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Westland Distillery "Speakeasy sneaky peeky"

Intensely interesting

5 490

@bwmccoyReview by @bwmccoy

10th Jan 2019

1

Westland Distillery "Speakeasy sneaky peeky"
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    90

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  • Brand: Westland Distillery
  • ABV: 57%
  • Batch: SMWS 133.1

This is the first (and so far, only) Westland cask bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. This 5 year old whiskey was distilled October 3rd, 2011 and bottles were made available to Society members starting in September 2017. The cask was a virgin oak barrel, heavy char. The total outturn was 207 bottles.

Color: Bronzed gold

Nose: Fruity (Apple, cherry and pineapple) and woody (cigar boxes). With water, lacquered wood, floral perfume and cigar.

Palate: Orange chocolate, cookie sweetness followed by lots of spice (coconut curry, nutmeg, clove. With water, coffee, walnut and chocolate.

Finish: Long with caramel and sweet anise / liquorice.

4 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

@bwmccoy, thank you for your review.

It seems that 5 or 6 years is about the upper limit for these US barley malts aged in new charred oak barrels. Beyond that the oak flavours run the risk of getting highly out of balance with the rather mild flavours of malted barley. I am glad that this one works. I like Stranahan's malts too. I think that they too rarely let them sit in the new charred oak barrels more than about 5 or 6 years.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@bwmccoy - Sounds different and interesting. Where is the distillery, out of interest, and do you (anyone) know anything about the warehousing? i.e. is it the same as typical bourbon maturation or do they try to follow a more Scots traditional route.

6 years ago 0

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy commented

@Victor - Thanks Victor! I’ve never had the chance to try Stranahan's, but would like to. If you like it, I doubt I will be disappointed.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy commented

@RianC - Westland is distilled in Seattle, WA. The spirit is matured in a warehouse in Hoquiam, WA which is very close to the ocean about 2 hours SW of Seattle. The climate in Hoquiam is closer to the climate in Scotland than it is in Seattle and that is what Westland is going for; a Scoth-like American Whiskey without all of the regulatory restrictions of Scotch.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?