Westward Pinot Noir Cask Single Malt 750ML

Westward Pinot Noir Cask Single Malt 750ML is an Oregon-made American single malt whiskey finished in Pinot Noir wine casks, bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof). Rated 90 points by Whisky Advocate reviewer Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021), this expression layers wine-influenced dark fruit character over Westward's signature malty, ale-yeast-driven distillate, and has earned a Grand Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45%  |  Origin: Portland, Oregon, USA  |  American Single Malt, Pinot Noir Cask Finish  |  Distillery: Westward Whiskey

Production & Heritage

Westward Whiskey was founded in 2004 by Christian Krogstad and Thomas Mooney in Portland, Oregon, with a philosophy rooted in the intersection of craft brewing and single malt whiskey. The distillery uses 100% locally sourced Pacific Northwest two-row barley, ferments with the same ale yeast strain used by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., and double pot-distills the wash before aging in new American oak — a process they describe as "brew like a pale ale, distill like a single malt, age like a bourbon." For this Pinot Noir Cask expression, the mature whiskey is finished for up to two years in French oak casks sourced from a select group of award-winning Pinot Noir producers in Oregon's Willamette Valley, one of the world's most respected regions for that grape.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cherrywood smoke and pipe tobacco arrive first, followed by candied orange peel and fresh orchard fruit. A grassy, slightly herbal quality sits underneath, giving the nose a layered complexity that hints at the wine cask influence.

Taste: The entry is rich with raisin, fig, and dried apricot — the Pinot Noir cask's signature. Mid-palate, caramel and toffee sweetness emerges alongside espresso bitterness and pecan nuttiness. Oak builds steadily toward a peak of plum skin, nutmeg, and warm baking spice.

Finish: Long and lingering, with herbaceous oak, dark chocolate, and a leathery, drying texture. A subtle hoppy, beer-like quality — a hallmark of Westward's ale-yeast fermentation — echoes through the final notes alongside clove and plum.

How to Drink Westward Pinot Noir Cask

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal serve here; the 45% ABV sits at a comfortable proof that opens up with minimal dilution, revealing the wine cask's fruit and spice layers without overwhelming them. Three cocktails where this whiskey shines: a Manhattan, where the Pinot Noir cask's dried fruit and tannin structure replace the need for vermouth-heavy sweetness; a Boulevardier, where the whiskey's dark chocolate and espresso notes complement Campari's bitterness; and an Old Fashioned, where the inherent fruit complexity means a simple sugar and bitters treatment lets the cask finish do the heavy lifting.

Best For

• Wine lovers exploring American single malt whiskey for the first time
• Gifting to a whiskey enthusiast who values regional terroir and craft production
• After-dinner sipping alongside a dessert course
• Building a collection of cask-finished American single malts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Westward Pinot Noir Cask taste like? The dominant profile is dried dark fruit — raisin, fig, and plum — layered with espresso, toffee, and baking spices from the base whiskey, finishing with dark chocolate and herbaceous oak. The Willamette Valley Pinot Noir cask finish adds a tannic, wine-like dryness not found in the standard Westward expression.

How does Westward Pinot Noir Cask compare to Westward American Single Malt (Original)? The Original relies entirely on new American oak for its flavor, delivering a more bourbon-like profile of vanilla, caramel, and toasted grain. The Pinot Noir Cask builds on that foundation but adds pronounced dried fruit, wine tannins, and a longer, more chocolatey finish from its up-to-two-year secondary maturation in French oak wine casks.

Is Westward Pinot Noir Cask good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 45% ABV is approachable enough to drink neat without being harsh, and the wine cask finish provides enough complexity to reward slow, contemplative sipping. A few drops of water can further unlock the fruit and herbal aromatics.

Where is Westward Pinot Noir Cask made? It is distilled at Westward Whiskey's distillery in Portland, Oregon, using 100% Pacific Northwest-grown two-row barley. The Pinot Noir finishing casks are sourced from producers in Oregon's Willamette Valley, keeping the entire production rooted in the state.

What foods pair well with Westward Pinot Noir Cask? Dark chocolate truffles complement the whiskey's cocoa and espresso notes. Aged Gouda or Comté cheeses match its caramel and nutty undertones. Duck breast with a cherry or plum reduction mirrors the dried fruit character. Charcuterie with fig preserves echoes the fig and raisin notes. Pecan pie reinforces the toffee and nut flavors on the mid-palate.

What sizes does Westward Pinot Noir Cask come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 45% ABV (90 proof).

Is Westward Pinot Noir Cask worth the price? It positions as a premium American single malt, sitting above Westward's Original expression in both price and complexity. The up-to-two-year secondary maturation in sourced Willamette Valley Pinot Noir casks, the 90-point Whisky Advocate rating, and the Grand Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition all support its standing in the upper tier of the American single malt category.

Why Westward Pinot Noir Cask?

What separates this expression from the growing field of wine-cask-finished whiskeys is specificity of place. Both the barley and the wine casks come from Oregon, creating a genuinely regional product where terroir is not just a marketing concept — it is traceable from grain to glass. The 90-point score from Whisky Advocate and a Grand Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that the quality backs up the story. For drinkers interested in the emerging American single malt category, few bottles demonstrate the potential of Pacific Northwest whiskey-making with this much focus and restraint.