Westward American Single Malt

I'm already a fan of the other three Westward whiskies I've tried (stout and pinot barrel finishes), so I'm checking out the standard SM entry. Tasting neat. Appears a light copper color with substantial coating legs in the glass. The aroma offers ripe stone fruit and malted grain, vanilla oak, and a hint of spice deep down. It's sweet and savory. On the tongue, there's brown sugar and malt, oatmeal with raisins, and a bit of orange peel and tannic leather. It has an oily and coating mouthfeel. No ethanol burn. The finish goes to oak and chocolate, with a low-burning spice that lingers and lingers, extending that dry oat and bittersweet chocolate flavor. This is the foundation for all the other Westward whiskies, and I actually like it more than some of them, especially considering the price difference. The aroma and finish are outstanding. The palate is good but simpler, aside from the oily mouthfeel, which is like tasting olive oils – a silken beauty. This company is crafting flavor-defining American single malts and exploring new paths. Start here. You might not need to look any further. I'll keep pondering and assessing this as I finish the bottle.

It has a tarnished yet bright brass color. A few fast-moving legs leave beaded trails on the glass. The aroma is rich with barley grain, and the wood is also noticeable. Notes of honeysuckle, vanilla, buttery white toast, and conditioned leather. The initial taste is sweet, followed by a pleasant warm spice and a warm, sweet, grassy sensation on the mid-palate. The finish is medium to long, featuring burnt sugar, caramel, milk chocolate-covered peanuts, and nougat. Overall, this is both intriguing and delicious. While it's subtle for my personal taste, it doesn't disappoint. It's a spirit I'll be pleased to offer to anyone who enjoys highland scotch or Irish whiskey! Special thanks to two friends for this wonderful gift. We wish you all the happiness in your marriage and are very excited for this new phase of your lives.

Nose: Ambrosia rice pudding straight from the can, with a touch of harshness from sour green apples providing a sharp contrast. A little syrupy sugary sweetness and a hint of dried fruits. Palate: Wood-forward, dry tobacco, plenty of barley and biscuit with more sharp sour apple crunch. Some charred or smoky undertones. Finish: Medium. Chocolaty with brown sugar sweetness and some drying tobacco or leathery final flavors. The nose is the highlight here, as I perceive (or rather, smell) it. I feel the palate under-delivers slightly compared to the initial nose. There's some roughness, I think, but it's not too distracting or detracting. It's pleasant and easy to drink, but not remarkable. I would gladly have it again if offered, but I won't seek it out. A whisky taste from a distiller, #87

A well-rounded American Single Malt Whiskey created by Christian Krogstad for House Spirits Distillery in Oregon, using locally sourced two-row malted barley & pure water from the Bull Run Watershed. It's twice-distilled in copper pot stills and then aged in new American oak with a No. 2 char from the Ozarks for a minimum of 2 years. It's fermented like an Ale and aged like Bourbon. It presents a bold beginning with notes of sweet malt, brown sugar & hints of honey, nuts & creamy vanilla; its full & rich maturation adds notes of barley, sweet malt, lush fruit & cinnamon; culminating in a long & dry conclusion with notes of oaky sweetness, barrel spice, ginger, tobacco & dark chocolate. May / September 2019 / January / July 2020 / April / October / November 2021

It's like strolling through an apple orchard in spring. The sweet scent of apple blossoms and fresh, crisp green apples. The air is clean, clear, and refreshing. This whiskey's aroma is so wonderful, you could wear it on a date! Forget drinking it – I'd give this whiskey 5 stars based on its aroma alone! The palate is rich with lemon and baking spices: cinnamon, cloves, then it turns a little salty and transforms through butterscotch into chocolate and coffee. What an experience! The finish… is where the lingering lemon, chocolate, salt, and coffee all come alive.

American single malts have advanced significantly, and this whiskey exemplifies that progress. A robust, malty ale foundation supports tropical fruits, vanilla, citrus, and honey. It's fruity and sweet without being excessively so, and at 45% ABV, this whiskey maintains a reasonably full mouthfeel. Westward should be proud of this signature whiskey, and we should be optimistic about the future of American single malts. *Note: My scoring ranges from 0 to 5, with 0 being the worst possible whiskey, 2.5 being average, and 5 being the most sublime nectar of the gods.