At Westland Distillery , tucked away in Seattle’s industrial SoDo neighborhood, sun streams through skylights, and string lights drape from rustic, exposed wood beams. The air is thick with the rich, honeyed scent of whiskey aging in oak barrels, which are next to a display showing off samples of the distillery’s range of malted barley in glass jars.
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From left, Steve Hawley, global brand director, and Matt Hofmann, master distiller and co-founder.
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Westland draws out the flavor nuances in malted barley to create their award-winning spirits. Photo provided by Westland Distillery.
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Westland Distillery partners with Skagit Valley Malting and Washington State University’s Bread Lab to research and identify barley seeds that benefit the whiskey and the local food systems. Photo provided by Westland Distillery.
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Heirloom barley was used in the creation of Westland’s newest whiskey, Colere, which is set to be released in May. Photo provided by Westland Distillery.
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Visitors to the distillery may have the opportunity to purchase hand-filled, cask strength whiskey specially bottled at the moment each whiskey reaches its maturity.
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Garry oak, indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, creates the unique flavors in Westland’s Garryana release. Photo provided by Westland Distillery.
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Westland Distillery sources local peat for its future release of Solum, the first single malt of its kind. Photo provided by Westland Distillery.
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Westland leads the charge to create a legally protected category with strict guidelines for American single malt whiskey.
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