Westland Distillery in Seattle is one of the most ambitious producers in the American single malt category. The Peated expression uses Washington-grown barley dried over peat, creating a smoky whisky that is recognisably peated but distinctly American in character. The peat source, the barley variety, the yeast strains, and the new oak maturation all contribute to a whisky that shares Islay's concept but not its flavour profile.
The American peat character is the key distinction. Washington peat is younger and lighter than Scottish peat, producing a smoke that is sweeter, more aromatic and less phenolic. Combined with Westland's characteristically tropical, fruit-forward spirit and new oak maturation, the result is a peated whisky that is bright and fruity where Islay is maritime and medicinal.
Westland Peated is proof that peated whisky need not sound like Scotland. The American interpretation — sweeter smoke, tropical fruit, bourbon-like oak influence — creates something genuinely new. For Islay purists, it may feel too bright and too sweet. For drinkers seeking a peated whisky that charts its own course, Westland offers one of the most compelling and confident expressions of American single malt's potential.
