Westward spices up Milestone series

The second edition in Westward’s Milestone series harnesses rich spice flavours by incorporating rum, stout and Pinot Noir casks.

American single malt producer Westward Whiskey has announced the second release in its solera-based Milestone series. Dubbed A Discovery of Spice, the limited edition whiskey features some of the distillery’s oldest barrels and uses cask finishing to push its signature style to new heights. “With Milestone, we have selected our most distinctive whiskeys and crafted a 21-barrel Solera system of slow-proofed spirit that will continue to evolve over time to ensure our story and vision will also progress into the future,” master blender Miles Munroe said. Munroe was inspired to create a heightened expression of spice after a visit to Taiwan, where he had a transformative experience pairing street food with Westward’s flagship expressions. For this release, he used a variety of finishing casks including Pinot Noir, rum, and stout, all of which appear as standalone expressions in Westward’s core range. “Pulling from the archives, we have integrated some of our oldest whiskeys with a selection of beautiful wine and wood finishes, both from our home near in Willamette Valley and from coveted winemaking regions around the world,” he added. Milestone Edition No. 2 is bottled at 48.5% ABV and priced at US$250. It is available through Westward’s website and in select retail locations. On the nose, the whiskey shows notes of honeysuckle, dried cherry, and toasted almonds, with rum raisin, coconut flake, and apple pie showing on the palate. “For 20 years, we have pushed the boundaries to elevate American whiskey,” founder and CEO Thomas Mooney said. "Harnessing this maker’s knowledge, we challenged ourselves to explore what the ultimate expression of Westward Whiskey could be. Milestone is our masterpiece – a truly special whiskey that celebrates the legacy of our past and the promise of our future.”