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Archive for the ‘Canadian Whisky’ Category

Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 13, 2020

Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is currently produced in Gimli, Manitoba, at the Crown Royal Distillery. The distillery and the brand are owned by the spirits conglomerate, Diageo, and I think it is fair to say that Crown Royal is Diageo’s flagship Canadian Whisky brand.

The Crown Royal Noble Collection is a series of whiskies that have been released on an annual basis since 2016. The Collection showcases Crown Royal whiskies with new flavour profiles by blending different components of the various whiskies that go into the Crown Royal blend and/or using different finishing techniques in maturing the company’s flagship whisky.

The Crown Royal Rye Aged 16 Years is part of the Noble Collection and showcases Crown Royal’s rye whisky. This is a blend of Crown Royal Rye Whiskies all of which have been aged for no less than16 years.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

“… a firm oak and rye aroma with both the spicy accents oak sap and rye grain on full display. I sense impressions of maple topped  graham wafers and hints of chocolate riding alongside. Lovely notes of butterscotch and vanilla have merged with almond notes bringing about an impression of marzipan and underneath all of this are impressions of raisins and apricot.I should mention the baking spices which appear alongside the oak. …”

Please enjoy this review of this lovely sipping whisky.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

Review: Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 10, 2020

I recently received a bottle of Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel aged whisky. Bottle number 1205 to be exact. So I reached out to Highwood Distillers (who produce the Century Reserve brand) to find out a little bit about this new whisky.

Apparently, the folks at Highwood Distillery began a collaboration with Wild Rose Brewery some time ago bringing them freshly dumped charred American White Oak barrels that had previously aged 100% corn Whisky. The Brewery produced a stout ale, and then aged it in those barrels for 3 months making a product called Tenor Stout (which sold out very quickly).

Highwood then brought the barrels back to their distillery and filled them with 100% wheat Whisky and followed it along for 12 months (the point where they felt it had reached its flavoured potential). This Whisky was then brought to bottling proof, filtered and bottled at 42 % alcohol by volume. Including the time spent in Beer Barrels, the finished whisky is about 5 Year Old.

Here is a link to my full review and suggested serving:

Review: Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel

“… Dusty grain, fine oak spices, ginger and sandalwood. Vanilla, almond and light butterscotch. A whisper of malt/stout. A light smattering of additional baking spices with cinnamon and nutmeg. More dusty grain spices …”

Please enjoy my review and the Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe included.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel

Review: Great Plains Brandy Cask 18 Year Old Canadian Whisky (Batch 1)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 6, 2020

Great Plains Craft Spirits are located in Calgary, Alberta. They are a small company which sources special whiskies for blending and finishing. The intent is to offer to the marketplace limited edition bottlings which feature custom blending and cask finishes. These whiskies can be quite rare with batches as small as two barrels as well as larger projects (up to this point) of up to twenty-four barrels.

This is Great Plains first release and was drawn from 22 casks of pure corn whisky which according to the back of the bottle was produced at the now defunct Potters Distillery in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. The whisky was aged for a little longer than 17 years in ex bourbon barrels and then finished in Jerez (Osborne) Brandy barrels from Andalusia, Spain.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Great Plains Brandy Cask 18 Year Old

“… The cask strength nature of the bottling is immediately apparent as the nose is full of heated fire, fine oak spices, and wonderful aromas of corn and grain. A mouth-watering combination of vanilla, butterscotch, orange peel and almond climbs into the air alongside. The impulse to steal a sip before more completely examining the nose is strong; but that would be a mistake, as this is a dram which grows in the glass as you let the 18 year old whisky breathe …”

Please enjoy my review of one of the best whiskies I have tasted in 2020!

Chimo!

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Review: Forty Creek Resolve (2020 Limited Release)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 5, 2020

Forty Creek Whisky has an annual tradition of producing a special limited release whisky which is built upon the foundation of the company’s flagship whisky, Forty Creek Barrel Select. These annual special releases each seek to bring new character to the Forty Creek family.

The 2020 Limited Release, Forty Creek Solve is a tribute to Master Blender Bill Ashburn and his dedication (and resolve) to create some of the most awarded Canadian whiskies over the past 20 years. He constructed this complex whisky with an elevated spice profile rounded out with a drop of vintage Villard Noir Port.

Here is a link to my review for the latest Forty Creek Whisky annual Limited Edition Release:

Review: Forty Creek Resolve (2020 Limited Release)

“… Brown sugar combined with both oak spice and baking spices (Vanilla, cinnamon and cloves with a nice hit of ginger). Walnuts with raisins and dates lurking as well. Graham wafers, marzipan and marmalade make an appearance as the whisky breathes. This is complex and inviting …”

Please enjoy the review which includes my serving suggestion, the Old Fashioned Cocktail.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Forty Creek Resolve (2020 Limited Release)

Review: Last Mountain Single Cask Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 9, 2020

The Last Mountain Distillery is Saskatchewan’s original micro distillery. It is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Colin and Meredith Schmidt. Colin Schmidt took a rather round about road into the distilling business as his original dream was to play pro hockey. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1992 and signed his first pro contract in 1996. Unfortunately Colin’s pro hockey experience was brief, cut off by a few shoulder injuries after a brief stint with the big club playing what Colin referred to as “left bench”.

According to the Last Mountain Distillery website their Single Cask Rye is made with locally sourced Rye grain (not malted). The Rye is matured a short time in  new 10-gallon barrels (presumably to oak the spirit more quickly) and then it is placed in used bourbon barrels for 3 – 4 years. Single Barrels are selected for bottling without being chill filtered.

Here is a link to my Full Review:

Review: Last Mountain Single Cask Rye Whisky

“... Although the spirit is heated, the bitterness of the rye grain combined with the spicy oak and citrus zest puckers the palate which actually makes me receptive to another sip. There is a mild sweetness of butterscotch and vanilla which counter-balances the spice … “

Please enjoy my review as I look forward to becoming more active on the website again.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Last Mountain Single Cask Rye Whisky