Baklava | Strawberry cream | Sweet malt | Honey | Toasted coconut

Raisins | Figs | Fresh baked bread | Caramel nut brittle

Plum | Earthy | Butterscotch | Faint clove

Westward Whiskey Cognac Casks is another release exclusive to Westward's Whiskey Club and the final one of 2023. The company often delegates certain releases to the club as they lack broad appeal, but it would be hard to call this release lacking in appeal. Cognac finishing has been going strong for a few years now and is generally well received as the Cognac tends to pair well with all types of whiskey. According to the company, the finishing casks continuously held XO Cognac for more than 40 years and were deemed “very special.”

Like many of Westward Whiskey’s finished single malts, this release is very well integrated. Single malts tend to take finishing quite well, as proven by decades of Scotch releases, but on the American side, single malts are still coming into their own. Westward Whiskey’s are characteristically very elegant, and the company didn’t try to buck that characteristic with this release. From its heavy Baklava-infused aroma to its soft and delicate raisins, fig, and plum in the sip, it's hard to find much of anything someone could dislike about this pour. It’s well integrated and showcases its finishing cask nicely, while also putting forth its malted barley base with just enough gusto. Westward Whiskey continues to prove they are one of the best American-made single malt producers in the business.