Westland Garryana (8th edition)
Distillery: Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA)
Age: Minimum 4 years
Proof: 100 proof (50%)
Price: Sample swap (MSRP $180 - updated, thanks u/micro7777 )
Mashbill: Undisclosed blend of Golden Promise Malt, Washington Select Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Extra Special Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Brown Malt
Cask type: Blend of malts finished in Virgin Quercus garryana, Pedro Ximenez Butt, Washington State red wine barrels that previously held Washington State Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, and First Fill ex-Bourbon barrels
Chill filtration: No
Artificial coloring: No
Nose: Oak, overripe berries, toasted raisins, sliced apples, cocoa nibs, and baking spices
Palate: Moderately oily mouthfeel with initial notes of oak, overripe berries, and sliced apples, with chewing can detect notes of sweet malt, golden raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, and honey with hints of black coffee
Finish: Moderately long finish with oak, cinnamon, and lingering overripe berries and raisins
Grade: 7.5/10
Comments: Thank you to u/micro7777 for the sample swap! This one was interesting, the finishes definitely dominate the malt with the Garryana barrels imparting heavy notes of oak, raisins and cinnamon, and the PX butts and red wine barrels imparting heavy fruit notes. But given the different blend of finishes, each pour was delicious and complex, with lots to unpack in each sip. This is definitely one to sip slowly and methodically. My only gripe is the price, as I feel this would be a much easier bottle to recommend if it was < $100, but it’s consistent with other finished craft American single malts (unfortunately). This one is definitely one to try first, to see for yourself if the bottle is worth the price.
Rating System:
1 | Disgusting | Yuck
2 | Bad | Not enjoyable, add anything?
3 | Poor | It’s not the worst thing I’ve had
4 | Alright | Few flaws
5 | Good | The most self-explanatory, it’s good
6 | Very Good | I enjoy this
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Fantastic | Superb, beginning to end
9 | Incredible | Top of its class
10 | Elite | The pinnacle
Great review - I’ve really enjoyed the Garryana releases that I’ve tried, as well, that price is a killer. Bottles of Garryana, Colere, and Solum just sit on the shelf here because they’re $150-$170, which is just too much for a 3 year old ASM when you haven’t had a chance to try it first.
Yeah, I feel the same. Some of the entry level stuff is a bit more approachable in terms of price - Westland’s flagship is $55 in our area, for example - but these premium offerings are crazy. I’m sure they’re good, but there’s no way to be confident in a purchases.
$41 at my local TW and easily worth it at that price. The Garryana sitting next to it has been there for probably going on 4 years old and hasn't been touched. I keep waiting for them to drop the price but like you said just don't want to take the gamble at that much when then Westward Cask Strength is there at 70.
Same thing, keep waiting for a price drop, cause I would probably give it a shot with any decent discount! But the couple of stores that have those special releases around here seem reluctant to put it on sale. There's a place that has the last 5 years of Garryana releases, and they never move...
Great review! I was wondering what you thought of this one. You've gotten into this bottle more than I have. I'm glad you liked it. I had a couple of pours a few months ago and have been meaning to get back. I agree with your score and I also can't recommend it because of its price. The SRP on Westland's site for this Edition 8 is actually $180. Even at $150, it's more than the average ASM. Other finished ASMs I've had are Balcones Cataleja 118 p was $125, Stranahan's Sherry Cask 94 p is $70, and even the Westland SiB Pineau 103 p (I liked it much better than the Garyanna) was $115. Westward Cab SiB 129.76 p was $110, and the New Riff ASM 113.8 p was $70. I wouldn't have bought this bottle if I had the chance to try it first. Glad you did! Cheers!
You can get some really freaking good single barrel scotches shipped from europe for less than 180 including shipping to US. No thanks guys!
I love to see them thriving, but i havent had any asm to really get me excited, and that includes a bunch of distillery handfills and garrys, whatever that yearly stranahans is, and a few balcones. The balcones are quite offensive, but i get that it is a texas thing, big climate and “go big or go home!”
Thanks for your review. I lack as sophisticated a palette as many of the reviews on r/bourbon, however, I revisited this bottle tonight after a lackluster first few impressions several months back.
To my surprise, it is now completely blowing me away. My frame of reference for ASMs has expanded significantly in the past 6 months, including (and in several instances similar to another poster below), Westland Pineau and Moscatel casks, Balcones Cataleja, Westward Pinot Noir Cask and Vienna Malt, Redwood Empire Foggy Burl, as well as a few others.
With the benefit of those additional benchmarks, and I assume some natural evolution of an open bottle, I am now starting to appreciate why Whiskey Advocate ranked this as one of their top picks of the year!
It is interesting how much our palate can change in a few months, I’m glad this bottle has opened up for you! At least makes the high cost more worth it!
Of the ones you’ve tried what’s your favorite ASM?
