Pairings for the Fourth of July

Summer in the Pacific Northwest unfurls a new, bursting layer of liveliness. The cloudy haze of colder seasons seems to lift away. Fields look lush and spotted with colors of flowers and fruit, spring barley dances in the wind. The mountains show dimension with snow melt, inviting hikers and visitors to walk their striking footpaths. Summer, for those who were born and raised in this region, is sublime, and a time that makes the dark of winter wither away. The Fourth of July, in the states, stands as a marker, ushering in the summertime season. The American Independence Day is a call to action, a call to go outside and enjoy summer, to fire up the charcoal grill, to share drinks with friends old and new.

To strike up some summer inspiration, we asked our Master Distiller Tyler Pederson to share three recipes to pair with three of our whiskeys. Tyler shared with us some of his favorite recipes to lean on when the time comes to gather with friends around the fire. First is Flagship, which goes perfectly with barbecue sauce. Then Beer Cask Finish, which he matches with grilled peaches. And finally, for the special celebrations, Garryana pairs with cedar plank salmon.

Westland Flagship is the perfect place to start. Flagship, our signature expression, is built on the idea that flavor matters. Every step of the process invites a multitude of flavor, entrusting the quality of ingredients When sharing the Westland story, it very easily becomes all about flavor, with a distinct through line about our home in the Pacific Northwest. Flagship is our answer to these things, both flavor and our home region as a steward of it. Our Master Distiller Tyler Pederson suggests barbecue sauce as a pairing for our signature whiskey, Westland Flagship.
For the 4th of July, this recipe seems a bit on the nose, but the depths of Flagship really do harmoniously intertwine with barbecue flavors. Tyler says that “barbecue sauce created with Westland is an obvious choice. This ingredient sings in Kansas city style BBQ sauces, but the flavor really soars in the vinegar base of a Carolina style sauce.” So, if you’re planning any homemade barbecue sauces this summer, Westland Flagship is a welcome addition. And while you’re planning your grill weekend, Tyler notes that “Incorporating Westland into the rub of a Texas style BBQ helps extract flavors from the seasonings faster and aid in tenderizing the meat.” Certainly a whiskey that was born out of a flavor obsession will benefit your drinks and libations, but it can also have a positive impact on the food you’re eating.

Beer Cask Finish, an expression that has been out in the world for one year, surprises many who sip it. Notes of tropical fruit and stone fruit make themselves known in this whiskey, contrary to the typical molasses and cloying dark notes in many beer cask aged whiskeys. This bright fruit character can be attributed to chemical compounds known as esters, which are a signature piece of our whiskey-making puzzle. Beer Cask is a wonderful answer to the hope for something crisp, light in profile and fruit-forward. Our staff highly recommends Beer Cask Finish as the perfect summertime dram. And with it, our Master Distiller Tyler suggests a pairing of grilled peach dessert.

Recipe: Grilled Peach Dessert with Westland Brown Sugar Glaze and Marscapone

Main Ingredients
• Halved peaches
• Mascarpone

Brown Sugar Glaze Ingredients
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 3 oz. Westland Flagship Whiskey (or any Westland whiskey)
• 1 oz. water
• 2 tablespoons honey

Optional (but recommended)
• Vanilla ice cream

Instructions
1. Combine ½ cup White Sugar, ½ cup Brown Sugar, 3 oz. Westland Flagship Whiskey (or your Westland whiskey of choice), 1 oz. Water, and 2 tablespoons Honey in a saucepan.
2. Simmer over low heat on the stove and stir and reduce to a syrup consistency.
3. Brush mixture over halved peaches and grill, adding more glaze once removed.

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a grilled peach during peak season, and this dessert proves the point. Though it’s not written in the recipe, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a welcome addition.

Garryana, our unique expression built on the flavor of native oak, is for savoring the special moments. Full of flavor and nuance, this whiskey brings on the space that you cannot find any other bottle. Our years of exploration have shown up in a smattering of expressions that have a distinct through-line of spice, both barbecue spice notes and rich baking spice qualities. Garryana oak takes years to grow and is truly unlike any other type of wood we’ve worked with. It inherently shows itself as a very special whiskey, and years of acclaim have reinforced this. Garryana, for us, shows what whiskey can become. Our Master Distiller Tyler recommends pairing this whiskey with cedar plank salmon.

Recipe: Cedar Plank Salmon with Westland Brown Sugar and Paprika glaze

Ingredients

Main Ingredients
• Salmon (amount not specified; enough to cover the cedar plank)
• Cedar plank (soaked for grilling)

Glaze / Rub Ingredients
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 oz. Westland whiskey

1. Soak cedar plank in water for a minimum of 30 minutes per side.
2. Prepare rub by mixing 4 tablespoons Brown Sugar, 1 tablespoon Paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 oz. of Westland Whiskey.
3. Place Salmon on the hydrated plank, apply seasoned rub, and grill on low, indirect heat for 20 minutes.

For a memorable meal, this pairing will more than suffice. A celebration of the northwest manifests itself in a beautiful meal and a dram that will leave a lasting impression on your palate.

All in all, we’re food and drinks people here at Westland. And in our exploration, we find that quality becomes a motif. Quality ingredients make quality whiskey, this is the very foundation on which we built our business. Quality can come from the ingredients alone, from things set apart to reach their full potential. Over time, we have seen that when we use high quality ingredients, the rest of our process doesn’t need to be complicated. Good ingredients from a prolific place really do make excellent whiskey. But as we go on, we see that quality matters for both literal taste and in moments of gathering. Quality matters, but it really comes to life when paired with a thirst for enjoyment. In a world where overthinking can become the tendency, we’ve learned it makes sense to slow down and enjoy what is already here.