Westland Flagship American Single Malt Whiskey 700ML

Westland Flagship American Single Malt Whiskey 700ML is a 46% ABV American single malt whiskey distilled, matured, and bottled in Seattle, Washington. Winner of a Gold Medal and 93 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute and a 93-point rating from Wine Enthusiast, the Flagship expression anchors Westland's core range as the definitive statement of their house style — built around an unusually complex six-malt grain bill that distinguishes it from nearly every other American whiskey on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46%  |  Origin: Seattle, Washington, USA  |  American Single Malt (minimum 40 months maturation)  |  Distillery: Westland Distillery

Production & Heritage

Westland Distillery operates in the heart of Seattle's SoDo district, where the maritime Pacific Northwest climate accelerates whiskey maturation in ways distinct from Scotland or Kentucky. Distillation runs through two custom-designed Vendome copper pot stills — a 7,560-litre wash still and a 5,670-litre spirit still — a setup that firmly roots the operation in single malt tradition. What truly sets the Flagship apart is its proprietary mashbill of six different malted barleys: Washington Select Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Extra Special Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Brown Malt, and Bairds Heavily Peated Malt. This spectrum of kilned and roasted malts produces a depth of flavor rarely found in single malt whiskey on either side of the Atlantic. Maturation takes place over a minimum of 40 months in a diverse cask program that includes new American oak (Cooper's Reserve), used American oak, first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads and butts, and second-fill ex-Oloroso hogsheads and butts — a vatting strategy that layers sweetness, fruit, and spice in careful proportion.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Custard filling and maple brittle arrive first, followed by toasted marshmallow and marionberry compote. There is a subtle backdrop of vanilla and cocoa that deepens as the whiskey opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is creamy and rich — almond nougat and crème brûlée coat the palate immediately. At mid-palate, black tea tannins and white flower petals emerge, balanced by a butterscotch sweetness. Malted milk balls and a touch of coffee round out the peak, giving the whiskey a confectionery quality without cloying sweetness.

Finish: Medium-long, with drying oak and a gentle lemon-pepper heat that keeps things lively. Vanilla and roasted malt linger well after each sip, fading gradually into a clean, balanced close.

How to Drink Westland Flagship

At 46% ABV and non-chill filtered presentation, the Flagship rewards neat pours — a few drops of water coax out the floral and tea-like mid-palate notes without flattening the texture. It also performs well in cocktails where malt complexity can shine: try it in a Rob Roy, where the crème brûlée sweetness plays against dry vermouth; a Penicillin, where the light peat and honey notes amplify the ginger-lemon backbone; or a Boulevardier, where the roasted malt character holds its own against Campari's bitterness.

Best For

• Scotch drinkers exploring the American single malt category for the first time
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values production transparency and craft distilling
• After-dinner sipping alongside chocolate or coffee-based desserts
• Building a comparative tasting flight of global single malts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Westland Flagship taste like? Westland Flagship delivers a rich, dessert-like profile dominated by crème brûlée, almond nougat, and malted milk balls, with subtle black tea tannins and a drying lemon-pepper finish. The six-malt grain bill gives it a roasted, confectionery depth uncommon in single malt whiskey.

How does Westland Flagship compare to Balcones Texas Single Malt? Both are leading American single malts, but Westland Flagship leans toward creamy, floral, and tea-like complexity driven by its six-malt mashbill and diverse sherry-cask maturation, while Balcones Texas Single Malt tends to deliver bolder, more fruit-forward intensity influenced by Texas's extreme aging climate. Westland's profile is often described as closer to a Speyside-style Scotch, whereas Balcones pushes into richer, more robust territory.

Is Westland Flagship good for sipping neat? Yes — the 46% ABV provides enough body and flavor concentration for neat sipping without excessive heat, and a small addition of water further opens the floral and malt-forward character.

Where is Westland Flagship made? Westland Flagship is distilled, matured, and bottled at Westland Distillery in Seattle, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The distillery uses locally sourced Washington state pale malt alongside specialty malts in its production.

What foods pair well with Westland Flagship? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and roasted malt notes; crème brûlée echoes the whiskey's caramelized custard character; smoked salmon plays off the light peat undertone; sharp aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness with savory depth; and roasted nuts mirror the almond nougat mid-palate.

What sizes does Westland Flagship come in? The standard expression is available in 700ml and 750ml bottles depending on the market.

Is Westland Flagship worth the price? Westland Flagship positions as a mid-premium American single malt, and its six-malt mashbill, diverse cask maturation program, and multiple awards — including 93 points from both the Beverage Tasting Institute and Wine Enthusiast — place it among the strongest values in the growing American single malt category.

Why Westland Flagship?

The American single malt category has expanded rapidly, but Westland's Flagship remains one of its most critically decorated and technically distinctive expressions. The six-malt mashbill — spanning pale through heavily peated varieties — is a production choice almost no other distillery replicates, and it gives the whiskey a layered malt complexity that sets a genuine benchmark for the category. The multi-cask vatting of new oak, ex-bourbon, and ex-Oloroso sherry wood adds further dimension without any single cask type dominating. For anyone building an understanding of what American single malt can be, the Flagship is essential reference material.