MrWizard's Ramblings

Part 2 of the American Single Malts Review, because more samples showed up.

Westward Single Malt, 45%
Confusingly named WestWARD malt out of Oregon, not to be confused with WestLAND from Washington, or WAYward from California. The nose is very heavy with bubble gum and Jolly Rancher hard candy. Palate is pleasantly sweet and malty, but also somewhat thin; more of the Jolly Rancher notes continue their interplay. Aftertaste is initially bitter with wood then turns slightly minty with more bubble gum flavors. Among growing American single malt distilleries this doesn’t seem to stand out in a way that I would considering interesting. Certainly a unique flavor profile, I can see the distillery going for something ‘different’, but ‘different’ isn’t always best.
Score: C+

Addendum later… : It’s a hard skip for me on Westward as a brand. I not liked any of their expressions (Regular, stout, single cask and pinot barrel) beyond about C level.

Rua Single Malt, 46%
Another American production, this single malt has been aged for 16 months and is from batch 56 bottling from Great Wagon Road distilling. Nose in the glass is just incredible, very flowery and full of perfume notes. The palate… Woody, slightly bitter-sweet, almost too bitter, it is mouth-coating without being viscous. It drinks way hotter than the advertised 46%, but not because it’s alcohol-forward, but instead it is flavor-forward profile. I cannot believe this was aged for 16 months… No way… It’s so full of complex wood notes that I’d totally believe this to be overwooded 15 year old scotch. But the sudden drop of flavor in the aftertaste does reveal its young age. The aftertaste lingers for quite a while with a disclaimer that it goes from amazingly loud nose and palate to immediately subdued back aftertaste as if someone moves volume button from 10 to 2. Fantastically interesting and delicious this is a strange mix of single malt flavors and profiles with bourbon-like behavior on the palate by being bold, loud and brash. A little bit on the younger side, I’d love to get my hands on their special edition that’s at nearly 3 years old.
Mark doesn’t spare praises for this either: https://the-right-sp … american-single-malt
Score: B

Stranahan’s Sherry Cask, 47%
Ah, Stranahan’s… I’ve seen you around, always passed on buying. Yay for samples! Mmmmm, delicious PX dark fruit on the nose. Palate is more PX sherry fruits and so is the aftertaste… It tastes like a generic sherried single malt but the sherry feels also generic. Is it sweet and tasty? Yes. Does it have any sort of outstanding profile other than thin, fortified sherry? No. Do I like sherry? Yes. Are there better options than this? Oh hell, yes! Honestly, I’d rather drink Speyside single malt instead of this, mostly for more interesting profile. It’s sweet, tasty and boring.
Score: C+

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown