Westward American Single Malt 375ML

Westward American Single Malt 375ML is a 45% ABV Oregon single malt whiskey distilled from 100% malted two-row barley and aged in new American oak. This expression earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, solidifying its reputation as one of the defining American single malts on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 proof)  |  Origin: Portland, Oregon, USA  |  Style: American Single Malt  |  Distillery: House Spirits Distillery

Production & Heritage

House Spirits Distillery, based in Portland, Oregon, takes a brewer's approach to whiskey making. The process begins by brewing what amounts to an artisanal American ale from scratch — using 100% malted two-row barley sourced from the Pacific Northwest and fermenting the wash with Sierra Nevada's ale yeast strain. This deliberate choice to use a craft beer yeast creates a richly flavored wash that carries pronounced malty, fruity character into the spirit. The fermented wash is then double pot distilled and matured in new, heavily toasted and lightly charred American oak barrels, which contribute deep caramel and chocolate tones while allowing the grain-forward character to remain front and center. The result is a whiskey that bridges the worlds of craft brewing and American distilling in a way few competitors replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet malt and honey lead the nose, followed by light barley, vanilla, and a dusting of cinnamon. Toasted nuts and maple emerge as the whiskey opens up in the glass.

Taste: The palate enters with toasted barley and sweet malt, quickly developing into layers of dark chocolate and espresso at the mid-palate. Honey, caramel, and ginger build toward a peak of stone fruit and dried fruit, while gentle barrel spices integrate nicely throughout.

Finish: The finish carries moderate length with white pepper, a minty fruitiness reminiscent of cherry dessert, and lingering oak. It closes with warmth and a persistent toasted grain character that recalls the ale-yeast fermentation at its core.

How to Drink Westward Single Malt

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal way to experience the full spectrum of malt-driven flavors. The 90-proof strength holds up well over a single large ice cube without losing its character. In cocktails, Westward works in a Rob Roy, where its chocolate and malt notes complement sweet vermouth beautifully. It also shines in a Penicillin, as its honey and ginger tones harmonize with the cocktail's lemon and honey-ginger syrup. A Boulevardier variation using Westward in place of bourbon adds an unexpected malty depth and dark chocolate backbone to the drink.

Best For

• Introducing a craft beer enthusiast to the world of American single malt whiskey
• A half-bottle format for sampling before committing to a full 750ml
• Gifting to a whiskey collector exploring the American single malt category
• Building a comparative tasting flight of American single malts alongside Scotch equivalents

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Westward Single Malt taste like? Westward American Single Malt delivers a rich, malt-forward profile dominated by dark chocolate, toasted barley, honey, and stone fruit, with gentle barrel spices woven throughout. The ale-yeast fermentation gives it a distinctly rounded, almost beer-like maltiness that sets it apart from grain-neutral American whiskeys.

How does Westward Single Malt compare to Balcones Texas Single Malt? Both Westward and Balcones are founding members of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission and serve as benchmarks for the category. Westward leans into a malt-forward, chocolate-and-honey profile shaped by its ale yeast fermentation, while Balcones Texas Single Malt tends toward a bolder, more intensely fruity and biscuity character influenced by the Texas climate's accelerated maturation.

Is Westward Single Malt good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 45% ABV it carries enough weight and complexity for a satisfying neat pour, with the malt sweetness and barrel spice balancing the proof. A few drops of water can further open up the stone fruit and honey notes.

Where is Westward Single Malt made? Westward is distilled at House Spirits Distillery in Portland, Oregon. The barley is sourced from the American Northwest, and the whiskey is double pot distilled and aged on-site in new American oak barrels.

What foods pair well with Westward Single Malt? Smoked salmon or grilled trout complement the malty sweetness with savory richness. Dark chocolate truffles echo the whiskey's cocoa tones. Sharp aged cheddar provides a contrasting tang against the honey and caramel. Roasted nuts amplify the toasted barley character. Fruit tarts with stone fruit or cherry fillings mirror the spirit's underlying fruitiness.

What sizes does Westward Single Malt come in? Westward American Single Malt is available in both 375ml and 750ml bottles, making the half-bottle an accessible way to explore the expression.

Is Westward Single Malt worth the price? Westward positions as a premium American single malt, and the price reflects the labor-intensive process of brewing from scratch with ale yeast, double pot distilling, and aging in new American oak. Its Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition validates the quality, placing it among the most respected expressions in the growing American single malt category.

Why Westward Single Malt?

What separates Westward from the expanding field of American single malts is the deliberate use of Sierra Nevada's ale yeast during fermentation — a production choice that fundamentally shapes the spirit's character before it ever touches a still. That brewer's mentality, combined with double pot distillation and maturation in heavily toasted, lightly charred new American oak, produces a whiskey with a rare depth of malty sweetness, dark chocolate, and stone fruit that earned recognition from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The 375ml format offers an entry point into one of the category's most distinctive expressions without the commitment of a full bottle. For anyone tracking the evolution of American single malt whiskey, Westward remains one of the essential reference points.