Come for the Whiskey, Stay for the Tiki Party

Time and space hold memories while also shaping the future. Each cask we fill is an emblem of this very idea. Releasing the fingerprints of this present moment to become something entirely new when time comes for the golden liquid to flow into glass bottles. There are expressions and certain whiskeys we bottle that warrant their own special moment.

And, we recognize that certain evenings that begin to feel memorable long before they actually happen. Every event we create at Westland is thoughtfully curated, just as each whiskey you taste creates years of careful execution. So, when it came time for our Rum Cask Finish whiskey to take shape, we knew that the event should reflect exactly how enthralling and delightful this release is to us.

So, we set the scene, allowing a full sensory experience to become the journal entry: dreams of laughter, visuals of light dancing, sounds of music drifting, smells of delicious food and beverage. We think of Seattle and Barbados, two wildly different cultures and climates, coming together in one moment to make something special. We think of coastal breezes and fresh regional fruits.  And sometimes, that moment is no coincidence, but a carefully orchestrated event.

Rum Cask release will be a brand new expression to our line, and we wanted to create a memorable gathering built around the atmosphere the whiskey naturally inspired in us: warmth, generosity, conversation, and a sense of transportive escapism that feels especially welcome this time of year in the Pacific Northwest.

So for one night, the distillery will become something a little different.

Guest bartenders from Seattle’s award-winning Navy Strength cocktail bar will join us, bringing their own interpretation of Rum Cask Finish through cocktails designed specifically for the occasion. Expect drinks layered with citrus, spice, tropical fruit, smoke, and the rich depth that rum-seasoned casks bring into Westland’s American Single Malt whiskey.

Throughout the evening, guests will move through the distillery to enjoy sips and snacks alongside the music, with the space gradually shifting from tasting room to celebration as the night unfolds. It’s more of a party than a formal release event.

Alongside the whiskey, we also created a limited custom printed cocktail glass exclusively for the release. More keepsake than merchandise, the cup was designed as a companion piece to the evening, something to carry home after the final cocktail is poured and the music fades out. Available only at the distillery during the event for the first guests to purchase Rum Cask Finish and only while supplies last. This cup marks the beginning of what we hope becomes a lasting tradition around Rum Cask Finish releases in the years ahead.

And while tiki culture certainly helped inspire the atmosphere of the night, we found ourselves drawn less to nostalgia and more to the spirit underneath it: hospitality, craftsmanship, elevated drinks, good music, and the ability for a thoughtfully built space to briefly transport you somewhere else entirely.

That idea felt deeply aligned with what we wanted Rum Cask Finish to become.

At its core, Westland Rum Cask Finish remains unmistakably rooted in American Single Malt whiskey and the Pacific Northwest. But the influence of rum casks introduces a different kind of energy into the whiskey, layered notes that feel vibrant, lush, and endlessly suited for cocktails and summertime gatherings. This release gave us an opportunity to lean fully into that feeling, and perhaps most importantly, to create a release party people might talk about long after the final pour of the night.

We hope you’ll join us.

Rum Cask Finish Release Party
June 6th
Westland Distillery — Seattle, WA

Featuring guest bartenders, exclusive cocktails, food offerings, music throughout the evening, and limited Rum Cask Finish release merchandise available only at the event.
Rum Cask Finish bottles and custom printed glassware will be available while supplies last.