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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category

Review: Forty Creek Barrel Select Niagara Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 22, 2023

It is almost almost ten years since Campari assumed the reigns of the Forty Creek Whisky brand, and I notice that some changes have taken place. Now Bill Ashburn is Forty Creek’s Master Blender (although is is very likely that Bill has had his hand in most of the Forty Creek whiskies since the beginning). Forty Creek has shifted the branding of its whisky adding the term Niagara Whisky to their labels attaching themselves firmly to the Niagara Peninsula and Canada’s largest wine region. New bottles have been introduced; and, for many of their whisky brands, lower prices as well.

The flagship brand is still Forty Creek Barrel Select, and the website still promotes this whisky as a blend of separately aged grain whiskies (corn, barley, and rye). However, whereas the distillery once promoted this spirit as having a wine barrel finish. This tidbit of information is now absent from Whisky’s description on the the shop website (maybe I missed it). I thought it was about time I revisited the whisky, and wrote a new review based on the new bottle and the liquid inside.

He is a link to my new review completely revised review:

Review: Forty Creek Barrel Select Niagara Whisky

“… When I bring the glass to my nose, the breezes bring me a light sweetness of corn and butterscotch mixed with almond, vanilla and orange peel. There is a lot of fine wood and grain spice and perhaps just a touch of alcohol. As I let the glass breathe, scents of marmalade begin to form as does a light impression of fresh cut grain laying in the windrows …”

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Forty Creek Barrel Select Niagara Whisky

Review: Forty Creek Art of The Blend

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 14, 2023

Forty Creek recently rebranded itself as Forty Creek Niagara Whisky which seems to be an attempt to infuse the notion of Canadian Whisky style unique to the  Niagara wine growing region of Canada. Their Art of The Blend whisky was as far as I know the first of their bottlings to sport the new moniker. And, I suspect to drive the point home,this is a whisky with a firm connection to wine making.

According to the Forty Creek Whisky website:

Our Master Blender Bill Ashburn celebrates 35 years of imagination and craft with this extraordinary limited creation. Art of the Blend tells his story, first the making of wine, then the art of whisky blending. Ashburn’s creation is our iconic Niagara whisky infused with grapes harvested in the darkest hours of winter. A stunning expression of whisky mastery and experimentation, it is a sensational journey that never ends.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Forty Creek Art of The Blend

“… What strikes me first is how fruity the nose is with red berries, purple grapes and fresh green apples showing off in the breezes. There is a hint of sourness which reminds me of fermenting fruit and tart raspberry jam …”

Please enjoy my latest review.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Forty Creek Art of The Blend

Review: Stillhead BC/QC Whisky Maple Syrup Cask Finish

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 26, 2023

The Stillhead Distillery, founded by the Colebank Family, began operations in October of 2017 in Duncan British Columbia with a vision to distill the essence of Vancouver Island into their brands. They do this by adding distinct Vancouver Island ingredients to their products showcasing their home in every bottle.

Stillhead BC/QC Whisky Maple Syrup Cask Finish (that’s quite a mouthful) is the latest addition to the Stillhead whisky Portfolio. It is a 100% British Columbia rye grain whisky first aged in ex-bourbon casks for 3 to 4 years, and then it was finished in whisky barrels which had recently aged Grade A 100% pure, organic and unblended Maple Syrup from Cosman & Webb in Quebec.

This is, I believe, the first Maple Syrup Cask whisky I have tasted and reviewed. You can find my full review using the link provided below:

Review: Stillhead BC/QC Whisky Maple Syrup Cask Finish

“… The whisky has a paler amber hue in the glass and when I bring it to my nose three aspects of the whisky immediately make themselves known in the breezes above the glass. The first is a light maple sweetness, the second is a firm rye-like spiciness, and the third is hints of alcohol astringency stemming from the high bottling proof …”

I hope you enjoy this review which concludes with a nice suggest cocktail, The Barrel Rider.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Signal Hill Canadian Whisky 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 15, 2023

Signal Hill is the name of a relatively new Canadian Whisky partially owned by Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd, the Blues Brother who also owns a stake in Crystal Head Vodka.

The Canadian Whisky blend is produced from two grains, corn and barley. The corn is double distilled on a column still producing a light, smooth spirit. The barley is pot distilled to create a more flavourful, heavier whisky. After blending, the whisky uses a non-chill filtration process preserving the heavier flavour molecules and oils from the distillation with the aim of a fuller mouthfeel and smoother finish.

Here is a link to my thoughts on this relatively new Canadian Whisky:

Review: Signal Hill Canadian Whisky 

“… The flavour is that of a typical Canadian Whisky with fine oak and grain spices at the front followed by a sort of sour, lightly fermented fruitiness. Orange peel, vanilla and almond add a little complexity and the overall effect is a whisky that is flavourful, but a little rough around the edges as well …”

I hope that everyone enjoys my latest spirits review, I have a few gin reviews which I shall be sharing next.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Review: Signal Hill Canadian Whisky 

Review: Last Mountain Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 18, 2022

Last Mountain Single Cask Single Malt Whisky is produced in small batches at the Last Mountain Distillery in Lumsden Saskatchewan. I have been following the progress of this distillery since it first came to my attention when they opened their doors as Saskatchewan’s first micro-distillery in August of 2010. Back then, the Last Mountain Distillery was run by its two principals, Colin and Meredith Schmidt, the husband wife team who co-founded the operation. They began by selling vodka and whisky, and I was fortunate enough to be able to taste and review some of their earliest offerings.

Since then the operation has grown by leaps and bounds, and when I checked the distillery’s website I found they now boast 14 full time employees (17 if you count the shop dog, Chloe, and the two Schmidt children, Griffen and Ryker.) The Distillery also boasts a full range of Vodka, Gin, Whisky and Rum as well as an assortment of what they call their unique creations.

Below is the link to the review for the distillery’s new Single Cask Single Malt Whisky, made from 100% Saskatchewan Barley.

Review: Last Mountain Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

“… Vanilla/butterscotch and almond melded nicely into fine oak spice. Hints of leather and milk chocolate appear as does a light fruity quality which reminds me of orange peel and apricot brandy. There is some development in the glass as I let the whisky breathe, the oak spices become more prominent and begin to throw out impressions of cinnamon …”

Please enjoy my latest whisky review.

Chimo!

 

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