Westward Whiskey is based out of Portland, Oregon, and embraces the pioneering spirit of the Pacific Northwest. The company focuses solely on producing American single malt whiskeys with four base products and a rotation of limited editions released on an ongoing basis. Last year, the company introduced Westward Whiskey Milestone, which was the company's first-ever annual luxury release.

‍‍This year’s Milestone release marks the 20th anniversary of Westward Whiskey. According to the company, “Milestone is raised from whiskey personally drawn by Master Blender Miles Munroe from a twenty-one barrel Solera system created exclusively for this annual offering.” They go on to state that “Each year, Westward draws just a small fraction of the whiskey for the annual Milestone release, replacing it with another unique whiskey from our barrel house.” This ensures that no two Milestone editions are the same.

‍‍The bottle in review is number 1642.

Lifting the glass up leaves little doubt that you’re about to start a journey down a unique American single malt whiskey. Rich, creamy chocolate malt instantly jumps out, along with scents of cinnamon bark and aged oak. Inhaling deeper reveals oatmeal, raisins, toasted almonds, and a slight brown sugar scent. The scents are well-defined and balanced, presenting a great opening to the sip.

The flavor progression continues into the palate as syrup-soaked raisins, balanced aged oak, and an amaretto cherry flavor akin to a dessert liqueur vie for your attention. Further exploration reveals an undertone of baking chocolate and brown sugar along with the toasted almond note found in the nose. The mouthful is creamy and velvety, which adds to the enjoyment of the flavors that the midpoint delivers. It’s amazing how incredibly well balanced all of the flavors come across in the palate, which adds a huge appeal to the enjoyment of the whiskey.

A chewy brown sugar-covered oak note kicks things off. As the finish settles in, the cherry flavor from the palate pulls forward, along with raisins and toasted almonds. A pleasing creamy chocolate malt note appears along with frosted cover cinnamon buns, dried sugared figs, and a dab of sweet jelly. The tail on this one is long, as the flavors linger, asking you not to rush back for another sip, but instead to contemplate everything you just tasted and enjoy the lasting remnants of flavor.

When Westward Whiskey released Milestone Edition No. 1 last year, it elevated an already great American single malt producer to the next level. The whiskey was by far the best the company ever released. While the whiskey’s proof was lower at 86 proof, it delivered a nuanced sip that was beyond rewarding for those who took the time to sit with it.

Being a whiskey that utilizes the solera method means by its very nature that each release in this ongoing series will be different. Yet, Milestone Edition No. 2 nails it once again for the company, producing an intricate sip that builds off of the foundation of standard Westward Whiskey and takes things to the next level. The increase of the proof to 97 allows the whiskey to be more bold and expressive throughout the entire sip, making it a flavor bomb from start to finish.

Westward Whiskey doesn’t try to mimic other worldly single malts. Instead, for the past 20 years the company has forged their own path and produced American single malts that fully embrace their roots in the Pacific Northwest. Milestone Edition No. 2 continues to showcase the company’s niche in this space and pushes the brand to the next level once again. It has Westward Whiskey underpinnings, but at the same time is unlike anything the company has released before, and quite honestly is one of the best American single malts to hit the market to date.

When Milestone Edition No. 1 was released last year, its MSRP of $250 felt high but was easily justified by the stellar sip it produced. Fast forward only one year, and a $250 price tag for a limited release whiskey all of a sudden feels more commonplace, thanks to the ever-increasing prices of limited edition American whiskeys in general. Like the old frog in boiling water analogy, rising prices and expectations have moved in tandem with one another.

I won’t try to sugarcoat that $250 isn’t a lot of money, however, I also won’t shy away from saying that sometimes there are whiskeys that are actually justifiable at the price point either. Milestone Edition No. 2 definitely falls in that category and, like last year’s edition, easily rewards those willing to pay the asking price. Sure, Westward Whiskey makes other great American single malts for a lot less that are almost as good; case in point their new Bottled in Bond release. However, the company’s Milestone Editions truly showcases their distillation and blending ability at its finest, and, as such, it's priced accordingly. Much like Milestone Edition No. 1, those willing to spend the money on a bottle will be rewarded and will most likely not even think about its price after they’ve experienced the whiskey.

Westward Whiskey is an easy distillery to recommend to those who have never had an American single malt. Their core releases are full of flavor and easy to appreciate, while their limited edition releases consistently offer a more nuanced sip. In that same vein, Westward Whiskey is also proving to be an easy distillery to recommend for American single malt lovers looking to experience a refined whiskey that stands out from the competition.

What gets buried with Milestone Edition No. 2 is the fact that this is really a 20th anniversary release for the company. While the new bottle design for this series could be construed as a subtle nod to this fact, the reality is that it’s probably a marketing choice to show that the Milestone series is different and more premium than their standard releases. Moreso, Milestone Edition No. 2 continues the trend that Edition No. 1 started by allowing the company to reaffirm itself at the top of the American single malt space.

A nice bottle design and a fancy box is always appreciated, but that will only get a whiskey so far. What truly counts is the pour it delivers, and Milestone Edition 2 checks all of the boxes. It will be interesting to see if future editions match the same quality as releases to date. In the meantime, fans of American single malts will want to seek out this latest edition.