Tasting notes·Northoff Feinbrennerei
The Westfalian TW181
Our friends at The Westfalian have consistently surprised and delighted us in the past. We've often discussed their fantastic approach to whisky: using local ingredients, distillery expertise, and an honest bottling of individual casks, which combines German whisky with a Scottish soul. Barrel 181 promises a lot right from the label: a roughly 7-years full maturation in a first-fill Ruby Port wine cask.
The panel
Mean 84.5 · spread 1
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Northoff Feinbrennerei
- Bottler
- The Westfalian
- Type
- Single Malt
- Country
- Germany
- Age
- 7 years
- Strength
- 58% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
Immediately upon nosing, we are overwhelmed. A wild mix of sweet frozen berries opens up. We discover a beautiful harmony of raisins, dates, and a slightly more exotic note of pineapple and banana. Spicy notes of tannins accompany them, rounded off by classic tones of vanilla and honey.
Palate
In the mouth, the oily feel and a slight dryness make themselves felt initially. On the tip of the tongue, we find a burst of fruity sweetness, evolving into creamy caramel, toffee, and somewhat grainy flavors of butter cookies. Giving this malt some time in the glass allows its taste to develop further. Additional fruit sweetness reminiscent of cherries and oranges emerges. A hint of light beechwood is found on the palate.
Finish
The finish is medium-length. We perceive a pleasant sweetness of intense red fruits, accompanied by the typical Westfalian character and a touch of oak wood.
Verdicts
Marcel
The Westfalian TW181 is a delicious dessert explosion that delights with its fruity sweetness and creamy toffee notes. It’s pure fun in a glass, perfect for leaning back with a smile on cold winter evenings – genuine drinking pleasure straight from Paderborn! Highly recommended for anyone who loves bold, sweet whiskies with character.
Sascha
The TW181 impresses with its balanced interplay between intense fruity sweetness and subtle wood notes that harmoniously integrate the port wine cask influence. Its complex structure and medium-length finish make it a technically well-crafted single malt, especially appealing to connoisseurs with an appreciation for cask character. A solid example of German cask strength whisky with a distinct regional profile.
What it is worth
No auction record for this distillery, so we cannot tell you what this bottle is worth. We would rather say that than guess.