Westward Whiskey
Distillery · Buckman ·
Acclaimed single-malt whiskey maker offering tours, tastings & classes
Acclaimed single-malt whiskey maker offering tours, tastings & classes
"Located in the shared C-gates food court seating area, the shop offers a selection of single-malt whiskeys made with locally malted barley, available for both retail purchase and tasting." - Janey Wong
"The distillery, makers of Westward Whiskey, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 6, with the Oregonian citing "significant liquidity challenges" following low demand after the COVID-19 shutdowns. The brand grew during that period but then stalled, losing $9.8 million in 2024 (down 28 percent from the previous year), and the company is looking to restructure the business to stay open and retain employees." - Dianne de Guzman
"Westward Whiskey, founded in 2004 by Aviation co-founder Christian Krogstad, offers nearly a dozen bottlings, including a subtly vanilla single malt, meatier stout cask finish, and ultra-smooth pinot noir cask finish — with certain bottles only available to its whiskey club members. Tours are available by appointment only (each featuring a welcome cocktail and a flight at the tour’s end), but tastings are open to walk-in visitors, Mondays and Thursdays through Sundays. Portland visitors who missed Westward on their tour can grab a tasting last minute at PDX before their flight." - Nathan Williams
"I learned that Westward Whiskey is staging a Portland Tartare Tour featuring tartare and cocktail pairings at several local spots; Miles Munroe, Westward’s master blender, says the caramelized, rich character of Westward pairs perfectly with the piquant, umami, and briny flavors of tartare, and the tour spotlights unique interpretations of the dish that complement the whiskey. The event runs March 18–24 and will benefit Hunger Free Oregon, Zenger Farm, and Milk Crate Kitchen." - Janey Wong
"I learned that Westward’s blender Miles Munroe tapped Portland baking legend Ken Forkish to collaborate on the second edition of the distillery’s Ken’s Artisan Sourdough whiskey; for the 2023 Sourdough vintage they used Forkish’s levain yeast instead of the pale ale yeast Westward typically uses. The Westward x Ken’s Artisan Sourdough Whiskey is priced at $99.95 and is available at Westward Whiskey’s Central Eastside and Portland International Airport tasting rooms." - Janey Wong