CASK NO 281

Written By Ben Harley

SUMMARY

Cask #281 marks Westland’s first release of American Single Malt Whiskey finished in ex-sherry casks. After an initial maturation in charred new American oak, this whiskey spent its final two years in a 200-liter Oloroso barrel sourced from Montilla, Spain. It not only represents the first expression of sherry-finished whiskey from the distillery, but also demonstrates how Westland’s house style has evolved to make room for a broader range of wood types in the maturation process. With further releases of sherry-finished whiskey already in development, this first single cask offers a preview of what will become an important member of the family of Westland American Single Malt Whiskies.

FLAVOR PROFILE

On first approach, the nose of this whiskey displays wine-soaked raisins and muscovado sugar sprinkled over fresh figs, with sweet oak serving as a backdrop. On the palate, the mouthfeel is like biting into fresh fruit. That juiciness is followed by a rich combination of graham cracker and chocolate.

With the first water addition, the nose is awash in Olorosso sherry, but quickly the sweet oak recovers its influence. The tug of war continues between the oak and the sherry even as the whiskey settles. On the nose the cask-derived flavors insist on asserting themselves while the palate remains thick with raisins, blueberry syrup and a dark malty background.

SPECIFICATIONS

RELEASE No: 0008
RELEASE DATE: July 2014
FORMAT: 750ml
TOTAL BOTTLED: 186
MINIMUM MATURATION TIME: 31 Months
ABV: 52%

BARLEY BILL:

Washington Select Pale Malt
Munich Malt
Extra Special Malt
Pale Chocolate Malt
Brown Malt

CASK TYPE:

#3 Char New American Oak
1st-fill Olorosso Barrel

YEAST STRAIN:

Belgian Saison Brewer’s Yeast

FERMENTATION TIME:

144 Hours

Nutritional Information: (Average representation value per 10g/per 25ml serving) Alcohol (g) 10/9. Calories (Kcal) 69/63. Fat (g) 0/0. Saturated Fat (g) 0/0. Carbohydrates (g) 0/0. Of which Sugar 0/0. Proteins 0/0

Ben Harley

Ben Leoni is a North American Entrepreneur, Designer, and Producer known for his early success in building two millennial-led, new tech and innovation companies.

Ben is a leading digital innovator. A seasoned consultant with over a decade of experience in the design and innovation industry, he has a successful track record of managing change, conceptualizing creative briefs, and delivering growth strategies for brands in both private and public sectors.

As the senior creative at Avi, Ben has led on numerous entertainment and digital experience projects, creating apps, games, films, and interactive solutions for global brands, NGOs, and high-growth startups. 

Driven by an established interest in activism and future concepts, this millennial entrepreneur is just getting started. He leads a creator network that currently spans twelve major cities, and regularly leads on culturally-orientated projects through his work with benleoni.com. Ben also acts as a futuristic consultant to the film industry, and regularly speaks at design conferences, lectures, and entertainment events. 

Specialties: 

Creative Direction
Digital Production
Concept Development
Digital Strategy
Interactive Storytelling
User Experience Design

http://www.harleyoliver.com
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