Golden raisin | Baking chocolate | Malted barley | Light citrus | Light toffee | Faint floral scents | Delicate & nuanced

Baking chocolate | Light syrup | Faint white peppercorn | Graham cracker | Candied orange | Pinch of baking spice powder | Light raisin | Nice mouthfeel

Baking spices | Baking chocolate | White peppercorn spice | Malted barley | Dried oak | Lingering baking chocolate | Touch of candied nuts | Chewy

Westward Whiskey is based out of Portland, Oregon, and embraces the pioneering spirit of the pacific northwest. The company focuses solely on producing American single malt whiskeys with four base products and a rotation of limited editions released on an ongoing basis. Westward Whiskey Milestone marks the company’s first-ever annual luxury release. The company states, “Westward Whiskey Milestone is crafted from a twenty-one barrel Solera system that includes some of their oldest and most precious whiskeys and a long, slow proofing process.” Future releases will be similar yet different, with Westward Whiskey going on to explain that “under the guidance of Master Blender Miles Munroe, the company will draw off a small fraction of this whiskey for each annual release, replacing it with something unique from the barrel house. This fractional blending and meticulous proofing process will continue year after year.”

Right off the bat, it needs to be stated that Westward Whiskey Milestone is a whiskey you start the night with and potentially stick with the entire time. It’s an incredibly delicate whiskey that utilizes every single one of its 86 proof points to draw flavor from. However, drinking a higher proof whiskey before moving on to Westward Whiskey Milestone will do this a great injustice. Don’t misconstrue delicate for lacking, as this whiskey is downright delicious and full of flavor depth.

Westward Whiskey Milestone opens with a nuanced intoxicating nose that highlights golden raisin, light citrus, toffee, and faint floral scents. The brand's signature baking chocolate aroma is present, which carries through to the palate and plays a prominent role. Producing a nice mouthfeel, the palate adds in light syrup, graham cracker, and a tasty candied orange note. The single malt ends on light notes of baking spices and white peppercorn spice while also layering on sweet notes of baking chocolate and candied nuts. Westward Whiskey Milestone is a whiskey lover’s whiskey in the sense that you have to be willing to sit and spend time with it in order to appreciate all of the flavors that are crafted together in its pour. However, for those willing to do so, the reward is an absolutely fantastic American single malt and one of the best whiskeys that Westward Whiskey has produced to date.

The bottle in review is number 0342.