Joshua Hatton has helped me make connections in the whisky world, and Westland American Single Malt is the latest example. Time to sip!
I’ve done this before, and I'm not afraid to ask
I’m doing my best to network with people in the whisky world, reaching out and asking for samples. The first time that approach paid off was when I connected with Joshua Hatton, the ImpEx Beverages Brand Ambassador, whom I had met at my first North Shore Whisky Club tasting event (I wrote of that adventure here). Joshua was kind enough to introduce me to Sam Filmus, president of ImpEx, and he arranged for me to be sent a lovely sample lineup. Joshua, and his business partner and friend Jason Johnstone-Yellin, also run Single Cask Nation, the One Nation Under Whisky podcast, Whisky Geek Tours, and the Whisky Jewbilee (seriously, do these guys ever sleep?). At the Seattle Whisky Jewbilee, Joshua & Jason did a live podcast Master Class with Matt Hoffman of Westland American Distillery. Interesting as that panel discussion was, an idea started percolating…how about asking for samples of the Westland American Single Malt lineup? Could lightning strike twice? Reaching out again to Joshua, he put me in contact with Chris Riesbeck, the Eastern brand Ambassador for Westland, and another connection was forged. Score! (Thanks again, Joshua and Chris!)
I tasted the samples that Chris sent at home with my older daughter and her fiancé (the wedding is this weekend, folks!!). When I went to write up the tasting notes, I realized that I had written about this lineup before in Go West and Sip! (that’s not awkward or anything). After all, isn’t that why I keep a blog…to try and remember what I’ve had? I can only plead that the impending nuptials are distracting me. Anyway, I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth (which is rather intrusive for the horse, don’t you think?), so in the spirit of the Nikka & Kavalan revisits
Let’s proceed with a Westland American Single Malt tasting redux, shall we?
Reading up on Westland
Westland American Single Malt
At Home, August 19, 2018
Westland American Single Malt Oak
Tasting Notes
- Nose: honey, vanilla cream, lightly grassy, muted baking spices
- Taste: soft, thick, oaky, light brown sugar, cardamom, ginger
- Finish: baking spices and ginger linger along with the vanilla and oak
- Comments: very pleasant sipping...sweet with a ginger snap finish. Layers of flavors...excellent!
Westland Sherry Wood American Single Malt
Tasting Notes
- Nose: oak, raisins, light vanilla fudge, orange peel, brown sugar
- Taste: oak, cream, soft, thick, vanilla fudge, subtle cinnamon, light plums
- Finish: brown sugar and baking spices
- Comments: this is such a great dram...rich cooked fruit with soft spices
Westland Peated American Single Malt
Tasting Notes
- Nose: oak then smoke, vanilla extract, pine in the background
- Taste: vanilla, oak, then forest campfire smoke with muted baking spices
- Finish: smoke and soft baking spices
- Comments: gentle smoke is balanced with oak and vanilla, and the cinnamon is soft. Very nice approachable peat!
You can't go wrong with any of these fine expressions!
Different time frame, different results
As with the Nikka and Kavalan revisit, this time I noticed different aspects in this Westland American Single Malt lineup than before, while others remained consistent. That’s the benefit of a developing palate, and in my estimation there’s nothing wrong with that (hey, I’m willing to try things over again!). In that vein, I’m hoping that as I continue to make connections in this industry, my blog will get noticed and I’ll be asked to write reviews (…eye roll…). Don’t scoff…that’s how I was able to review the Ardbeg lineup and Four Roses bourbon. If you know of someone looking for an intrepid blogger to review a whisky or bourbon lineup, you’ll refer them to me, won’t you? After all, isn’t that how connections are made?
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
Tammy
