3 More American Single Malts: Virginia Cigar Blend, Thornton Prairie Peat, Westward Stout Cask

Yes yes yes, I know I just did some other ASMs a month and a half ago (   • 3 American (Single) Malts: McCarthy's 10yo...   ). But new ones keep popping up, and... they're generally pretty good! And not badly priced, especially compared to where they were just a few years ago! Just in time for the economy to collapse, this category seems to be hitting its stride beautifully. Today we're reviewing two new producers and a previous channel favorite. The veteran is Virginia Distilling Company, last seen at    • Are ASMs Better Value than Scotch? Bear Fi...   . They've made a "cigar" themed offering, and it's 7 years old and it's super cheap and the cask list is absolutely hilarious. And I'm finally reviewing a Westward, the West Coast malt you always confuse with Westland - today, it's their Stout Cask. And then it's a spirit I tried in pre-bottling form at a festival last year, the Prairie Peat from Thornton Distilling just south of Chicago: if you've ever wondered what a malt smoked with peat from the midwest would taste like, you need wonder no more. Off we go: Westward "Stout Cask" American Single Malt Whiskey (Portland, Oregon; finished in American stout cask; bottled circa 2024; 46% ABV), 84+🍫🍒/100 Thornton Distilling "Prairie Peat" American Single Malt Whiskey (Thornton, Illinois; pilsner malt smoked with Illinois peat, aged 4+ years in ex-bourbon; bottled 2025; unchillfiltered, natural color; 46% ABV), 86+1=87/100 Virginia Distillery Co. "Cigar Blend First Cut" 7 Year Old American Single Malt Whisky (Lovingston, VA; aged in Spanish Oak, Sherry, Port, STR, Chateau Palmer Cabernet, Armagnac, Cognac, Fino, and ex-Islay; 54% ABV), 88/100 I feel a bit bad for the little Westward Stout Cask: it doesn't have a ton of weight or complexity, but especially with a drop of water man does it bring the chocolate-covered cherries. The Thornton actually steps up even more with water, and should (at minimum) be tasted by every peat nerd just as something different. It's not a big loud shouty whiskey by any means, but it arrives with a delightful vanilla/honey/grainy character and then leaves behind a really fascinating earthy potting peat/ash/cigar finish that I adore. Fascinating stuff. And then the VDC has an absolutely terrifying cask list, but somehow that just cashes out as Aberlour A'bunadh with red wine cask on the back end (red fruit/leafy herbs) and a whiff of peat. Absolutely the best thing I've had from this producer, and at circa-$60 it's a steal. Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon (  / differentspirits  ) - Gerard-Paul Aman Eric Amig Anthony Darcy Bean Chris Bobby Jamie Brown Kingsbury bushcraft William Christopher Clematis Rob D Liam Davitt Joe Devine Samuel Dose eon Ingmar nine Manuel Fihman Steve Frazee Ian Gendler Solomon Grundy John Halliday Alex Hurd Trevor Jarrait Jonathan Lestingi Kyaru Craig Nielsen Jason Newquist No Thanks Chris Rhodes Randy Rice Lael Rios RumSquirrel Eric Schmidt Gordon W Zach W Mean Will (Also, maybe check out the less-boozy side channel over at    / @criticalspirits   )