Westland 7 Year (2014) Cask 6297 for Bevvy's
Whisky: Westland 7 Year (2014) Cask 6297 for Bevvy's
Country/Region: United States/Washington
ABV: 59%
Cask: Marsala Wine
Age: 7 Years (Distilled 2014, Bottled 2022)
Nose: Incense and berry jam met waxy fruit peels, aromatic wood, and expo markers; cinnamon candies, bubble gum, and peppery spirit popped between notes of leather polish and honey-drenched pastries.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, oily, rich stewed fruits, leather, vanilla bean, rum baba cake, and berry compote; medium roast coffee beans and barley tea toward the end with berry preserves, pancakes, and tannic peppery spirit.
Finish: Medium-length and drying with incense, stewed fruit, and baking spice
Score: 6 (76)
Mental Image: Late Night Poster Making Snacks
Narrative & Notes: I do not consider myself a big fan of marsala maturations, but Westland does them well. This was not the first Westland marsala cask that I went into with low expectations and walked away pleasantly surprised. I can see a real pattern developing here.
I enjoyed the combination of fruits, spices, and almost savory incense with delicious baking of pastries and honey. The roasted barley and coffee notes on the back of the palate did feel a touch mismatched, and it was a bit peppery and drying for me as more wood tannins came forward, especially with a big sip, but I found the overall structure generally nice. The palate was balanced with a lovely, oily quality upfront, even if it was a touch too drying on the finish for my taste.
Overall, good— solid cask-heavy malt with few frills or issues.
