Westland Single Cask Release Cask No. 2949

This expression is quite distinct. Far from the typical Westland bottlings, yet it's a positive departure. This was selected by r/bourbon, and it was my initial purchase from their program. I obtained one of 283 bottles. It spent six years maturing in a sherry cask. The powerful aroma and flavor of chocolate-covered almonds coated in sugar is all I can perceive. It's all I can think about. It has a resemblance to a highland scotch. Nose: chocolate-covered almonds with sugar. Dried fruit. Crackers. Pungent. Palate: a pleasant, medium, oily mouthfeel with a lengthy finish. The same chocolate, nutty, sugary notes as the nose. Slightly puckering. Dry fruit. Raisins. The finish concludes with a gentle warmth. Not significantly different from the nose. Adding a few drops of water does not reveal any new tastes, it merely softens it slightly. I genuinely enjoy this pour, but I suspect it might not appeal to everyone. It is intriguing and warrants appreciation, but it is undeniably different.

This is the second Westland I've had, an ex-sherry single cask from r/bourbon. The aroma has maple syrup and brown sugar. These flavors carry through to the palate, with perhaps a touch of raisin and peanut butter in the finish. This is a wonderfully rich whiskey; it's a little one-dimensional, but it has no significant flaws and is enjoyable to drink. I haven't tried many American Single Malts, but I've been impressed by this distillery.