Westward whiskies

History

The distillery started in the mid-2000s in Portland with the idea of bringing the city’s brewing culture to the world of whiskey. For years it also produced gin and other spirits while its malt matured. Over time Westward became the house’s main brand and gained recognition as one of the pioneers of American single malt whiskey, a category that has recently received an official definition in the country.

House style

Westward is a rich, creamy malt, with roasted cereal, milk chocolate, vanilla, caramel and fruit. Fermentation with ale yeast adds fruity notes, and new, lightly charred American oak casks add vanilla and spice without covering the cereal. It is bottled at 45% ABV. It is a style very different from Scotch malt. It is best appreciated neat or with a few drops of water. It is a good example of how the brewing culture of the north-western United States has given rise to a malt whiskey with its own identity, very different from Scotch in flavour and method.

Where to start

Westward American Single Malt is the catalogue’s benchmark. If you like it, compare it with Westland American Oak and Stranahan's Original, the other American malts in the catalogue, and with a light Scotch malt such as Glenfiddich 12 to see what new American oak brings. It is a very interesting bottle for those who already know Scotch malts and want to try something different.

• Westward American Single MaltSingle malt · 45% ABV