Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 91
Style
Produced In Oregon
United States
ABV 50%
Availability Limited
Price $99.95 
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2024-09-17

Westward Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt 2024 Review

When I last reviewed a Westward Whiskey product, it was the 2023 Milestone release, an 86 proof, non-age-stated, $250 bottle that stood out as one of last year’s most pleasant surprises.

Today, we’re visiting something else entirely from the Portland, Ore.-based operation: a bottled-in-bond single malt, clocking in at a government-regulated 100 proof, and aged in new charred oak barrels. The whiskey herein is 7 years old, having been distilled in March 2017 and bottled around mid-2024. To date, it’s the oldest Westward release with a verifiable age statement, though certain bottlings (like Milestone) have contained portions of older whiskey.

Let’s see how the latest from Westward stacks up!

Westward Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt 2024 review.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024 : Stats and Availability

Westward’s Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt is primarily available to members of the “Westward Whiskey Club,” an online enrollment membership that gives special access to the distillery’s quarterly releases. (Note that while signup is free, the whiskey isn’t, and members can customize and select which expressions they want to buy.)

This bottled-in-bond expression comes in at right around $100 for Whiskey Club members. Westward ships to most states (currently around 35 total), though it’s best to check the brand’s website to ensure they can ship directly to your home.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024: Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose starts with several elements I’ve come to associate with Westward’s single malt: fruit preserves, candied citrus peel, finely ground cinnamon, rose blossom, and an undercurrent of sweet oak.

More specific to this expression are golden raisins, figgy pudding (with plenty of almond), and cooling cedar, and the wood influence here is more cooling and sap-forward than a lot of other Westward releases. That makes some sense given the age (a full seven years instead of a more typical five or six). Lemon peel builds over time and generally in conjunction with that cedar note, though that comes with the tradeoff of some lighter components getting a little muscled out (flower blossoms, ground spice).

A little furniture polish rises up after the initial array of scents — perhaps scary for a bourbon drinker to read, but a familiar and often welcome note for longtime fans of the single malt category.

At 100 proof, the nose is punchy, with the floral and fruity notes followed by enough ethanol to create a lightly numbing sensation after a few deep sniffs. It’s not burning, but this bottled-in-bond single malt is certainly hot enough to reward some patience and time in the glass. I appreciate Westward leaning into a bolder end of the spectrum relative to some recent previous expressions in its lineup.

Taste

Darker and less citrusy than on the nose, the first sip is heavy on brandy-soaked plums and dried fruit. That dark fruit is followed closely by oak-forward spice: clove, nutmeg, and pepper.

Cereal grain hits along the mid and upper palates, with a familiar malted characteristic that gradually transitions to menthol and fresh mint, which reminds me of that aforementioned cedar scent. I can still pick up some lemon peel here, but again, it’s subdued compared to the bright and citrus-forward nose.

It’s altogether a little heavier — perhaps heftier — than I’m used to with Westward, committing much more fully to jammy fruits and wood spice.

Finish

The finish is semi-long and borderline tart; fans of sour ales will experience a familiar, if much higher proof, dissipation of flavors. In this final act, fruit is also dialed back compared to aromatics. But Westward Bottled-in-Bond doesn’t lose its sweetness entirely on the finish. Fresh mint from the palate evolves to sweet mint gum, with a bit of residual baking spice that adds some welcome depth.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024 Rating

91/100

Recap

The 2024 version of Westward’s Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt is a flavorful — and, frankly, logical — next step for the brand’s flavor profile. It isn’t the most nuanced whiskey I’ve tried out of the Portland distillery (Milestone still takes the highest marks in that realm), but there’s plenty here for whiskey fans to chew on. Regular drinkers of American Single Malt will likely get the most enjoyment here, though it’s a bottle I’d be happy to share with bourbon drinkers, beer fans, and beyond.

*Image retrieved from Westward Whiskey

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91
POINTS
Westward Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt 2024
When I last reviewed a Westward Whiskey product, it was the 2023 Milestone release, an 86 proof, non-age-stated, $250 bottle that stood out as one of last year’s most pleasant surprises. Today, we’re visiting something else entirely from the Portland, Ore.-based operation: a bottled-in-bond single malt, clocking in at a government-regulated 100 proof, and aged in new charred oak barrels. The whiskey herein is 7 years old, having been distilled in March 2017 and bottled around mid-2024. To date, it’s the oldest Westward release with a verifiable age statement, though certain bottlings (like Milestone) have contained portions of older whiskey. Let’s see how the latest from Westward stacks up! Westward Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt 2024 review.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024 : Stats and Availability

Westward’s Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt is primarily available to members of the “Westward Whiskey Club,” an online enrollment membership that gives special access to the distillery’s quarterly releases. (Note that while signup is free, the whiskey isn’t, and members can customize and select which expressions they want to buy.) This bottled-in-bond expression comes in at right around $100 for Whiskey Club members. Westward ships to most states (currently around 35 total), though it’s best to check the brand’s website to ensure they can ship directly to your home.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024: Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose starts with several elements I’ve come to associate with Westward’s single malt: fruit preserves, candied citrus peel, finely ground cinnamon, rose blossom, and an undercurrent of sweet oak. More specific to this expression are golden raisins, figgy pudding (with plenty of almond), and cooling cedar, and the wood influence here is more cooling and sap-forward than a lot of other Westward releases. That makes some sense given the age (a full seven years instead of a more typical five or six). Lemon peel builds over time and generally in conjunction with that cedar note, though that comes with the tradeoff of some lighter components getting a little muscled out (flower blossoms, ground spice). A little furniture polish rises up after the initial array of scents — perhaps scary for a bourbon drinker to read, but a familiar and often welcome note for longtime fans of the single malt category. At 100 proof, the nose is punchy, with the floral and fruity notes followed by enough ethanol to create a lightly numbing sensation after a few deep sniffs. It’s not burning, but this bottled-in-bond single malt is certainly hot enough to reward some patience and time in the glass. I appreciate Westward leaning into a bolder end of the spectrum relative to some recent previous expressions in its lineup.

