Westward – Single Malt Stout Finish (70cl, 46%)

This is an American single malt from Westward in Portland, Oregon, bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. It is non-chill-filtered and has no added colouring. The whisky first matures in new, lightly charred American oak barrels. It then spends up to a year in casks that previously held stout from partner breweries in the Pacific Northwest, which adds chocolate, coffee and dark malt notes. The distillery passes its emptied whiskey casks to the breweries and receives them back after the beer has matured. The nose offers hazelnuts, honeycomb and toasted barley, with caramel, vanilla and stone fruit. On the palate come milk chocolate, banana and almond toffee, with strong roasted notes and pecans. The finish is dry and medium in length, with oak, vanilla, chocolate almond, mint and citrus.