Westward Distillery, in Portland, Oregon continues to push the envelope in making American single malt whisk(e)y in a style that’s unshackled from some of the more traditional aspects or methods that define (and sometimes limit), say, Scotch whisky. The latest release from Westward to explore flavour further is the Westward Tempranillo Cask.
Whisky & Wisdom has written about Westward previously, and if you need a quick memory jog about the distillery’s story and philosophy, you might like to check out the first few paragraphs in our previous article here. The Westward Tempranillo Cask is the first release in a new range that’s been christened the Cascadia Creative Series.
The Cascadia Creative Series is a collaboration between the distillery and Dominio IV Wines, also located in Oregon. The series has been designed to highlight the provenance of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and to celebrate the creativity of the local team at Dominio IV Wines, a nearby producer from the Williamette Valley. The valley, on the western side of the Cascade Range, is home to over 7,500 hectares of vineyards and over 500 wineries.
Tempranillo is a black grape resulting in a red wine that is typically low in both acidity and sugar content. It’s less common to see bottled as a single varietal, and is usually blended with other varietals – often Grenache, but also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz. The climate of Oregon, which can mix hot summer days with cool nights, is considered perfect for Tempranillo. No surprises, then, that the odd cask might find its way into the whisky industry!
This particular expression of Westward starts out as their “standard” spirit matured in lightly charred, virgin American oak casks, before being finished for twelve months in the Dominio IV French oak Tempranillo wine casks. It has been bottled exclusively for The Whisky Club as a single cask release at 62.5%. Whisky & Wisdom sat down with a bottle and gave it some serious contemplation. Our thoughts, tasting notes, and observations were as follows….
Westward Tempranillo Cask, Single Barrel, Cask 21-1, NAS, 62.5% ABV
Nose: As is textbook for Westward, and heightened by the wine cask, the nose is particularly fruity. Kumquats, quince paste, and raspberry jelly jubes are pronounced. Dig a little deeper under the fruit and you’ll find a healthy layer of sweet malt. If porridge with raspberry coulis was distilled into a spirit, this would be it! The vanillin and toasty characters from the virgin oak set an aromatic backdrop behind the nose.
Palate: Rich in flavour but dry in mouthfeel, the tannins from the wine cask make themselves known instantly on the palate. The higher alcohol of 62.5% ABV is exceptionally tame and refined, with no aggression or sting; just a pleasing warmth. The sweetness of the nose precedes a drier palate, where the fruits are now also dried – particularly dried apricots. After some time in the glass, leather and tobacco leaf notes become more pronounced with each sip, almost bordering into dark chocolate territory.
Finish: Drying and very savoury.
Comments: The overall experience is more savoury than sweet, and the oak – combined with the wine – introduces some tannin that might not be what everyone looks for in a single malt whisk(e)y. Definitely a fruitier affair, fans of red wine casks and finishes will find plenty here to enjoy.
– – – – – – –
The Westward Tempranillo Cask is available exclusively through The Whisky Club in Australia, where it’s offered as an add-in to the monthly release for AUS$195. Club members can also still grab the last remaining bottles of the club’s previous Westward exclusive, the Pinot Noir Single Barrel. The Cascadia Creative Series is evidently exclusive to Australia, and – it must be said – this release has some commonalities in flavour and texture with the many Australian whiskies that are matured or finished in red wine casks. Coincidence? 😉
Cheers,
AD
If you enjoyed this review or found it helpful, you can subscribe for free to Whisky & Wisdom and get a notification each time we upload a new article. Check out the subscription forms adjacent/below, or go to our Subscribe page.
You might also like our other article and review on Westward Whiskey here.
