From the craft beer funding of the USA, this distillery combines the very best of beer-making in addition to utilizing regional Pinot Noir casks to bring a riches of flavours to their award-winning American single malt whiskey.

When you hear the words American whiskey, you usually believe of Bourbon or perhaps Rye. however recent years have seen the increase of American single malt whiskey. as well as one distillery in specific has risen higher than the rest.

From the northwestern coastline of the continental USA, Portland Oregon has long been an artisanal homeland.

From a booze perspective, Portland has long been a front-runner for the most craft breweries not just in the us however in the world. Its region likewise has a number of wineries.

So when Westward Distillery popped up in 2004, it made sense that its owner Christian Krogstad came from a beer- as well as wine-making background. as well as his vision for the distillery was to still pay homage to the region’s beer.

Indeed, Westward’s head distiller, the excellent Miles Munroe, who we interviewed here, is likewise a brewer.

This is important, since to make whisk(e)y, you very first have to make beer.

If you want to discover out more about exactly how whisky is made, inspect out our story 7 simple steps to Making Aussie Whisky from our guest column on Nip of Courage.

Beer into whiskey, whiskey into wine (barrels)

Munroe as well as Krogstad utilize their own two-row barley, which is grown as well as malted in the area, to make a appropriate pale ale mash. They ferment their beer with a genuine brewer’s yeast too, so when the whiskey comes out, it still has aspects of a true beer-making process at its heart.

Even more so with partnerships as well as experiments like ageing their whiskey in regional stout barrels as well as utilizing a Belgian beer yeast to make a limited-release Belgian Ardennes single Malt, which we talk about here.

But when Krogstad utilized his skills from winemaking to bring ex-Pinot Noir French oak barrels from Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, a new level appeared for Westward.

First ageing their spirit in new American oak barrels for at least two years (which is legislation in the specifies for all whiskey) then completing the whiskey in the ex-Pinot casks for a further two years, Westward have produced something rather incredible.

Westward Distillery’s Pinot Noir Cask single Malt Whiskey

From the true beer-making process, the whiskey has a fullness of body as well as rich malt aroma, as well as the influence of the Pinot Noir casks as well as French oak brings fresh berry as well as leather to the whiskey together with a gentle spice.

More specifically, you get aromas of dried fruit, coconut, red berries as well as figs, honeyed floral notes as well as wonderful tobacco.

To taste, you discover lots of toasted malt as well as toffee that lead to dryness as well as a warm tingle to the finish.

With a decrease of water, aromas dampen a little, however the mouthfeel becomes oilier, as well as fresh fruit as well as berry notes raise as do tannins as well as a hint of tobacco.

This is a whiskey to be sipped, savoured as well as enjoyed. You can mix it into an old fashioned or a Manhattan if you wish, however it’s so smooth, despite its 45%ABV.

Get your bottle of Pinot Noir Cask Westward single malt whiskey on the internet here, as well as from Dan Murphy’s as well as great bottle shops nationally.