Westward Cask Strength American Single Malt Whiskey
(750 ml) [WA 94, #5 Top 20 Of 2022]

About the whiskey:

Unfettered, upstanding and uncut, this whiskey reflects the robust flavors built in every step of our long, slow process.

Our original single malt, reimagined and offered at cask strength. This whiskey best reflects the skillful finesse of our talented team of brewers-turned-distillers and the beauty of the bounty of the American Northwest. Cask Strength accentuates our rich, locally malted barley, the flavorful beer created in-house, and the newly charred American Oak barrels matured to perfection in Oregon, the ideal environment to raise a world class whiskey.

Bottled at 62.5% ABV / 125 proof

Tasting Notes:

Awards/Reviews:

Best American Whiskey Of 2022 - Breaking Bourbon

"Offers an explosion of flavors that amplifies everything great about the whiskey’s lower proof counterpart, and adds a soiree of additional flavors delivered with wonderful intensity. Melding together fruit, citrus punch, honey, graham cracker, and savory notes in the finish makes for a complex and dynamic range of flavors that doesn’t veer too far away from what a typical bourbon drinker might enjoy, but they’re just different enough to let you know it’s ventured into new territory. The perfect example of a bold and dynamic whiskey, that will make you a believer of the American single malt category."

94 Points, #5, Whisky Advocate Top 20 Of 2022

"Founded in 2004 by Christian Krogstad, a brewer and winemaker turned distiller, Westward is a pioneer of American single malt. Despite a comparatively short history to that of Scotland, whiskeys like this have helped to prove the potential of the category, whose stature in the whiskey world continues to grow. Westward’s signature style takes the sweet, malt-driven base of traditional single malt spirit and matures it in new charred oak barrels, akin to bourbon. Bottled at cask strength, the flavor impression is of warm porridge and honey graham crackers laced with toasty oak, then cigar wrapper and butterscotch on the finish. A satisfying American original."

"This cask-strength release is something distinctly itself – featuring maltiness, of course, but with a bourbon-like influence from the new charred oak barrels and a personality that comes from the Pacific Northwest brewer’s foundation underlying the distillation."  - The Whiskey Wash

"This is high-test American single malt in all its glory. Notes of wet saddle, hemp rope, and green grass are all lively on the nose, punctuated with notes of spice box and tobacco. There’s lots of wood here, but it’s not overbearing — though it feels like another year in a new oak barrel might be too much for the delicate malt to handle. The palate offers more to think about: while racy on the tongue thanks to its 62.5% abv, it’s laden with notes of stewed fruits and spicy black pepper before eventually falling back on an intensely malt-driven backbone, elements of sesame seed and toasted almonds lingering forever. The heat sticks with you: It’s a whiskey that can stand some water, though the brave needn’t bother." - Drinkhacker

Double Gold - SF World Spirits Competition 2019