Westward Whiskey is celebrating their 20th anniversary with the second release of their Milestone series. This limited-edition whiskey represents the culmination of two decades of innovative whiskey-making rooted in the elements of the Pacific Northwest. Drawing a bottling run each year from their 21-barrel Solera system, Westward’s Master Blender Miles Munroe has meticulously crafted this edition by blending some of the distillery’s rarest and most precious whiskeys.
Westward has long pushed the boundaries of American whiskey by reimagining Old World winemaking and distilling techniques. This release, inspired by a transformative experience in Taiwan, incorporates exotic woods and innovative cask finishes, such as stout, pinot noir, and rum, to amplify the whiskey’s characteristic spice. In a passing conversation I had with whiskey writer Nathan Woodruff (who also takes wonderful photos, by the way), he confirmed a theory I had that this release utilized some amburana cask finishing as part of the project. Folks with sensitive palates will certainly pick up on it, but take it from me, an amburana hater; this shouldn't scare you off this bottle in the least. Each release of Milestone sort of works like a "time capsule in a bottle," showcasing distinct and unique flavors that evolve with every iteration as liquid gets pulled and artfully refilled. This functionally works something like the Amongst the Whiskey infinity barrel project. Perhaps the most interesting technique used here is the slow-proofing, which involves adding water to the cask as the whiskey within slowly evaporates as the angels take their share. According to the press release, this is what Westward claims to be their masterpiece whiskey. Let's get into a taste to find out for ourselves how the whiskey within stacks up in the ever-growing American single malt whiskey landscape. I'd like to thank the Westward team for sending along a bottle for review without any strings attached. In accordance with my editorial policy, this in no way affects my review or rating.
Company on Label: Westward Whiskey
Whiskey Type: American single malt whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 100% malted barley
Proof: 97°
Age: NAS, but supposedly blended from some of their oldest stocks
Further identification: This is a 2024 release for members of the Westward Whiskey Club, available directly from the distillery at an MSRP of $249.95
Nose: Upon lifting the glass to my nose, I find rich spiced apple cider, cherry cake donut, and sweet rum raisin notes that instantly intrigue and captivate my full attention. This is one of those rare pours that make you pause in wonder for more than a few moments as you get to know the magic within. This is so wild in the nose. It at once intrigues and beguiles as the funky sweet rum finishing clearly takes a leading role in the performance, producing fruity esters in spades. I find peach preserves, black forest cake, ganache, dark Michigan cherry, and raspberry to be the most distinct. I also definitely find some clear ringing traces of amburana wood having been used as part of the blend, something that would have scared me off if I had been advertised it, but here it's so well integrated and subtle here, I'll give it my stamp of approval—even as a self-proclaimed amburana hater. Overall, this has such an interesting vibe to it; there's a characteristic that reminds me a little of something you might find out of a Yankee Candle Shop. It's powerfully aromatic and enjoyable to nose over and over again. I could see this doing exceptionally well as a replacement for dessert after Thanksgiving dinner. Let's go in for a taste before we continue nosing any further.
Coming back from a sip reveals a more balanced, refined, and classy array of aromas. Apple tart, dark chocolate, espresso, and raspberry strudel continue to absolutely delight the nostrils. Late in the glass, pin cherry, slivered almonds, and more sweet mulled wine aromas emulate the general feeling of enjoying Swedish Glögg in the winter. As the glass nears empty, the sweet and level chocolate tones begin to dominate, a welcome evolution that is testament to the incredible complexity this blend has achieved. There's so much going on here, and it manages to not feel over-finished in the least. The empty glass smells of warm cinnamon rolls, German bread, and sun-soaked hay with a sweet, herbal undercurrent.
Palate: Cherry cobbler leads the way on the tongue as the pinot noir influence makes itself known. There's a kiss of leather, cigar wrapper, raisin, and fig that dance in the mouth long after the liquid departs. Another sip is so easily sought as the delicious array of mulled wine, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, and raspberry tart creep across the tongue in buttery delight. Everything is tied nicely together by an underlying character of a homemade pie crust and cocoa powder. This pour is much like a thrilling ping pong match set between sweet fruit and funky spice. Every time you think one side is gaining an advantage, the other side swings through in even more intense clarity. It's as enjoyable as your first time on a pirate ship swing ride at the carnival, with the excitement of some nearby fried dough to come as well. Sipping late in the glass produces consistent class as fig, raisin, and stewed apricot continue to elevate impeccable volume of flavor. This isn't a light, easy-sipping experience at 97 proof—this is an adventure in flavor that never lets up for a moment. My goodness, this is good whiskey. My last sip offers up vanilla extract, sugar cookie, lemon frosting, and marzipan in sweet confectionary charm. The finish is creamy, sticky, and long, as peach, pear, apple pie, and cinnamon roll notes roll into the perfect fall sip of whiskey.
TL;DR: A perfect fall pour with apple tart aromas galore and a powerhouse of ever-evolving flavors
Rating: 5/5
The bar has officially been raised for American single malt. This is without a doubt my favorite ASM on my shelf right now and most of the competition isn't even close. On top of being an exceptional blend of well-aged whiskey, this release goes on to prove that finishing can be artfully done, not a practice reserved for covering up bad whiskey. Kudos to the Westward team for crafting such a powerful, nuanced, and utterly perfect sip with this release of Milestone edition 2. If you're interested in exploring the nuanced and growing world of American single malt—start and end here.
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