Westland Garryana 3.1 American Malt Whiskey Review
By Richard Thomas
Rating: B
(Credit: Westland Distillery)
The hallmark of Westland Distillery is applying as much terroir of their coastal Washington state home as possible to making American single malt whiskey. Part of that is the use of Quercus garryana, a uniquely regional species of oak tree. As any true whisk(e)y enthusiast should know, barrel aging imparts between 40 and 80% of a whiskey’s flavor, depending on just whose whisk(e)y we’re talking about. Part of that figure is a function of time and climate, but the third factor is the oak.
Westland’s Garryana series, now in its third year, emphasizes this special wood. This installment takes the distillery’s heavily peated, five malted barley mash bill whiskey, aged in a mix of “Garry oak,” New American oak, 1st fill ex-bourbon, 1st fill ex-Port and refill ex-Westland casks. So, it is both a five-malt and a five-wood whiskey. The run yielded 1,638 bottles done at 112 proof (56% ABV).
The Whiskey
The coloring of this whiskey, an American malt with plenty of used oak in its make up, is pale copper. Rich, malty honey combine with an earthy puff of smoke and a touch of berry tea to comprise the nose.
On the palate, the whiskey has a silken texture. It’s honey sweet, spiced with cloves and seasoned with a touch of earthy, leathery oak. The finish leans on the latter note, turning decisively towards that earthy, leathery and woody aspect.
The Price
The recommended retail for Westland Garryana 3.1 is $149.99.
