Westheimer Bier-Whisky
The Wünnenberg Heritage Association takes care of preserving the history of the town of Wünnenberg. In the cellar of the small Fachwerkhaus, which the association calls its home, stands a small copper still. Every now and then, whisky is also distilled there. The nearby Westheimer Brewery supplies a small amount of their beer mash for this purpose. From this, the association produces its own house-made “Bier-Whisky”. Today we are tasting the bottling from 2023. According to the label, it's a genuine Single Barrel Malt with a Bordeaux Wood Finish, bottled at a wonderful 46% - so definitely not overly diluted. In conversation, they reveal to us its age: the whisky has spent 3 years maturing in wooden casks.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The aroma is fruity but also herbaceous. We detect a herbal note. This harmonizes nicely with the fruity aromas of black cherries, red grapes, and dried plums. There's also a slight maltiness and a hidden hint of jerky.
Palate
The mouthfeel is creamy and spicy right away. Here we still strongly feel the distillery character - typical for such a young whisky. However, the aromas of the nose pleasantly continue on the palate. Herbal with a hint of red wine, rounded off by something unique that reminds us most of sandalwood.
Finish
The finish is medium-long with spicy oak. However, there is no trace of any ethanol sharpness or metallic note here either. Rounded and smooth, there is also a reminiscence of the raw spirit in the mouth later on.
Thoughts
Marcel 65/100
There’s a lot of passion and craftsmanship poured into this – the Westheimer Beer Whisky is charmingly unpolished and delivers genuine drinking pleasure with its fruity and spicy notes. Sure, it’s not a groundbreaking masterpiece, but that’s exactly what makes it likable and honest. For a brief detour into the region, it’s definitely a little gem not to be missed.
Sascha 65/100
The Westheimer Beer Whisky shows a solid balance between fruity and spicy aromas, with the youthful maturation clearly noticeable and not fully masking the distillery character. The structure is quite straightforward, with a medium-length, soft finish free of any harshness – a respectable result for a three-year Bordeaux cask finish. Its value for money and regional character make this malt an interesting example of artisanal small-batch production.
Value for Money: Good
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79/100Frequently Asked Questions
How does the use of beer mash influence the flavor of the Westheimer Beer Whisky?
The beer mash from the Westheimer Brewery imparts a unique maltiness and fruity notes to the whisky, reflected in aromas like Morello cherries and red grapes. This base creates a harmonious link between the typical whisky elements and its beer origins.
What does the Bordeaux Wood Finish mean for the Westheimer Beer Whisky?
The Bordeaux Wood Finish refers to the whisky’s secondary maturation in casks previously used for Bordeaux wine. This imparts additional red wine aromas and a subtle woodiness that enhances the flavor profile with fine spiciness and a hint of sandalwood.
How does the relatively short maturation of 3 years affect the whisky?
With only 3 years of maturation, the Westheimer Beer Whisky still shows a pronounced distillery character and a certain freshness. The youthful aromas are lively and spicy, while the finish remains soft without any sharp or metallic notes, which is remarkable for a young single barrel malt.