This is sort of a rating for both the Chardonnay cask finished whiskey that Lost Lantern selected in 2022 and the one that shipped direct from the distillery as part of their quarterly release club: both fantastic entries in Westward’s exciting barrel finishing program. The Chardonnay casks added their usual bright white-fleshed fruit flavors like grape and pear to the muscular single malt base I always enjoy. I’m always excited When I find a product like Westward single malt that can take aggressive finishes while maintaining it’s identity as a spirit. Enjoying something familiar and new at the same time is a dream worth chasing in the whiskey world. The Lost Lantern slightly edged out the distillery release for being just the slight bit bolder and more scrumptious as you’d expect from the higher proof (about 120 compared to 90).