Meet the Collective | Will Wyatt

Our work starts with seeking the unknown possibilities in whiskey, and it continues as we step foot into the realm of cocktails. Within it, there is much to explore, including flavor combinations that only a keen eye can uncover.

And in our effort to explore the use of Westland Whiskey in cocktails, we collaborated with some of the industry’s most revered bartenders and bar owners. We look to a hub of inspiration in New York City, a Mecca for creative movements and a beacon in the food and drink industry. In Manhattan, we find Will Wyatt, a restauranteur and bar owner who rose to the ranking after years of hard work at the NoMad Hotel. In 2019, he opened Mister Paradise in Manhattan’s East Village, which was named Vine Pair’s Best Cocktail Bar of the Year. Will Wyatt, a creative force and a master of hospitality, loves a good joke, and has an edge to creating surprising cocktail recipes.

We sat down with Will to ask him about his drink recipe inspirations. He seeks out making customers feel welcome and excited about each menu he creates, adding approachability and complexity to each cocktail he creates. However, Will’s creative roots go beyond cocktails. He told us, “I’ve always liked to create things. After working with a carpenter, I got a taste for creating something that you’re able to immediately pass on. With cocktails, you’re able to do that in a very immediate way where you’re able to see that satisfaction out of the gate.” This focus on connection and creativity shines through in all his work, bringing nostalgic connection to each drink he constructs.

A smattering of life interactions, moments in time, or treasured memories are a great start to strike inspiration when conjuring up a new recipe. Speaking of nostalgia, Will looked to his favorite dessert for inspiration on his signature cocktail recipe for the Westland Cocktail Collective.To make his mark in the Collective, Will crafted the Carrot Cake Punch, a cocktail that captures the comforting flavors of carrot cake while highlighting the depth of Westland Flagship Whiskey. This cocktail holds itself as nostalgic yet surprising, indulgent yet refreshing.

Will Wyatt’s Carrot Cake Punch features Westland Flagship in combination with carrot juice, warm baking spices, coconut, and citrus. He uses a clarifying method to add butter to the whiskey, then infuses it with cream cheese, coconut, carrot, and, spices to create a drink that tastes just as good as the slice of cake, maybe even better.

On using Westland Flagship as the base of a cocktail, Will remarks that the flavors sing, which works wonders even in the simplest of recipes. “I think that especially with something as complex as a single malt, Westland does a very good job of cutting through in a cocktail,” said Will. “It has a distinct and direct enough flavor that for something as simple as a highball, it’s gonna really stand out.” The same cocktail made with a traditional bourbon would become a completely different drink when substituting for Westland Flagship Whiskey as the base spirit.

As part of the Westland Cocktail Collective, Will sets a marker of exploration in cocktails, finding new ways to highlight the versatility of American single malt whiskey in cocktails. Follow Mister Paradise (@misterparadise) and Westland to stay up to date on exclusive events, recipes, and collaborations that will continue to push the boundaries of whiskey cocktails.