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Archive for the ‘Canadian Whisky’ Category

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Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie – Red Wine Barrique

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 15, 2021

Two weeks ago I reviewed the Inveramallie release from the Macaloney Caledonian Distillery which was matured in an Ex-Bourbpon cask.  Today I am looking at another Invermallie release this time one which has been matured in a re-charred red wine barrique imported from Europe. This barrique underwent a shave-toast-rechar preparation which is meant to  give the spirit a complex nose with red berries, dried fruit, demerara sugar, leather, oak and honey.

The Invermallie releases may be regarded as the distillery’s connoisseurs/collector’s edition expressions. This is an ever-changing series of classic single malt expressions based on unique one-off single casks, or other special selections.

The Macaloney Caledonian Distillery began producing spirit which had reached the required maturity to be sold as Canadian Whisky in 2020. Their world-class distillery is built on a foundation of traditional Forsyth’s copper pot stills. Using Canadian barley, with island water the distillery produces a range of produces a small range of Island Whiskies.

Here is a link to my review of their Single Malt Whisky matured in red wine barriques:

Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie – Red Wine Barrique

“… Mild oak and grain spices combine with light vanillans and soft leathery flavours of barley grain with undercurrents of red cherry licorice, gooseberry, butterscotch and almond. The lightly sweet maltiness pairs well with the fruity licorice,  but the nuances are indistinct and thus hard to describe in terms of taste descriptors. The result is a whisky which is light and airy even though it is bottled at 46 % abv …”

Please enjoy my review which continues a series of reviews of the new whiskies from the Macaloney Caledonian Distillery.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie – Red Wine Barrique

Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie (Ex- Bourbon Cask)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 1, 2021

The Caledonian Distillery has been on my radar for a while now. I first heard of it when founder Graeme Macaloney invited me to an information seminar and whisky tasting several years ago. At that time the distillery was just in the planning stages and Graeme was touring the country raising money to build his distillery.

In the fall of 2016, word reached me that the Victoria Caledonian Brewery & Distillery had began to produce and age new make spirit and moved forward to 2020, the Macaloney Caledonian Distillery (there appears to have been a name change) began producing spirit which had reached the required maturity to be sold as Canadian Whisky.

Their recent Invermallie releases may be regarded as the distillery’s connoisseurs/collector’s edition expressions. Apparently the name is a nod to the flowing river Mallie. Like the changing river, this is an ever-changing series of classic single malt expressions based on unique one-off single casks, or other special selections.

This Invermallie Ex- Bourbon Cask release was selected from a single ‘first-use’ Bourbon cask. According to the distillery, this is the cleanest expression of the Macaloney Caledonian house style. This is because the previously contained Bourbon in the aging barrel has only a minor influence which allows the American white oak combining with the distillate to shine. Although the release appears to have already sold out, it nevertheless gives us a glimpse into the house style of the Macaloney Caledaonian Distillery.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie (Ex- Bourbon Cask)

“… The first sip brings a nice mixture of oak spice, butterscotch, vanilla and almond forward which gives me a positive impression of toffee and marzipan. The second sip brings herbal grassy flavours, gooseberries, orange peel and a touch of honey to the combination. Impressions of canned apricots, hints of raisins, and a touch of leathery barley add to the depth of the whisky …”

Please enjoy my review of this new addition to the Canadian Whisky Family.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie (Ex- Bourbon Cask)

Review: Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 18, 2021

Compass Distillers is located in Halifax Nova Scotia, where Graham, Josh, and David began their distilling journey with a belief that they could create world-class spirits locally. Their artisan Craft Spirits are not imported, they are not blended with generic ingredients, nor are they pumped out of a factory; rather, they are made from scratch, with locally sourced ingredients.

Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye gives recognition to bountiful harvest of Nova Scotia’s grain. The spirit was produced from grain which was milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled in Halifax, and then was aged in new charred North American oak barrels for three years.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye

“… Leathery grain and oak, burlap, butterscotch, vanilla and almond. Rye spice and fine oak spice with hints of ginger and cinnamon follow as do hints of milk chocolate …”

Please enjoy my review of this wonderful new Canadian Rye Whisky.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3 – 43 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 4, 2021

For each of the past three years Canadian Club has been releasing Canada’s oldest age stated Whisky. And each year that release has been getting one year older. It started in 2017 with the Canadian Club 40 Year Old .

Canadian Club 40 Year Old was produced from a selection of American Oak barrels which contained 100% corn whisky. The whisky was released in part to commemorate Canada’s 150 Anniversary, and was available with full distribution across Canada in the fall of 2017. In 2018 we learned that Canadian Club hadn’t emptied all of those 100 % Corn Whisky Barrels, those that hadn’t been used were now one year older. In the fall of 2018, Canadian Club released what they called Canadian Club Chronicles – 41 Year Old Whisky (The Water of Windsor), again using some of those same barrels; but this time adding a small amount of cognac, rye and sherry to the final blend. Then in 2019 the cycle was repeated as Canadian Club released Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 2 – 42 Year Old Whisky (The Dock Man). This time to offer some distinction in the blend, the whisky was blended with a 16 Year Old Rye Whisky, a 12 Year Old Pot Distilled Rye and a small amount of Brandy.

Which brings us to 2020 and the release of Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3 – 43 Year Old Whisky (The Speakeasy) which has apparently been freshened with a dash of 11 Year Old Rye whisky. I recently tasted the new 43 Year Old and thought I would share my thoughts.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3

“… The nose grows and grows as you let the glass breathe becoming almost breathtaking as the richness unfolds. Rum-like scents of molasses, Cognac-like aromas of raisins and dry fruit, Bourbon-like notes of corn and honeycomb seem to be all combined together with sticky marmalade and yummy nougat thrown in for good measure. And yes, that dash of rye seems to be playing a roll brightening the breezes without taking the shine from the sumptuous aroma …”

Please enjoy my first review of 2021. Later this week I’ll be taking a look at Rhum J.M.  V.O from Martinique.

Until then, Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3 – 43 Year Old

Review: Perth Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 16, 2020

Top Shelf Distillers are located in Perth, a town in Eastern Ontario, located on the Tay River, about 80 kilometres southwest of Ottawa. At one time, Perth was home to four distilleries the two most famous of which (McLaren and Spalding & Stewart) were located in limestone buildings alongside the Tay River catering to the tastes of the early Scottish settlement by producing malt whisky similar to the Scottish style of the day. Prohibition (the Ontario Temperance Act of 1916) is largely blamed for the demise of the distilling industry in Perth; but now, just over one hundred years later, Top Shelf Distillers have began to once again bottle whisky in Perth.

Their Perth Whisky is a recent release and they have only limited quantity available, (35 cases currently in the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Control (AGLC) warehouse in a 500ml format bottle). They have also began to bottle the spirit in a 750ml format, and one of those bottles was sent to me for review. According to the information given to me, Perth Whisky is produced from from locally sourced ingredients, and is aged in both new American Oak charred barrels, as well as various used barrels from some of the larger distillers.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Perth Whisky

“… I like the leathery smells which remind me of both fresh leather and graham wafers. Light baking spice and almond round out the aroma, which while not being overly complex, nevertheless promises a robust grain flavour …”

Please enjoy my review of Top Shelf Distillers brand new Perth Canadian Whisky!

Chimo!

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