskey 5 stars just for its nose! The palate is rich with lemon and baking spices: cinnamon, cloves, then it turns a bit salty and transforms through butterscotch into chocolate and coffee. What a ride! The finish… is where all the lingering lemon, chocolate, salt, and coffee come alive.

American single malts have come a long way and this whiskey is a case in point. A big, malty ale backbone supports tropical fruits, vanilla, citrus, and honey. It’s fruity and sweet without being cloyingly so, and at 45% ABV, this whiskey still maintains a decently full mouthfeel. Westward should be proud of this flagship whiskey and we should be excited about the future of American single malts. *Note: I score from 0-5 with 0 being the worst whiskey possible, 2.5 being average, and 5 being the most sublime nectar of the gods.