Westward Pinot Noir & Rose Single Barrel ( Westward Club Exclusive)

I usually enjoy Westward, but I'm hesitant to purchase their distinctive cask versions due to the expense. I've been very curious, though. This sample arrived, featuring the already unique pinot noir finish enhanced with rosé. It's quite something, and I'm extremely intrigued. Nose: It possesses the typical Westward aroma of yeast, malt, and sweetness, with notes of buckwheat. Faint hints of strawberry and rainbow peppercorn are present. It's peculiar, but not significantly stranger than most Westward noses. Palate: It's less sweet and more peppery than anticipated, with vegetal, herbal, and slightly savory tastes. It lacks true sulfur, but the plant notes have the faintest hint of decay. The spice is quite potent, with abundant rainbow peppercorns and a whisper of barrel char. The characteristic Westward funk is there, but it's more bitter than usual, with undertones of rubber. Very subtle strawberry notes mingle with the malt. This is quite numbing and less sweet than expected. I'm not fond of this adaptation of the Westward profile. Finish: A lingering malty, vegetal flavor with a full mouthfeel but not much depth and not particularly pleasant. - Conclusion - For comparison, I sampled my bottle of Westward Single Barrel Cask Strength (Mission Pick) (rated 18/23). It's slightly hotter, but not significantly. It offers more sweetness, fruit, a more pleasing funk, and developing complexity. The standard Westward Single Malt (rated 16/23) is milder than this expression, with a more pronounced funk. It shares a similar bitterness. This version has a hint of moldiness and a lighter character in comparison. I definitely prefer the regular Westward. The funk here reminds me of Gouden Carolus (rated 15/23), but side-by-side, the Gouden Carolus is lighter with more minerality and floral notes. I find the Gouden Carolus to be superior. I'm considering a rating between 10 and 15 for this, initially. I thought about a 10, but I'm not entirely convinced it's that low. Revisiting this a few times, I'm settling on a 14. The complexity is growing on me, but some oddities remain that I'm not fully convinced by. I suspect I'd appreciate this much more if I were drinking a full bottle. Thank you to a friend for this sample!

The nose is wine-like, floral, citrus, and something about it reminds me of removing old wallpaper from walls. Not sure if it's the adhesive or the damp mustiness of the wallpaper. It's not an entirely unpleasant aroma, but definitely interesting. The palate carries over much of the same, with a continuation of the odd/interesting flavor experience from the nose. It's quite full-flavored for the proof. Floral, herbal, strawberry taffy sweetness. The finish shows some wood tannins, but it provides a nice balance to the floral fruit funk. I believe I've had a Westward before, but this experience doesn't feel familiar. I can definitely say I've never tried anything with these flavors, so it gets points for uniqueness. I'm not sure it would be something I'd want regularly, but I enjoyed the sample and am pleased to have tried it. Thank you to a friend.