Changing of the Guard at Seattle’s Westland Distillery
Westland Distillery co-founder Matt Hofmann is leaving the Seattle distillery at the end of the month to pursue new adventures. With no specific plans for… Read More
Westland Distillery
A Scottish Rye? Rye Not! (Episode 1002: April 30, 2023)
Rye hasn’t been widely used by Scotch whisky distillers for decades, but Inchdairnie Distillery is doing something different for its first release: A Scottish single grain distilled from 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley. The distillery contracted local farmers to grow the rye grain, and released its first batch of RyeLaw this week. Inchdairnie managing director Ian Palmer joins us to explain the reasons for starting with a Scottish rye whisky. In the news, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says no to reconsidering a whisky tax hike set for August, while Diageo is joining the growing list of whisky Read More »
Exploring the Luxury Whisky Market (Episode 986: January 8, 2023)
Whiskies are being released at staggering prices with an eye to investors as well as collectors, but what is the market for these rare whiskies? Duncan Taylor & Co. has just released a £75,000 1969 Macallan, and we’ll talk with Peter Currie of Shand Imports about this whisky and its intended market on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. Links: Duncan Taylor & Co. | Hood River Distillers | Buxrud.se | Gordon & MacPhail | The Independent | The Lakes Distillery | Westland Distillery | Indri | Larceny Bourbon
35 Years on Forty Creek (Episode 963: July 31, 2022)
Forty Creek master blender Bill Ashburn celebrated his 35th anniversary in the whisky business this week, and he’s one of those blenders content to stay out of the spotlight most of the time. Ashburn and John Hall put Canadian Whisky on a new course in 2000 when they released the Forty Creek Barrel Select and Three Grain whiskies, and Ashburn’s whiskies have won countless awards since then. He’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, we have details on the U.S. government’s proposal to create an official definition for American Single Malt whiskies, along with Beam Suntory’s Read More »
Westland Garryana 2020
Complex with plenty of wood influence but also fruity, spicy and chocolate notes abound. Lifted by presentation at 50% ABV this has much more depth and presence than the heritage collection. 86/100
Westland Peated
My favourite of the Heritage range expressions which have grown slowly over the range. Plenty of peat influence and smoke but also some estery fruits which complement well. 84/100
Westland Sherry Wood
Plenty of fruit and spice delivered from the sherry wood, perhaps a touch medicated tasting with cherry cough drops. European oak wood flavours dominate the palate. 83/100
Westland American Oak
Oak heavy and perhaps a touch bourbon-esque in terms of wood influence with an added cereal depth from the malt. Ginger and orange predominate, a classic taste combination but with added complexity from both spirit and wood. Yes easily the equal of sco…