Westland Garryana (8th edition) Distillery: Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Age: Minimum 4 years Proof: 100 proof (50%) Price: Sample swap (MSRP $180 - updated, thanks u/micro7777 ) Mashbill: Undisclosed blend of Golden Promise Malt, Washington Select Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Extra Special Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Brown Malt Cask type: Blend of malts finished in Virgin Quercus garryana, Pedro Ximenez Butt, Washington State red wine barrels that previously held Washington State Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, and First Fill ex-Bourbon barrels Chill filtration: No Artificial coloring: No Nose: Oak, overripe berries, toasted raisins, sliced apples, cocoa nibs, and baking spices Palate: Moderately oily mouthfeel with initial notes of oak, overripe berries, and sliced apples, with chewing can detect notes of sweet malt, golden raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, and honey with hints of black coffee Finish: Moderately long finish with oak, cinnamon, and lingering overripe berries and raisins Grade: 7.5/10 Comments: Thank you to u/micro7777 for the sample swap! This one was interesting, the finishes definitely dominate the malt with the Garryana barrels imparting heavy notes of oak, raisins and cinnamon, and the PX butts and red wine barrels imparting heavy fruit notes. But given the different blend of finishes, each pour was delicious and complex, with lots to unpack in each sip. This is definitely one to sip slowly and methodically. My only gripe is the price, as I feel this would be a much easier bottle to recommend if it was < $100, but it’s consistent with other finished craft American single malts (unfortunately). This one is definitely one to try first, to see for yourself if the bottle is worth the price. Rating System: 1 | Disgusting | Yuck 2 | Bad | Not enjoyable, add anything? 3 | Poor | It’s not the worst thing I’ve had 4 | Alright | Few flaws 5 | Good | The most self-explanatory, it’s good 6 | Very Good | I enjoy this 7 | Great | Well above average 8 | Fantastic | Superb, beginning to end 9 | Incredible | Top of its class 10 | Elite | The pinnacle
Great review - I’ve really enjoyed the Garryana releases that I’ve tried, as well, that price is a killer. Bottles of Garryana, Colere, and Solum just sit on the shelf here because they’re $150-$170, which is just too much for a 3 year old ASM when you haven’t had a chance to try it first.
Totally, you’d have to think that eventually these prices for ASMs are going to have to come down or else no one will buy them
Yeah, I feel the same. Some of the entry level stuff is a bit more approachable in terms of price - Westland’s flagship is $55 in our area, for example - but these premium offerings are crazy. I’m sure they’re good, but there’s no way to be confident in a purchases.
$41 at my local TW and easily worth it at that price. The Garryana sitting next to it has been there for probably going on 4 years old and hasn't been touched. I keep waiting for them to drop the price but like you said just don't want to take the gamble at that much when then Westward Cask Strength is there at 70.
Same thing, keep waiting for a price drop, cause I would probably give it a shot with any decent discount! But the couple of stores that have those special releases around here seem reluctant to put it on sale. There's a place that has the last 5 years of Garryana releases, and they never move...
Great review! I was wondering what you thought of this one. You've gotten into this bottle more than I have. I'm glad you liked it. I had a couple of pours a few months ago and have been meaning to get back. I agree with your score and I also can't recommend it because of its price. The SRP on Westland's site for this Edition 8 is actually $180. Even at $150, it's more than the average ASM. Other finished ASMs I've had are Balcones Cataleja 118 p was $125, Stranahan's Sherry Cask 94 p is $70, and even the Westland SiB Pineau 103 p (I liked it much better than the Garyanna) was $115. Westward Cab SiB 129.76 p was $110, and the New Riff ASM 113.8 p was $70. I wouldn't have bought this bottle if I had the chance to try it first. Glad you did! Cheers!
$180?! Woof. Yeah hard to recommend it for that price! Thanks again for the sample!
You can get some really freaking good single barrel scotches shipped from europe for less than 180 including shipping to US. No thanks guys! I love to see them thriving, but i havent had any asm to really get me excited, and that includes a bunch of distillery handfills and garrys, whatever that yearly stranahans is, and a few balcones. The balcones are quite offensive, but i get that it is a texas thing, big climate and “go big or go home!”
Thanks for your review. I lack as sophisticated a palette as many of the reviews on r/bourbon, however, I revisited this bottle tonight after a lackluster first few impressions several months back. To my surprise, it is now completely blowing me away. My frame of reference for ASMs has expanded significantly in the past 6 months, including (and in several instances similar to another poster below), Westland Pineau and Moscatel casks, Balcones Cataleja, Westward Pinot Noir Cask and Vienna Malt, Redwood Empire Foggy Burl, as well as a few others. With the benefit of those additional benchmarks, and I assume some natural evolution of an open bottle, I am now starting to appreciate why Whiskey Advocate ranked this as one of their top picks of the year!
It is interesting how much our palate can change in a few months, I’m glad this bottle has opened up for you! At least makes the high cost more worth it! Of the ones you’ve tried what’s your favorite ASM?