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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category

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2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #17 – Crown Royal Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 6, 2019

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

In 1992, a premium version of Crown Royal was introduced as Crown Royal Special Reserve. This whisky was produced from specially selected casks which were tasted and monitored closely by the Crown Royal Master Blender. These ‘premium casks’ represented whiskies with special character, and they were allowed to age longer with the aim of producing a more premium whisky. In the fall of 2008, this more premium Crown Royal Special Reserve was relaunched as Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky.

This is a whisky I would recommend for sipping neat without ice,

Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

“… The whisky is lightly oaky with wood spices leading out as orange peel and pepper. Some clear rye spices (ginger in particular) jump in, and this spicy montage of flavour is accented by sweet flavours of caramel and maple. There is of course that typical punky corn/bourbon presence winding through the whisky that seems to be the signature flavour of Crown Royal …”

If you need a special gift this Christmas for a fan of the Crown Royal Style, You probably can’t go wrong with the selection of Crown Royal Reserve!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #17 – Crown Royal Reserve

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #18 – Highwood Canadian Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 5, 2019

Highwood Canadian Rye Whisky is the least expensive whisky on this list. In fact, it is usually sold in a Plastic PET bottle and found on the bottom shelf at the liquor store. But don’t let looks deceive you. Behind that ordinary looking label and inside that unassuming plastic bottle is a remarkable whisky.

It is surprisingly smooth for a young whisky (about 5 years old) with melded flavours of butterscotch and honey, rye and wood spices, and a light dab of vanilla, and with a simple ice-cube added the whisky is delicious. Add a splash of ginger -ale and you have perhaps the best Canadian whisky high ball in the entire nation.

The whisky is in fact my go to whisky for back deck rye and gingers. I love rye and ginger ale, so it is easy to see how this unassuming whisky made my list of my 20 favourites of 2019.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Highwood Canadian Rye Whisky

“… Honeycomb, ginger, wood spice, and a light dab of vanilla all support a wonderfully clean, dusty rye flavour. There is polish in evidence here, but a little rough and tumble too, as the wood spices liven the mouth-feel and take me back in time to when rye was the King of Canadian Spirits …”

Enjoy Everybody Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #18 – Highwood Canadian Rye Whisky

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #19 – Lot No. 40 Cask Strength

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 4, 2019

I guess a lot of persons would have thought that the Lot No. 40 Cask Strength would have ended up higher on my list of favourites this year. And in terms of quality it certainly deserves a higher spot. But this list is about favourites, which means that the whiskies on the list are those that like to return to more frequently and which I like sharing with a wide variety of guests.

The truth is that although I love the cask strength Lot No. 40, this whisky is just too aggressive both in terms of alcohol heat and in terms of robust flavour for me to return to it very often or to serve to the uninitiated. This cask strength bomb kicks you in the mouth and slaps your tonsils down your throat. Frankly my friends and I don’t need that sort of treatment every day.

But when one of us does need a kick in the pants, it is nice to have a bottle of Lot No. 40 Cask Strength on hand.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review:  Lot No. 40 Cask Strength Rye Whisky

“… The flavour hits like a sledge-hammer with rough oak and cedar spice pushed by alcohol heat, dark chocolate and heavy rye bread. Add in Christmas fruitcake, and lots of peppery spice including black pepper and cloves and we are still only part way into describing the sheer volume of flavour …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #19 – Lot No. 40 Cask Strength

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #20 – High River Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 3, 2019

This year I have shortened my list of favourite Canadian Whiskies considerably as I have selected only 20. The main reason for this is that I just ran out of time to do a comprehensive list especially in a year where I wasn’t as active doing reviews as I normally am. This years list doesn’t necessarily reflect the 20 best Canadian Whiskies, rather it represents my favourites. Some are mixer’s, some are sippers, and some are somewhere in between. But all are whiskies which I would have no hesitation sharing with my friends or enjoying on my own.

Let’s start with number 20, High River Canadian is owned by Sazerac, the producers of Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Here is a link to my recent review:

Review: High River Canadian Whisky

“… There is a light impression of maple and cedar which combine with grain to give me an impression of graham wafers dipped in syrup. Oak builds with vanilla and almond making me think of marzipan. Marmalade and chocolate complete the nose which seems to be rich and full of whisky goodness …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice recipe suggestion, the Bitter Chocolate Old Fashioned.

 

Note: As we get further along in this list (I hope to publish one whisky per day through until December 22nd), I will introduce 20 more of my favourites. The listing is roughly in order, although I would be the first to caution you that I don;t really have an overall fave. Some days I like to sip, and some days I like to mix.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Forty Creek Victory (2019 Limited Release)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 30, 2019

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 2019 Limited Release, Forty Creek Victory, commemorates the 205th Anniversary of the Engagement at the Forty which was a battle during the War of 1812 which occurred almost on the very ground upon which the Forty Creek Distillery is situated. In creating this years limited edition release, Forty Creek’s Master Distillery decided to do a little experimentation with a four year old Forty Creek Whisky, high wood vanilla staves, a ten year old Corn whisky and Starboard Wine.

Here is a link to my final Canadian Whisky Review of 2019:

Review: Forty Creek Victory (2019 Limited Release)

“… The breezes in the air bring fine oak spices forward along with just a hint of alcohol astringency. The spirit seems youthful and perhaps just a little brash. Hints of red licorice augment the spice, with notes of vanilla, and grain (rye predominantly) beginning to peak though …”

Please enjoy my review, and stay tuned as Tomorrow I begin my 24 Days of Rum Advent series of reviews>

Chimo!

 

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