Westland Distillery

Based in Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Westland combines the innovation of people with the exceptional produce of the land.

Inspired by this iconic location, Westland makes whiskey that captures a sense of place.

From the West

People make a place.

The Pacific Northwest is a place where innovators congregate and thrive, and where flavour is paramount.

It’s a region that’s full of people who take known qualities and reimagine them as something new and different.

This innovative spirit is clearly seen in many industries from speciality coffee, craft brewing, food and wine, to sustainable farming, music, and art; inspiring how Westland approaches whiskey making.

Coffee culture is embedded in the region. People in Seattle played a key role in the phenomena of ‘second wave’ coffee from the 60s and 70s. This movement changed how coffee was drunk, introducing espresso-based drinks, leading to lattes and cappuccinos, and the birth of Starbucks. The coffee scene is still renowned, with a focus on sustainable sourcing and flavor.
This is a place that birthed the bands Nirvana, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, and Death Cab For Cutie. It is also nurtured the talents of individual musicians from Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles and Quincy Jones to Macklemore. People creating new sounds and developing new genres.
The region is particularly known for its beautiful indigenous weaving arts, solidifying it as a place of artistic creativity. It is also a region where many textile farmers, makers and retailers exist and collaborate together, and have started robust conversations on sustainable sourcing.
In the Pacific Northwest talented winemakers are creating award-winning wines. They are rethinking ways of winemaking - even whilst working with classic European grapes such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Riesling - such as having a large and successful urban winery scene. This region’s winemakers are also leaders in sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices.
“If there is a single culinary zeitgeist within the Pacific Northwest, it’s an obsessive, dedicated interest in seasonal and local cooking” Eater write. The diversity of people also make this region famous for food - Vietnamese restaurants make the James Beard Awards shortlists, heritage grain bakeries win awards, and the array of food carts showcase innovation and a flavor forward approach to foods.
The climate of the Pacific Northwest means it is perfect for growing barley, and therefore making beer, this helped kick start the craft beer scene in the region, but what made it thrive is the people who experimented with different styles of beer and an industry that worked collectively and to grow together.

Of the Land

Good ingredients make great flavor.

Westland uses the highest quality of ingredients, thoughtfully and with care.

The Pacific Northwest has a landscape that offers a unique place for raw ingredients to grow, to make great whiskey.

Working directly with farmers Westland is closely connected to the land. This approach means a deep understanding of how sustainable farming creates incredible flavors.

Barley is the grain used in Westland’s Flagship Single Malt. Westland have done extensive research into the best types of barley to use, for the location of Pacific Northwest, and to create the best flavor. They are believers that landscape influences the flavor of the barley, and barley plays a key role in flavour.
Because barley is such a key element of the Westland Flagship flavour, it is important for them to have a strong relationship with the famers. This allows the team to deeply understand the sourcing chain, the issues farmers may face, and be part of the wider agricultural community.
Like other American whiskies, Bourbon and Rye, Westland Flagship is aged in new American white oak. Although they use sustainably sourced oak from elsewhere in the US, they also use a very specific local American oak called ‘Garry oak’, native to Washington state.
The cold winters and the warm dry summers offer the perfect conditions for whiskey to age. Because it doesn’t get too hot, the whiskey can be left longer, and flavors develop slowly and with complexity.
Westland understands that they are a part of the environment and they see themselves as stewards of the land, so that future generations will enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Part of this work includes working on a Garry Oak restoration project, to protect the native tree. Westland are B Corp certified, meaning they are committed, accountable and transparent about the work they do to ensure a sustainable approach to whiskey making.

A CERTIFIED B CORP

B Corp Certification means that the distillery has been verified as meeting B Lab’s high standards for social and environmental impact, that it has made a legal commitment to stakeholder governance, and that it is demonstrating accountability and transparency by disclosing this record of performance in a public B Corp profile.