Westland Distillery recently released Colere Edition 2 American Single Malt Whiskey, its latest expression that celebrates the Pacific Northwest provenance.
With a first edition launched in 2021, Colere American Single Malt Whiskey reflects Westland’s mission to push beyond conventions and explore new varieties of barley bred outside the commodity system.
Edition 2 is made from Talisman, a 2-row winter variety descended from the irrepressible Marris Otter and matured in only used casks to relegate the oak influence to a supporting role and focus the attention on the grain itself. The grains are intentionally matured in only used casks – 42% 2nd Fill ISC Cooper’s Reserve and 58% 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon – to relegate the oak influence to a supporting role and focus the attention on the grain itself.
“Our second edition of Colere is another example of the possibilities a single malt has, especially when stepping out of the whiskey landscape we’ve inherited and are accustomed to,” says Westland Distillery Co-Founder Matt Hofmann. “Already, only two releases in, we are seeing new frontiers opened as the exploration of new and ancient barley varieties continues. With this year’s release it’s not just theoretical, you can taste the impact that barley has on the final flavor.”
Westland has worked for years with Washington State University’s Bread Lab, located in the Skagit Valley, local maltsters, and local farmers to develop new varieties of barley.
The Seattle-based distillery works with these partners prioritizes flavor in breeding barley varieties and more sustainable agricultural methods. To date, Westland have distilled over 20 different varieties of barley in just ten years and has committed nearly 40% of their annual production to these unique barleys.
Only 3,000 bottles of Westland Distillery’s Colere Edition 2 American Single Malt Whiskey are available for purchase either at westlanddistillery.com or at retail for $149.99.
