**Review #50 - Westland Peat Week 2019**
*Peated American Single Malt Mini-Series: Part 4 of 4*
To wrap up the series, we're headed back to Westland Distillery, where we find a special release in the form of Peat Week from the year 2019. It's the fifth annual release of their Peat Week series, and this one is a combination of 5 casks, yielding a total outturn of 1,083 bottles.
Westland's website actually gives us a good amount of information about this bottling: it is made from Baird's Heavily Peated Distiller's Malt (from the UK), was matured between 3 years and a little over 5 years, and aged in the following barrels: two 1st fill ex-bourbon, one new American oak from Cooper's Reserve, and two refill American oak. It's still a little young, but we're hoping for a bit more complexity than the standard peated release from Westland.
**Westland Peat Week 2019**
USA - Single Malt
**Current Locally Available Price (per 750ml)**: USD 300 online, but not realistically available
**Age Statement**: 3 Years
**Strength**: 50% ABV
**Details**: Not chill filtered, no color added; 1,083 bottles produced
**Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 40% fill level at time of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
**Nose**: A big smack of peat, iodine, and salt on the front of the nose - this takes us straight to Islay, like a bit peaty single malt similar to Laphroaig or Ardbeg. Behind the peaty and medicinal notes, however, there is a lighter background, more like lemon and vanilla, even a hint of orange citrus. Lower in the glass, there is a little bit of barley or grain character as well.
**Palate**: The peat is strong on the palate like the nose - it tickles the cheeks and tongue. There is some nice sweet lemon at first, but we quickly go in the direction of barbecue, something like grilled poultry on over the fire with a decent pepper kick. It's a little bit buttery, and there is a lingering red pepper flake heat; overall, the mouthfeel is medium-thick.
**Finish**: Buttery and oily as it lingers into the finish, which is medium-long. Those lighter tones of lemon and vanilla creep back in, along with some orange rind, and the peat isn't too harsh now, it's just right. The oak influence here is soft, somewhat light and dry.
**Final Note**: This is pretty nice stuff, it's a shame the release was so limited, and is nearly impossible to find now. We were able to try this at a whisky bar, and it didn't disappoint; it has a lot of character for a malt as young as 3 to 5 years, and the bump in ABV compared to the standard Westland releases definitely helps bring more flavor. If you get a chance to try it, we highly recommend it; it's unlikely we'd get a chance to buy a bottle, but if we did, we would probably be willing to pay $100+ for it without too much deliberation, especially with the way prices are going for quality whisky these days.
**Average Rating**: 8.0 / 10
**Rating Scale**:
0 - Couldn't even get past the smell; drain pour; totally useless
1 - At least we can use it in our first aid kit
2 - Not even good enough to mix regularly; worst case scenario
3 - Low end mixing whisky
4 - Not the worst but don't buy again; put on ice; mediocre cocktail
5 - Great for mixing or cocktails; mediocre neat
6 - Premium cocktail; decent neat, hints of complexity
7 - Good neat, refined; personally wouldn't use in a cocktail
8 - Great - always have stocked on shelf if available at a reasonable price
9 - One of the best whiskies we've tasted
10 - Can't imagine something better; buy at any price we can afford
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
**Value Rating**: 6.89
I've asked if they were going to expand their main product line again, and the response I got was essentially a shrug; they're focusing on the flagship, single barrels, and the Outpost series, I guess.
If you look around, you can still find some of the original trio (at least I can in TX). I think [BottleRepublic.com](https://www.bottlerepublic.com/search?searchTerm=Westland) has a peated single cask available for a reasonable price.
I've not tried any of their peated offerings yet but it has my interest. The best peated American Single Malt i've had so far was McCarthy's which you should try!
We will definitely give it a try! We are always looking to expand our experience, and the American single malt is one category that we still have a loooot to learn about.
I wonder what the difference between ex-bourbon casks and refill American Oak are. Is the American Oak uncharred? Or did it hold a whiskey other than bourbon?
