Fans of peaty whiskey usually have to look towards scotch to get their taste. However, Westland Distillery has been giving those drinkers an American Single Malt alternative fort the last four years via its annual Peat Week which began yesterday (Jan. 22) and through the weekend.
The Seattle distillery’s annual festival bottling will commemorate the event, available in select markets across the U.S. Boasting a phenol count of approximately 55ppm thanks to Baird’s Heavily Peated Distiller’s Malt, Westland’s newest Peat Week whiskey spotlights the arc of maturity and cask contributions.
“This release combines casks that span 3-5 years in age,” explains Westland’s blender Shane Armstrong. “The cask types used in this vatting represent those most commonly filled with peated spirit in Westland’s rackhouse.” According to Armstrong and the distilling team, the tempered peat and softer texture of the older casks balance the brighter peat, ash and oak of the younger ones, while the sole virgin oak barrels add richness.
Festival attendees can indulge the passion for phenol at the “Greatest Smoke on Earth” with the following events:
- Symposium – Tuesday, January 22, 7-10pm at Westland Distillery: An evening of conversation focused on the rise of American Single Malt Whiskey and the role that peat and smoke play within it. Featured panelists include Westland’s Co-Founder and Master Distiller, Matt Hofmann; Balcones’ Founder, Jared Himstedt, and Hamilton Distilling’s Founder, Nathan Thompson.
- Cocktail Competition – Thursday, January 24, 7-10pm, at Cursed Oak: The winners of Westland’s neighborhood-to-neighborhood Peated Cocktail Competition will throw down to determine the best and most delicious Peated American Single Malt Cocktail in Seattle.
- Closing Party – Saturday, January 26, 7-10pm, at Westland Distillery: All manner of Peat Week delicacies will be on display including Peated ice cream from Cupcake Royale, cocktails, and a spread of smoky treats provided by Bitteroot BBQ.
Tickets are available for each individual event, or combined with the VIP pass for $110. Westland’s 5th Annual Peat Week will retail for $99.99.
