SEATTLE, January 22, 2025 – Leading American single malt whiskey producer, Westland Distillery continues its exploration of American peat with the release of the third edition of Solum American Single Malt Whiskey (50%ABV, 700ml, $149.99 SRP), arriving in key markets nationwide this month. Part of Westland’s Outpost Range, which explores the distillery’s Pacific Northwest sense of place, the release Solum 3^rd Edition follows the official ratification of the American Single Malt Whiskey category, which went into effect January 19, 2025.

Solum is the third expression in Westland’s Outpost Range of annual limited-edition releases that showcase oak (Garryana), grain (Colere) and peat (Solum), each unique to its Pacific Northwest homeland. Solum Edition 3 features 100% Washington Peated malt, matured in a combination of new and used oak casks to create a robust glass while still showcasing the smoke undertones. The exploration and exhibition of Pacific Northwest Peat in application to Washington-grown barley presents itself in the glass with herbal notes emblematic of the cold and dark winter months, and speaks to Westland as a true Pacific Northwest original.

“Solum contains the most obvious connection to our Pacific Northwest region, while drawing a direct line to the lineage of single malt whiskey making,” says Shane Armstrong, Master Blender. “So far, the flavors trend toward the earthier end of peat, moss and sage, with lighter charred wood notes.  This character contrasts the medicinal and overt wood smoke found in other peated whiskies.”

Harvested from a bog approximately two hours south of Seattle, Westland departed from traditional methods of peat harvest, retrieving the peat from below the bog’s waterline rather than first draining and excavating the bog. This harvesting process was specifically designed to preserve the bog’s ecosystem, preventing the release of greenhouse gasses and ensuring that the bog will be able to continue producing peat into the future – a testament to Westland’s devotion to sustainability.

Westland’s Solum introduces a new style of peat to drinkers around the world. “In general, Washington peat brings a depth beyond pure smoke,” says Armstrong. “Earthy is an often-evoked note, but rarely is it so visceral; sodden soil and the ferns that thrive there. In a comically linear way, the peat harvested from a bog carries that character to the whiskey. When these notes are coupled with bright fruit notes and cask contributions, they’re in a harmony that’s hard to match.”

The third iteration of Solum is similar to its predecessor, except a year older and the ex-Bourbon barrels of previous years have been replaced with Westland’s own refill casks. These bring more oak impact, and traces of the five malt character of their previous fill. When it comes to tasting profile, Armstrong notes that, “Complex fruit notes have arisen to compete with the classic smoke notes, but have yet to out-shine the phenolic feel.”

Solum Edition 6 Tasting Notes
(50%ABV, 700ml, $149.99 SRP; 5,700 bottles released globally)

NOSE:                               Vanilla custard, pralines, grilled pineapple, croissant
PALATE:                           Toasted sourdough, cedar, baked pear, candied ginger
GRAIN BILL:                    Skagit Valley Peated Malt
CASK TYPES:                   Cooper’s Reserve New American Oak Cooper’s Select New American Oak
MATURATION TIME:     48 Months
YEAST:                              Belgian Brewer’s Yeast
FERMENTATION TIME: 96-144 Hours

For information about Westland, please visit www.westlanddistillery.com.

About Westland Distillery
Founded in 2010 and acquired by Remy-Cointreau in 2017, Seattle’s Westland Distillery brings a new and uniquely American voice to the world of single malt whiskey by exploring possibilities that have been ignored for generations. Along the way, Westland has been recognized as the country’s leading producer of American Single Malt Whiskey and founded the formal establishment of the emerging American Single Malt Whiskey category by starting the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. While the distillery uses the same basic ingredients and processes used for centuries by traditional Old World single malt producers, it does not simply seek to replicate the results of its Scottish predecessors. Instead, Westland works to create whiskeys that reflect the distinct qualities of its time, place, and culture in the Pacific Northwest. All of Westland’s expressions are distilled at the Seattle distillery from 100% malted barley and fermented with a unique Belgian Saison brewer’s yeast before maturing in one of a variety of cask types, including new American oak, ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and Garry Oak, to name a few.