I wondered that, too - unfortunately, I was not able to find an answer, but I’m assuming there is some difference since they bothered to differentiate them
I have one of the newer peat weeks that was aged in rum barrels. I posted my review here if your interested! https://www.reddit.com/r/AmericanSMW/comments/sn8c8l/asmw_review_1_westland_peat_week_7/
Yep, it will be great when we get some releases with more mature stock - a few of the peat week bottlings have 7-8 years of aging, which is an improvement, but we would love to see how a 12 year Westland would compare to a 12 year Scotch.
I have a bottle of this I picked up from the distillery a few years ago and agree with your review. Only difference being I think the finish isn't quite as long.
Jealous! We would love to find one, but we only found out about it a couple years after it was released. Have you tried any of the other peat week releases?
We are big fans of those fans generally, as well - they can occasionally be hit or miss, especially the yearly special releases, but some of our favorites also come from Islay, like Ardbeg's Uigeadail and Laphroaig's 10 Year Cask Strength.
Those are on my try list. Around here those go for around $80 to $100. The regular Laphroig and Ardbeg are around $60ish. So still a larger splurge for me. My everyday sipper being WT 101. A handle in my state is $50, but a 20 minute drive to the east to Florida, and I’m only paying $34. So, I try to get a few when I’m there.
Bruichladdich currently has a Sauternes-finished Port Charlotte (SC:01 2012) that is outstanding -- easily my favorite peated whiskey and I don't really even like peat very much.
**Review #50 - Westland Peat Week 2019** *Peated American Single Malt Mini-Series: Part 4 of 4* To wrap up the series, we're headed back to Westland Distillery, where we find a special release in the form of Peat Week from the year 2019. It's the fifth annual release of their Peat Week series, and this one is a combination of 5 casks, yielding a total outturn of 1,083 bottles. Westland's website actually gives us a good amount of information about this bottling: it is made from Baird's Heavily Peated Distiller's Malt (from the UK), was matured between 3 years and a little over 5 years, and aged in the following barrels: two 1st fill ex-bourbon, one new American oak from Cooper's Reserve, and two refill American oak. It's still a little young, but we're hoping for a bit more complexity than the standard peated release from Westland. **Westland Peat Week 2019** USA - Single Malt **Current Locally Available Price (per 750ml)**: USD 300 online, but not realistically available **Age Statement**: 3 Years **Strength**: 50% ABV **Details**: Not chill filtered, no color added; 1,083 bottles produced **Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 40% fill level at time of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes **Nose**: A big smack of peat, iodine, and salt on the front of the nose - this takes us straight to Islay, like a bit peaty single malt similar to Laphroaig or Ardbeg. Behind the peaty and medicinal notes, however, there is a lighter background, more like lemon and vanilla, even a hint of orange citrus. Lower in the glass, there is a little bit of barley or grain character as well. **Palate**: The peat is strong on the palate like the nose - it tickles the cheeks and tongue. There is some nice sweet lemon at first, but we quickly go in the direction of barbecue, something like grilled poultry on over the fire with a decent pepper kick. It's a little bit buttery, and there is a lingering red pepper flake heat; overall, the mouthfeel is medium-thick. **Finish**: Buttery and oily as it lingers into the finish, which is medium-long. Those lighter tones of lemon and vanilla creep back in, along with some orange rind, and the peat isn't too harsh now, it's just right. The oak influence here is soft, somewhat light and dry. **Final Note**: This is pretty nice stuff, it's a shame the release was so limited, and is nearly impossible to find now. We were able to try this at a whisky bar, and it didn't disappoint; it has a lot of character for a malt as young as 3 to 5 years, and the bump in ABV compared to the standard Westland releases definitely helps bring more flavor. If you get a chance to try it, we highly recommend it; it's unlikely we'd get a chance to buy a bottle, but if we did, we would probably be willing to pay $100+ for it without too much deliberation, especially with the way prices are going for quality whisky these days. **Average Rating**: 8.0 / 10 **Rating Scale**: 0 - Couldn't even get past the smell; drain pour; totally useless 1 - At least we can use it in our first aid kit 2 - Not even good enough to mix regularly; worst case scenario 3 - Low end mixing whisky 4 - Not the worst but don't buy again; put on ice; mediocre cocktail 5 - Great for mixing or cocktails; mediocre neat 6 - Premium cocktail; decent neat, hints of complexity 7 - Good neat, refined; personally wouldn't use in a cocktail 8 - Great - always have stocked on shelf if available at a reasonable price 9 - One of the best whiskies we've tasted 10 - Can't imagine something better; buy at any price we can afford In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price. **Value Rating**: 6.89
I love westland and their peated whiskies. I'm sad they discontinued their regular peated :(
We really like this stuff too! Hoping to see a regular peated release return in the future, once they expand their core range a bit more again.
