Westland adds pair of cask-finished whiskeys

American single malt producer Westland has released limited edition expressions finished in beer and wine casks as part of its Cask Exploration Series.

Seattle’s Westland Distillery has announced two new whiskeys, Beer Cask Finish and Wine Cask Finish, each bottled at 46% ABV. The whiskies are available via e-commerce this month and will roll out across the US in September. “We’re delving into the vast possibilities of cask-finishing with these new releases,” master blender Shane Armstrong said. “The Pacific Northwest is known for its exceptional beer, wine and whiskey. These expressions bring those delicacies together.” Beer Cask Finish (Batch 1) was aged for eight years in new American oak, ex-Bourbon and ex-rye casks, and finished in a combination of Scotch ale, stout, brown ale, doppelbock and stock ale casks. There are 10,961 bottles available for US$75. The whiskey shows notes of dried peach, honeydew, and cocoa powder on the nose, with vanilla pastry cream and lavender green tea on the palate. Wine Cask Finish (Batch 1) was aged for five years in new American oak and ex-Bourbon barrels, and finished in a combination of Tempranillo, Washington Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit wine casks. There are 14,614 bottles available at US$75. The whiskey shows notes of allspice, chocolate wafer, and raspberry reduction on the nose, with Earl Grey tea and dried strawberries on the palate. Though both whiskeys are limited, Westland will release additional batches in the years to come. American single malt remains without a formal definition and, in late July, a coalition consisting of the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) and the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC) sent a letter to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) urging the agency to reach a final ruling. Westland is a founding member of the ASMWC.