Recently were were in Seattle and had some down time and stumbled, OK the stumbling came after, upon Westland Distillery. Located down a little bit from the Starbucks headquarters and across the street from Emerald City Pet Rescue it’s a beautiful urban distillery with attention to detail. Westland specializes in American single malt whiskeys which thoughtfully made. Typically, American single malt whiskeys are trying to go by the Scotch single malt whisky regulations. According to the American Single Malt Commission (ASMC) they are proposing that:

AMERICAN SINGLE MALT MUST BE:

• Made from 100% malted barley
• Distilled at one distillery
• Mashed, distilled and matured in the US
• Matured in oak, not exceeding 700L
• Distilled to no more than 160 proof
• Bottled at 80 proof or higher

The Cantilever Room, within the distillery is a great place to hang and do a tasting. They offer flights of their whiskeys or cocktails using their whiskeys for tasting, single pours and single cocktails. We had a flight of both the whiskeys and cocktails.

For the flight we enjoyed the American Oak, Sherry Wood, Peated a Casks Strength limited edition. Normally, when touring/tasting urban distilleries, I expect low aged, harsh corn taste that just burn the pallet. The American Oak pleasantly surprised me with a find bourbon tasting. It’s 92 proof, distilled from 100% malted barley. Aged for only 36 months, it’s surprisingly full bodied, tastes of rich fruit, cream, and cherry. The Sherry Wood is also 92 proof and is finished in Sherry casks after aging 36 months. It’s a nice, smooth whiskey tasting of oatmeal, honey, and maple. Lastly, the Peated whiskey comes in at 92 proof and is has that typical smoldering moss, campfire taste to it. It’s new American Oak barrels.