Westward American Single Malt Pinot Noir Cask / 45% / 0.7l

House Spirits Distillery began in 2004 in Corvalis, Oregon and relocated to Portland a year later.

Its first market hit was Aviation American Gin, but after another move to a larger facility (2015), the company focused on whiskey production. The plant is equipped with two copper stills, distills from locally grown two-row barley, and uses brewer's yeast for fermentation. After the second distillation, the distillate is placed in lightly charred American oak barrels. The whiskey presented here, after maturing in the aforementioned barrels, was finished for about two years in pinot noir barrels (French oak) from the Oregon vineyard Suzor Wines. In 2018, a minority share in the distillery was purchased by Distill Ventures, a company belonging to the Diageo concern.

Armat: fruity, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, vanilla, cocoa powder, roasted sesame seeds, mulled wine spice and a hint of oak.

Palate : sweet breakfast cereals, milk chocolate, roasted almonds, figs, red berries, cinnamon, cloves, notes of leather and sandalwood.

Finish: medium long, with notes of multi-berry jam, cinnamon, candied ginger, chocolate, leather and oak.