Westland Distillery Celebrates Record-Breaking Launch of Garryana 9th Edition

SEATTLE, November 12, 2024 – On Saturday, November 9, Westland Distillery witnessed its busiest day in its 14-year history as over 500 whiskey enthusiasts braved the rain to celebrate the launch of Garryana 9th Edition American Single Malt Whiskey. The much-anticipated release saw fans lining up to be among the first to purchase the limited-edition whiskey, meet the makers, and witness the live construction of Garry Oak Barrels.

Following the success of Garryana 8th Edition, which was named the #3 whiskey in the world for 2023 by Whiskey Advocate, the 9th Edition (50% ABV, 700ml, $149.99 SRP; 6,600 bottles) pushes the boundaries of Pacific Northwest provenance. Like its predecessors, it features Quercus Garryana, a rare oak indigenous to the region, and is part of Westland's Outpost Range, celebrating the core ingredients of single malt whiskey—barley, peat, and oak.

Master Blender Shane Armstrong describes the 9th Edition as a unique departure from previous releases. “Full-term Oloroso Sherry casks were used, creating a completely different profile than the PX casks used in the past," says Armstrong. "The dry, oxidized Oloroso notes offer a nuanced savory aspect that complements the distinctive character of the Garry oak. This is a first for us, and based on the result, it won't be the last.”

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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.