Taste

Darker and less citrusy than on the nose, the first sip is heavy on brandy-soaked plums and dried fruit. That dark fruit is followed closely by oak-forward spice: clove, nutmeg, and pepper. Cereal grain hits along the mid and upper palates, with a familiar malted characteristic that gradually transitions to menthol and fresh mint, which reminds me of that aforementioned cedar scent. I can still pick up some lemon peel here, but again, it’s subdued compared to the bright and citrus-forward nose. It’s altogether a little heavier — perhaps heftier — than I’m used to with Westward, committing much more fully to jammy fruits and wood spice.

Finish

The finish is semi-long and borderline tart; fans of sour ales will experience a familiar, if much higher proof, dissipation of flavors. In this final act, fruit is also dialed back compared to aromatics. But Westward Bottled-in-Bond doesn’t lose its sweetness entirely on the finish. Fresh mint from the palate evolves to sweet mint gum, with a bit of residual baking spice that adds some welcome depth.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024 Rating

91/100

Recap

The 2024 version of Westward’s Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt is a flavorful — and, frankly, logical — next step for the brand’s flavor profile. It isn’t the most nuanced whiskey I’ve tried out of the Portland distillery (Milestone still takes the highest marks in that realm), but there’s plenty here for whiskey fans to chew on. Regular drinkers of American Single Malt will likely get the most enjoyment here, though it’s a bottle I’d be happy to share with bourbon drinkers, beer fans, and beyond. *Image retrieved from Westward Whiskey

Reviewed On: 09-18-2024
91
POINTS
Westward Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt 2024
When I last reviewed a Westward Whiskey product, it was the 2023 Milestone release, an 86 proof, non-age-stated, $250 bottle that stood out as one of last year’s most pleasant surprises. Today, we’re visiting something else entirely from the Portland, Ore.-based operation: a bottled-in-bond single malt, clocking in at a government-regulated 100 proof, and aged in new charred oak barrels. The whiskey herein is 7 years old, having been distilled in March 2017 and bottled around mid-2024. To date, it’s the oldest Westward release with a verifiable age statement, though certain bottlings (like Milestone) have contained portions of older whiskey. Let’s see how the latest from Westward stacks up! Westward Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt 2024 review.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024 : Stats and Availability

Westward’s Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt is primarily available to members of the “Westward Whiskey Club,” an online enrollment membership that gives special access to the distillery’s quarterly releases. (Note that while signup is free, the whiskey isn’t, and members can customize and select which expressions they want to buy.) This bottled-in-bond expression comes in at right around $100 for Whiskey Club members. Westward ships to most states (currently around 35 total), though it’s best to check the brand’s website to ensure they can ship directly to your home.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024: Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose starts with several elements I’ve come to associate with Westward’s single malt: fruit preserves, candied citrus peel, finely ground cinnamon, rose blossom, and an undercurrent of sweet oak. More specific to this expression are golden raisins, figgy pudding (with plenty of almond), and cooling cedar, and the wood influence here is more cooling and sap-forward than a lot of other Westward releases. That makes some sense given the age (a full seven years instead of a more typical five or six). Lemon peel builds over time and generally in conjunction with that cedar note, though that comes with the tradeoff of some lighter components getting a little muscled out (flower blossoms, ground spice). A little furniture polish rises up after the initial array of scents — perhaps scary for a bourbon drinker to read, but a familiar and often welcome note for longtime fans of the single malt category. At 100 proof, the nose is punchy, with the floral and fruity notes followed by enough ethanol to create a lightly numbing sensation after a few deep sniffs. It’s not burning, but this bottled-in-bond single malt is certainly hot enough to reward some patience and time in the glass. I appreciate Westward leaning into a bolder end of the spectrum relative to some recent previous expressions in its lineup.

Taste

Darker and less citrusy than on the nose, the first sip is heavy on brandy-soaked plums and dried fruit. That dark fruit is followed closely by oak-forward spice: clove, nutmeg, and pepper. Cereal grain hits along the mid and upper palates, with a familiar malted characteristic that gradually transitions to menthol and fresh mint, which reminds me of that aforementioned cedar scent. I can still pick up some lemon peel here, but again, it’s subdued compared to the bright and citrus-forward nose. It’s altogether a little heavier — perhaps heftier — than I’m used to with Westward, committing much more fully to jammy fruits and wood spice.

Finish

The finish is semi-long and borderline tart; fans of sour ales will experience a familiar, if much higher proof, dissipation of flavors. In this final act, fruit is also dialed back compared to aromatics. But Westward Bottled-in-Bond doesn’t lose its sweetness entirely on the finish. Fresh mint from the palate evolves to sweet mint gum, with a bit of residual baking spice that adds some welcome depth.

Westward Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2024 Rating

91/100

Recap

The 2024 version of Westward’s Bottled-in-Bond Single Malt is a flavorful — and, frankly, logical — next step for the brand’s flavor profile. It isn’t the most nuanced whiskey I’ve tried out of the Portland distillery (Milestone still takes the highest marks in that realm), but there’s plenty here for whiskey fans to chew on. Regular drinkers of American Single Malt will likely get the most enjoyment here, though it’s a bottle I’d be happy to share with bourbon drinkers, beer fans, and beyond. *Image retrieved from Westward Whiskey

Reviewed On: 09-18-2024