Way Too Many Westlands + a Movie, Part 1

Though Westland Distillery's standard range's quality has been wobbly of late, the Seattle producer's single casks are frequently very good to excellent. Yet there comes a point when a distillery fan has too many single cask samples. That moment occurred during the peak Covid era when for some reason I lost my marbles and rounded up 12 samples in two week:

Three years later, I stared at this dainty dozen wondering how and when they were going to be consumed. How about an Ultra Cluster, knocking 12 out in two weeks? Yes, but......that still didn't thrill. I scheduled the reviews anyway, awaiting inspiration.

Then, this weekend it clicked! I was going to watch some '70s Euro-horror flicks anyway. Why not enjoy some whiskies and a movie? Why not, indeed.

Over the next two weeks you should see six posts, each one offering two Westlands and one random movie. Just know that I have higher hopes for the Westlands than for my viewing choices.

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The Shiver of the Vampires (1971, France)

The poster > the film

I am always game for Jean Rollin films, which often offer a vague supernatural story as an excuse to display beautiful women draped in dreamy atmosphere and little else. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rollin possessed the ability to compose striking visual imagery, so if the flesh doesn't do it for you, then maybe the director's style will.

Unfortunately, The Shiver of the Vampires, early unformed Rollin, offers little of the latter. Inconsistent and problematic acting, actor direction, framing, story logic, story structure, music, and editing plague the film making it look like Jess Franco and Joe D'Amato co-directed. The camera does like leading lady, Sandra Julien (who puts actual effort in), and there's more nudity (female, of course) than one can shake a stick at. Jean-Marie Durand, the leading man, wanders in and out of scenes asking WTF is going on, much like this viewer, but with much better hair.

Verdict - Many better Rollin films out there!

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I really enjoyed the third edition of Westland's Garryana series, so here's #4 versus #5:

Westland Garryana Single Malt, 4th Edition 

Distillery: Westland
Region: Seattle, Washington
Age: 44-75 Months
Mashbill: The five-malt mix + Washington Select Pale Malt
Yeast: Belgian Saison Brewer’s Yeast
Fermentation: 144 hours
Maturation: Ex-Rye (29%), Ex-Bourbon (29%), Garryana (19%), PX Hogshead (16%), and Refill Garryana (7%)
Release: September 2019
Outturn: 3750 bottles
Alcohol by volume: 50%

NEAT

A direct blast of cookie butter, digestive biscuits, graham crackers, and nutmeg fill the nose and never back off. Hints of Granny Smith apple skins and milk chocolate appear later on. Chocolate-covered cherries, cinnamon, and malt lead the palate, with dried cranberries and heat in the background. It finishes with cayenne, cocoa, dried cherries, and cinnamon.

DILUTED to 46%abv, or ½ tsp of water per 30mL whiskey

The nose gets maltier while adding vanilla and dried blueberries. The cookie butter and nutmeg move to the background. Almonds take over the palate, with cookie butter and black coffee in the back. Its finish matches the palate.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

The mix of casks looks like it's going to be a hot mess, but it mostly works, probably because the PX cask element was kept low. It's still VERY Westland with all its maltiness, spices, and cookies. It may work best when neat, because the nose glows best in that form. The finish loses some steam, and is a bit brief, but things never get too sweet, which is a pleasant thing to experience in an American whiskey.

Rating - 84

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Westland Garryana Single Malt, 5th Edition

Distillery: Westland
Region: Seattle, Washington
Age: 45-73 Months
Mashbill: Washington Select Pale Malt + Baird's Heavily Peated Malt
Yeast: Belgian Saison Brewer’s Yeast
Fermentation: 144 hours
Maturation: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Quercus alba (64%) and Virgin Quercus garryana (36%)

Release: November 2020
Outturn: 5625 bottles
Alcohol by volume: 50%

NEAT

PEAT in the nose. It reminds me of PNW's McCarthy's single malt, with its heavy charry smoke, though this adds in burnt pine. Soil, cocoa powder, and charred meat join the pyre, with almond butter and vanilla staying outside. The palate starts and ends with wood smoke and soil. Jasmine tea and vanilla sit in the middle, malt and black pepper in the background. It finishes with salt, wood smoke, and soot.

DILUTED to 46%abv, or ½ tsp of water per 30mL whiskey

The nose becomes simpler: sooty peat, chocolate, and vanilla. The palate holds soot, sugar, chile oil, and a hint of apricot. That soot consumes the finish.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

The blenders had a heavy peat hand this time, and the Baird's malt takes over everything, choking out the Westland maltiness and whatever the Garryana had to offer. It's not a bad whiskey, but it's nearly one sooty note. It could have used some more fruit or spice or salt or something. If you're looking for a young soot-filled peater with more depth and style, Ardbeg Wee Beastie will do the trick. (Yes, I just recommended an Ardbeg in a Westland review.)

Rating - 80

Garryana #4 wins this match! And Jean Rollin loses. Onto the next matchup...