Emerson Lamb is OUT at Westland Distillery

Westland Distillery's co-founder Emerson Lamb has left the company for personal reasons. Master Distiller Matt Hofmann confirms that he has taken over most of the marketing and administrative duties previously performed by Lamb. The two Bellarmine Prep pals started Westland when they were in their early 20s. Lamb is not expected to return.

Founded just five years ago, Westland is one of Washington's "big three" craft distilleries (the others being Woodinville Whiskey and Spokane's Dry Fly). It was recently named Craft Producer of the Year by the American Distilling Institute.

Hofmann is looking ahead to exporting his American Single Malt whiskeys to Japan and to Europe, and to working with Washington State University's Bread Lab in the Skagit Valley on improving the quality of the barley in the single malts.