Matt Hofmann and Emerson Lamb founded Westland Distillery in 2010 with a radical idea: make authentic single malt whiskey in America using only malted barley—no corn, no rye, no other grains. This was heresy in a country obsessed with bourbon. Single malt was Scottish; America made bourbon. They weren't interested in that argument. They were interested in creating something that tasted like where it came from: the Pacific Northwest. Westland distills in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood but ages much of its whiskey about two hours north in the temperate Skagit Valley, where the maritime climate mirrors Scotland's coastal regions. This split—production in the city, aging in the cool valleys—became central to their philosophy. In 2016, Rémy Cointreau acquired Westland, bringing major distribution muscle but respecting the distillery's independent spirit and vision. Matt Hofmann remained at the helm for nearly a decade more until his departure in June 2025, during which he transformed Westland into one of America's most respected single malt producers. The breakthrough came with Garryana—a whiskey aged entirely in Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), a wood native to the Pacific Northwest that no one else was using at scale. The result was unlike any single malt on Earth: heavy phenolics, tannic structure, dry spice character that traditional Scottish or American oak couldn't achieve. It won American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the World Whiskies Awards. Westland had created a new standard.
- American Single Malt Pioneer: — Single malt whiskey IS Scottish, everyone thought. Westland said no, it's what you make when you use 100% malted barley anywhere. Now American single malt is a category.
- 100% Malted Barley = NOT Bourbon: — Westland is legally bourbon-illegal because bourbon must contain at least 51% corn. They're making something entirely different.
- Oregon White Oak (Garryana): — Indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, Quercus garryana imparts phenolics and tannic structure unlike any other oak. It tastes like where it grows.
- The Split Production Model: — Distill in SoDo (Seattle), age in the temperate Skagit Valley. The maritime climate resembles Scotland's coastal regions. Terroir matters, even in Washington.
- American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year: — Garryana 3|1 won at World Whiskies Awards. First whiskey to do that in the category. Full stop.
- Westland Solum — First American Peated Malt: — Uses American-grown and -smoked peat (not Scottish). Proves Pacific Northwest terroir extends to peating.
- Matt Hofmann's Legacy: — Departed June 2025 after 13+ years. One of the founding members of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. A visionary who made single malt American.
- World Craft Producer of the Year: — Whisky Magazine named Westland this. All three flagship malts scored 95+ points in recent evaluations.