Westward American Single Malt Cask Strength

Single malt whiskey, bottled at cask strength, 125 proof. Acquired in Washington State, June 2024, for $115. Sampled neat. A deep copper hue with viscous legs clinging to the glass. The aroma presents notes of chocolate malt, dark stone fruit, vanilla, and a hint of ethanol in the distance. The palate begins with tannic oak and leather, followed by stewed fruit, vanilla, raisins, cocoa powder, graham crackers, and sweet malted milk. An ethanol surge appears but is mild given the strength. The texture is thick and coats the mouth. The finish is dry, spicy, and offers orange citrus, leaving a persistent tingle, then a sweetness that cancels out the tartness. Adding ice mellows the tannic/ethanol notes and amplifies the grain sweetness, bringing it closer to conventional single malts. An intriguing flavor composition, leaning more towards tannic and dried fruit than sugary grain sweetness, yet aligning with the malted barley, beer, and new charred oak barrel origins characteristic of this producer. Opinions on this distillery's output are known to be divided. I appreciate the current direction of this producer, and the distinct character of this high-proof single malt. It possesses sufficient complexity for contemplative sipping. Revisited reviews for this bottle. A prominent publication ranked it fifth in their Top 20 of 2022, and another gave it a highly favorable rating of 4 out of 5.

Selected bottle from Total Wine and More in Gilbert, AZ. Smell is strong with rum-drenched fruitcake, vanilla cream, egg cream, dried grapes, rubber, pineapple, and papaya. It's somewhat appealing but needs more harmony. The alcohol scent is faint. Taste is very similar to the aroma, featuring many of the fruit notes mentioned. A bit of fiery butterscotch appears, but the general impression is of fruity spice. Does this have a high alcohol content? It certainly seems to. Some barrel character would be nice, but it's absent. Aftertaste is hot and sharp with... you know what? I could try to be imaginative, but truthfully, it just tastes like raw alcohol. It really irritated my mouth after some time and even caused indigestion. The texture is moderately full, neither smooth nor rough. Ugh. I spent $109 on this disaster. Definitely won't buy again. If this is a special selection, I dread to think about the standard offering. The most similar drink is Stranahans Single Malt, which has a comparable fruity single malt character but is much more polished. This just feels awkward next to it. Finishing the bottle will be difficult.

On the nose: caramel, juniper berries, butterscotch. The palate is fruit-forward with raspberries, caramel, and more caramel and butterscotch. The finish has caramel and chocolate and is of medium length. An amazing whiskey, it falls just short of perfection due to a lack of viscosity or oiliness that would have made it a true home run. For the price and proof, I can't imagine a better American single malt.

One of the most peculiar american single malts I've tried yet. I would claim Balcones is the best American Single Malt. This has a flavor profile that is the polar opposite of Balcones. For me, the primary flavor of Westward is oolong or green tea, followed by a strange bubblegum, and some harshness from young whiskey. Probably my least favorite American single malt distiller.

The standard Westward release is packed with flavor at 46%, so you’d anticipate a cask strength version to amplify things considerably. The Astor Wines selection I sampled was a bit intense straight from the bottle at 62.5%, but when diluted to closer to 50%, it tasted as well-balanced as the regular strength version but with all the appropriate notes nicely enhanced.

Dark fruit and raisins are prominent on the nose, with some maltiness and molasses also present. The malt really comes through on the palate. The high proof has a good burn and the finish is long. It has the sweetness of bourbon from new oak barrels, but also the fruitiness of an unpeated Scotch. Fantastic.