03/21/2026
Since You Were Scrolling Saturday continues with a Local PNW Brand!
Westland Whiskey is more than just a whiskey. Westland is an extension of its makers and the people behind it. A brand that when given an opportunity to advance they take it! In fact every bottle of whiskey filled at Westland represents those opportunities and taking one step forward in sharing the story of their place! Westland has been around for 15 years and continues to circle the topic terroir and each time sensing an opportunity to approach it from a new perspective.
Founder, Matt Hofmann, had a belief that flavor is everything and that quality, integrity and care are not just details but they are the whole point when it comes to whiskey. Not wanting to mimick the traditions of Kentucky or Scotland he asked himself what the Pacific Northwest tastes like. The answer to that question would be found in one place...the fields where the grain for this amazing whiskey grows. As we know Washington is known for its hops and craft beer scene due to elements of the region but those same elements are what make it best for growing barley. Barley became their starting point but they didn't want just any barley but one grown with purpose and unlike any others in the region. So they worked directly with local farmers and seed breeders in the Skagit and Palouse Valleys to experiment with heirloom and flavor forward barley grains. These particular barley breeds may lack in large yields or efficiency but they make up for it in the character, depth, terroir and flavor they possess. Another way they are honoring their Pacific Northwest roots is their use of oak barrels, especially the Garryana which is only found in out forests. With their Barley and rare oak barrels Westland made their mark and impact on the whiskey scene by establishing the American Single Malt category. They are continuing to shape the category to this day. The category barely existed in their founding years so instead of being discouraged they built their whiskey on their own terms and creating new traditions for the growing category.