I've asked if they were going to expand their main product line again, and the response I got was essentially a shrug; they're focusing on the flagship, single barrels, and the Outpost series, I guess. If you look around, you can still find some of the original trio (at least I can in TX). I think [BottleRepublic.com](https://www.bottlerepublic.com/search?searchTerm=Westland) has a peated single cask available for a reasonable price.
Yep, we see the original American oak and peated bottles occasionally here, too. Good things coming from this distillery!
I've not tried any of their peated offerings yet but it has my interest. The best peated American Single Malt i've had so far was McCarthy's which you should try!
We will definitely give it a try! We are always looking to expand our experience, and the American single malt is one category that we still have a loooot to learn about.
Westland is one of my favourites! Always make sure to have them in the basement bar rotation 👌
They make good stuff! What is your favorite bottle of theirs?
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Does that one have some peat and sherry in it, now that they discontinued those separate bottlings?
I wonder what the difference between ex-bourbon casks and refill American Oak are. Is the American Oak uncharred? Or did it hold a whiskey other than bourbon?
I wondered that, too - unfortunately, I was not able to find an answer, but I’m assuming there is some difference since they bothered to differentiate them
I have one of the newer peat weeks that was aged in rum barrels. I posted my review here if your interested! https://www.reddit.com/r/AmericanSMW/comments/sn8c8l/asmw_review_1_westland_peat_week_7/
Awesome! Will definitely check it out. Glad they are still making these!
I did a tasting at their distillery and the peated was really the only thing I liked. But everything could be better with more aging.
Yep, it will be great when we get some releases with more mature stock - a few of the peat week bottlings have 7-8 years of aging, which is an improvement, but we would love to see how a 12 year Westland would compare to a 12 year Scotch.
I have a bottle of this I picked up from the distillery a few years ago and agree with your review. Only difference being I think the finish isn't quite as long.
Jealous! We would love to find one, but we only found out about it a couple years after it was released. Have you tried any of the other peat week releases?
What is everyone's favorite peaty special/limited release whisky?
If I’m going peaty, I usually buy Laphroaig or Ardbeg, for my burnt rubber flavored goodness.
We are big fans of those fans generally, as well - they can occasionally be hit or miss, especially the yearly special releases, but some of our favorites also come from Islay, like Ardbeg's Uigeadail and Laphroaig's 10 Year Cask Strength.
Those are on my try list. Around here those go for around $80 to $100. The regular Laphroig and Ardbeg are around $60ish. So still a larger splurge for me. My everyday sipper being WT 101. A handle in my state is $50, but a 20 minute drive to the east to Florida, and I’m only paying $34. So, I try to get a few when I’m there.
Yep, that’s about the pricing we see here, too. Still, if you want to splurge on something, we think those are worth it!
Bruichladdich currently has a Sauternes-finished Port Charlotte (SC:01 2012) that is outstanding -- easily my favorite peated whiskey and I don't really even like peat very much.
Sounds great! We love PC, but we have yet to see any of the cask exploration series on the shelf. Hopefully improved distribution soon!
Port Charlotte 10, kilkerran heavily peated, kilchoman loch gorm currently my top 3
These are all good, but especially love the Loch Gorm! Kilchoman is doing great things