Whiskey + Yoga at Westland Distillery
Back in May, I attended my first Whiskey + Yoga event (put on by Just Add Yoga), and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As a brief refresher, their concept is simple and awesome – an hour of yoga followed by a tasting of beer/cider/wine/spirits from the business where the class took place.
I was very excited to see the next distillery to host was my local favorite – Westland Distillery! I quickly signed up, and was ready for down dog and drams!
The Yoga
This class was taught by Emily, and she was wonderful! Her focus for the class was to be in the moment and not assign “good” or “bad” to the situation. It just is. Honestly, I’m such a planner that I’m always thinking of the future, and often find it difficult to just be in the moment. However, it’s certainly made easier when you’re deeply breathing in whisky fumes. 🙂
As someone who is not a yoga regular by any stretch of the imagination, I really appreciate the Just Add Yoga model of not taking it too seriously, relaxing and laughing with the group, and just enjoying the experience. It’s always nice when the instructor doesn’t use fancy yoga terminology (what *#$&@asana?), and the they encourage you to do what’s most comfortable for you (because sometimes my foot just won’t get that close to my face.) This seems to be part of the Just Add Yoga model, and I would absolutely take Emily’s class again.
The Whiskey
Phoebe, one of the fantastic Westland staff, gave us a mini-tour of the distillery and did a great job explaining how Westland makes their whiskey so delicious and unique. She poured us a taster of the American Oak and Sherry Wood. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, their whiskey has a delightful roasted coffee/chocolate flavor from the roasted barley they use (unique to them), and also has some fruity and sweet grain notes.
After the tour, Brian, their resident bartender, poured us a few of the seasonal cocktails (they change every few months). Due to liquor laws, they have some unique restrictions: they can only use 1/2 ounce of their own liquor, no other liquor, and all other mixers must be nonalchoholic, besides bitters.)
The first cocktail featured an interesting technique called milk-washing. This particular recipe was prepared ahead of time and includes whiskey, tea, lemon juice (and perhaps a few other things.) Hot milk was added, and because of the acidic lemon juice, it curdled. It’s then strained over the course of a day and you’re left with a cocktail that won’t spoil if refrigerated. In terms of taste, it had a very interesting creamy mouthfeel, with a buttermilk-like tang from the lemon as well. A unique cocktail for sure!
The second cocktail featured their Peated whiskey. It included oolong tea, so it had a very smoky, savory flavor. Love your creative cocktails, Brian!
I’ve been to Westland numerous times, and it’s always a pleasure to chat with their staff and learn about their upcoming expressions and projects. They are always pushing the limits and crafting distinctive whiskey! (If you haven’t been there for a visit or tour, I highly recommend it.)
Combining the exploration of whiskey and exercise is something I not only personally enjoy, but believe is an excellent way to try new things. For me, whiskey was the gateway to yoga. 🙂 I can’t wait for the next Whiskey + Yoga event!
