The Whisky Trail, Westland 9 Year Old
Whisky Trail is a series from independent bottler Elixir Distillers that highlights whiskies sourced from notable distilleries around the world. This release comes from Westland Distillery in Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. Aged in the Skagit Valley, it reflects Westland’s role as an early advocate for the American single malt category, in which the distillery specializes. The whisky was matured for nine years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-American single malt casks.
Nose
Crème caramel, orchard fruit skin, light peat, barbecue smoke
Palate
Barbecued meat smoke, savory notes, earthiness, nuttiness, oily texture
Finish
Lingering peat smoke, warming alcohol
The nose is pronounced and slightly unexpected, opening with sweet notes of crème caramel and freshly cut orchard fruit skins. A touch of peat sits underneath, gradually developing into barbecue smoke as the whisky opens. The profile shifts from sweet toward more savory tones with time in the glass. On the palate, smoke arrives first, recalling barbecued meat, before moving away from the orchard fruit notes on the nose toward more savory and earthy flavors. The texture is viscous and oily, with a layer of nuttiness that rounds it out. The alcohol shows a little heat on the finish, which slightly numbs the palate. The finish is dominated by lingering peat smoke and remains long, though somewhat one-dimensional.
Style
Details
The Whisky Trail, Westland 9 Year Old
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