Review by: Whiskery Turnip
One last American Single Malt from me this week and my first whisky with a partial maturation in maple wood (no syrup involved).
Distillery: Westland.
Bottler: Distillery.
Region: United States/Washington Single Malt.
ABV: 51.1%.
Age: 7 Years. Distilled on 30 July 2014, Bottled in April 2022.
Cask type: New Oak, Maple Wood (3Y)
Nose: Cherries and lacquered wood, dried herbs and licorice, indigo ink, dry dusty earth, hints of mesquite wood and butterscotch.
Palate: Medium-bodied, slightly tannic, fruity fizzy candies, cherry, cola, vanilla, hints of grass, earth, indigo, lacquered wood.
Finish: Medium to short with cola, iron, and earth.
Mental Image: Handmade Cherry Coke
Conclusion: Welcome to the woods! The aroma was woody with lacquered wood, hints of mesquite, and damp mushroom and lichen-covered trunks. Wood ran throughout, initially pairing up with cherries and dried berries, then dried oregano, anise, and licorice, before a final runout with butterscotch. Drifting in were earthier notions of dry iron-rich soil and indigo ink, which sometimes turned just a touch farmy. Medium-bodied and a touch tannic, the flavor profile opened with sugary pop rock candies, strawberry fizzers, cherry syrup, and sweet cola. I was right at home with fizzy sweet sodas, vanilla, and sugary syrups as earthier notions of freshly cut grass, dusty iron-rich soil, and indigo hung in the background. Wood was there, contributing to a tannic body, but more restrained than I expected after the nose. The finish was medium to short with cola, metallic hints of iron, and earth.
Wow. After such a woody aroma, I did not expect much from the palate beyond a few splinters. Yet, this was absolutely lovely with a beautiful mix of fruity syrups, cola, and earth which occasionally verged on farmy or funky decay as it reminded me of indigo ink. I can see how this might come off as slightly medicinal— like cherry-flavored cough syrup. It was a unique combination, and I appreciated that the wood seemed to stay mainly in the background or at least never devolved into a tannic mess.
Overall, I had no idea what to expect from a malt finished in maple wood. I was hesitant with this batch of casks bottle for r/bourbon as they all started life in new oak, and the first one I tried was definitely over-oaked to my taste. In the end, I liked this and would have scored it up a bit more if the finish just clung a bit longer.
Final Score: 80.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 