Exploring America’s Northwest Whiskey Trail

As reported in my 2024 book, Distilling in Washington: A History, The Northwest Whiskey Trail has exploded in popularity, which speaks to a burgeoning interest in Pacific Northwest craft spirits. The late Steve McCarthy, founder of Clear Creek Distillery in Oregon (McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey), ignited the “spirited” craft revolution when he distilled the first U.S.-based American single malt whiskey some twenty-five years ago. Since then, a select group of Pacific Northwest distillers have focused on producing award-winning American single malts. Many of them hail from the craft brew culture, a background that informs their distilling process: for instance, they may brew their wort similarly to beer, sans the hops. (The starting point for traditional distilleries is called a “wash.”)

These whiskeys speak to their particular regions’ terroir and each distiller’s unique style. Terroir is a term that embodies the idea that a food or beverage’s flavor is in some way determined by its place(s) of origin, particularly the land where its raw materials have been grown. While “terroir” is typically used to describe the different types of soil in which grapes are grown, terroir means “the terrain.” The factors that can vary based on a spirit’s place of origin include climate, weather, season, topography, geography, proximity to specific flora, soil, subsoils, the place and conditions under which producers store the beverages, and even the local traditions and regulations. These factors can also affect decisions made by those producing the spirit. Hence, each bottling has a distinctive flavor informed by these elements.

In comparison, Scotch is a spirit born of tradition and known for its heterogeneity and consistency. Brands are often distinguished by geography (the Highlands, the Lowlands, the Isle of Islay, Campbeltown, and the Speyside), with every bottle carefully crafted to ensure each drop of a particular spirit retains the same consistent flavor. A similar vibe besets its cousin, Irish whiskey, as well as most American single malt whiskeys distilled outside of the Pacific Northwest.

Below is a selection of some of the best whiskeys the Pacific Northwest offers:

Copperworks Distilling Co., Seattle, WA

As a former brewer, co-founder Jason Parker crafts the wash for Copperworks like a craft brewer would, a practice he said creates a flavor-focused whiskey. Also, their use of brewer’s yeast and a sanitary, temperature-controlled fermentation differentiates them from traditional distilleries. Their Maltsmith, a “Five Malt” recipe, is distilled from a brewer-style recipe that combines pale malt and caramelized malts and then matures in charred new American oak casks. Expect notes of stonefruit, orange oil, browned butter, apple pie, and leather.

Clear Creek Distillery, Hood River, OR

The late Steve McCarthy ignited a spirited craft revolution when he distilled the first U.S.-based American single malt whiskey with their first 3-year single malt released over twenty-five years ago. McCarthy’s 6-year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey uses 100% peated barley from Scotland and matured in 100% garryana oak for a balanced flavor and subtle sweetness. Visit Clear Creek’s website.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery (Victoria, BC)

Located in Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada, this region’s pristine and naturally beautiful island instills in its whiskies a unique infusion of island sea air and pure, fresh water. Grahame Macaloney’s native Scottish Lochaber and Islay ancestors and his ancient Irish roots inspired Malconey’s “Alba.” This single malt whisky is lightly peat smoked using local peat and barley, which they malt onsite. Then it’s aged using a select marrying of Kentucky Bourbon casks, Spanish Oloroso barriques, Portuguese shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR) red wine barriques, virgin American casks, and Spanish Pedro Ximénez barriques. The result is a complex and layered whiskey with light peat on the nose and a creamy mouthfeel reminiscent of dried fruits roasting over a bonfire.

Shelter Point Distilling (Campbell, BC)

Situated alongside the ocean and surrounded by 380 acres of farmland, Shelter Point makes its whiskeys with traditional methods, allowing the Vancouver Island terroir to shine. As it ages, its estate-grown barley, pure aquifer water, and salty sea air impart character to the whisky. This balanced whisky has a sweet leather mouthful with a balance of fruits, caramel, baking spices, and whiffs of sea salt and smoke.

Talking Cedar Spirits (Rochester, WA)

Talking Cedar, the first tribal-owned distillery in the United States, just expanded its new whiskey program under the direction of Matt Hofmann, Master Distiller and pioneer of the American Single Malt category. The brand crafts its Blenders American Blended Malt Whiskey from eight Westland barrels and eight Talking Cedar barrels aged between two and nine years in a mix of 1st- and 2nd-fill charred American oak casks. A mild peat overtone lends itself to a rich body with notes of dried apricot, leather, caramel, peanuts, sourdough, and oak toast with a smooth and semi-sweet finish. An American Single Malt cask release is in the works.

Westward Whiskey (Portland, OR)

Westward Whiskey’s motto is to “brew like a craft ale, distill like a single malt, and age like a Bourbon.” Westward creates its flagship whiskey from American Northwest two-row barley fermented with craft ale yeast that’s double distilled and matured in new, lightly charred, and heavily toasted America Oak barrels. The aromas of toasted nut, orange peel, and caramel lend to sweetness on the palate with a roasted fruit and toffee finish.

Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA)

Westland’s signature American Single Malt Whiskey is a culmination of pioneering a new category of American whiskey. This latest expression of their flagship whiskey represents the possibilities of single malt and captures the essence of its house style in one flagship bottle. The whiskey matures for 40 months and fills the nose with the sensations of marshmallow, custard, maple, and marionberry with a taste of crème brûlée, black tea, malted milk balls, and almond nougat.

For more information about the Northwest Whiskey Trail, log on to their website at https://northwestwhiskeytrail.com.