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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category

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#Top100CanadianWhisky – #59 TAP 8 Rye (Sherry Finished)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 26, 2017

TAP 8 Rye (Sherry Finished) is a blend 8-year-old pot distilled Canadian Whiskies which are then blended with Spanish Amontillado sherry. According to its LCBO listing it is produced in Quebec by Maison Des Futailles. It appears to be distributed in North America by Prestige Spirits.

The moniker TAP 8 appears to be a play on words with the number 8 representing the 8 years of aging the Canadian (rye) Whisky is aged and TAP refers to the tapping of maple trees as the original TAP 8 357 Canadian Whisky was  flavoured with real maple syrup.

Review: TAP 8 Rye (Sherry Finished) 

“… nose is full of dusty rye with hints of pencil shavings and wood spice. It takes a while but some sweetness begins to arrive more like butterscotch than maple, as well as hints of raisins and canned apricots. As I let the glass breathe the impression of sweetness builds threatening to overtake the rye …

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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.

To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the  list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

 

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky – #59 TAP 8 Rye (Sherry Finished)

#Top100CanadianWHisky: #61 – Pike Creek 10 Year Old (Finished in Rum)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 24, 2017

Pike Creek 10 Year Old (Finished in Rum)  is a Canadian Whisky produced from a double distillation in small column copper stills, and aged in re-used American bourbon barrels. Once aged and blended, the whisky is finished in rum barrels.

Pike Creek was originally released in the late 1990s as part of Corby’s initiative to introduce new high-end Canadian whiskies into the North American market. Unfortunately the whisky was discontinued after only a brief time as consumers seemed uninterested in a the new premium product. The whisky was re-introduced in 2012, originally finished in Port Barrels. Sometime in 2016 a switch was made to a rum finished whisky.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Pike Creek 10 Year Old (Finished in Rum)

“… I noticed some bitter chocolate flavours evolving especially when ice is added.  As well a firm rye-like bitterness permeates the whisky. The rum enhancement is still obscured by the whisky although perhaps that maple flavour I am detecting is the sweetness of the rum barrel …”

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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.

To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the  list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWHisky: #61 – Pike Creek 10 Year Old (Finished in Rum)

#Top100Canadian Whisky of 2017: #63 J.P Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 22, 2017

John Philip (J.P.) Wiser, purchased a distillery in Prescott Ontario in 1857, and began to produce Wiser’s Whisky.  In fact, it may have been J.P. Wiser who first used the term “Canadian Whiskey” on a whisky label when he introduced his spirit to the World at the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893. The Company merged with the H. Corby Distillery Company sometime after the death of J.P. Wiser in 1917.  Shortly after in 1932, production of the Wiser’s brands moved to the Corby distillery. Today Wiser’s is distilled at the Hiram Walker Distillery in Walkerville, Ontario, and aged in their facilities at Pike Creek near Lakeshore Ontario. Through all of these changes the Wiser’s Brand has been recognized as a vital component of each company’s portfolio of brands.

J.P. Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye was recently released across Canada.

According to the J.P. Wiser’s website:

Our Triple Barrel Rye whisky is a unique blend of toasted grains, oak, and rich toffee, with a finish that’s silky smooth and long lasting. This full-flavoured whisky offers a rich aroma with a body that is complex and well balanced. It combines distillates from used whisky, first-fill bourbon, and virgin oak casks.

Here is a link to the number 63 Canadian Whisky of 2017:

Review: J.P Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye

“… I noticed strong notes of graham wafer and toasted rye grain. Some maple and cedar notes add an additional level of complexity and some nice oak vanillans have meandered into the air as well. The dram is very pleasing to nose …”

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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.

To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the  list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100Canadian Whisky of 2017: #63 J.P Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye

Canadian Club 40 Year Old Set To Arrive!

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 18, 2017

 

This Holiday season, a new rare Canadian whisky will be on the wish lists of whisky connoisseurs and Canadian Club fans alike. After 40 years of resting in American oak barrels in Windsor, Ontario, Canadian Club will release Canadian Club 40 Year Old – its oldest age expression released to date and possibly the oldest in Canadian whisky history.

According to Rob Tucker, Senior Brand Manager, Canadian & American Whiskies at Beam Suntory:

“With 160 years of great whisky making, Canadian Club’s numerous gold medal awards won in recent spirit competitions, and with our storied past as the preeminent club whisky in speakeasies which were known for stylish, stirring times, and a little mischief in mixed company, it only makes sense that a historic brand like Canadian Club gets to treat Canadians with such a delicious one-of-a-kind whisky like Canadian Club 40 Year Old,”

TASTING NOTES (From Canadian Club)

Aroma: Dark plum, rich vanilla, rye spiciness against a backdrop of toasted toffee and sweet oak.

Palate: Slightly sweet with hints of nutmeg, clove, dark berries, savoury dried fruit and orchard fruit, highlighted by a hint of caramelized sugar.

Finish: Ultra smooth and lingering that is warm, creamy and spicy sweet.

Tish Harcus, Canadian Club Global Brand Ambassador, adds:

“This whisky has the characteristic Canadian Club smoothness; yet it’s complex, with Christmas spices, butter tarts and finely refined barrel notes. You can taste the oak but it’s not overpowering.”

According to my sources, Canadian Club 40 Year Old will be available with full distribution in Ontario this week, and available across Canada in early November in very limited quantities. The Whisky aged a full 40 years in American Oak and bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume will retail at $249.95 per 750 ml bottle.

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If you are wondering whether this once in a lifetime whisky from Canadian Club will make an appearance in my #Top100CanadianWhisky Countdown of 2017? I can only say that I did leave room in my countdown list for samples which I knew would be arriving late, and as my sample is scheduled to be delivered today, it may well make an appearance.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Canadian Club 40 Year Old Set To Arrive!

#Top100CanadianWhisky of 2017 – #69 Glen Saanich Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 16, 2017

John & Cathy Windsor manage the family owned and operated de Vine Vineyards on Vancouver Island (near  Victoria British Columbia). As well as growing grapes for wine making the vineyard houses a small still from which they distill both grapes and grains producing a variety of spirits including Vodka, Gin and Single Malt Whisky.

I had an opportunity to taste Glen Saanich Single Malt Whisky when I acted as a juror for the 2017 Canadian Whisky Awards. While judging, I wrote up tasting notes for each dram as I scored them (in a blind tasting format). I also saved a wee bit of each sample such that I could revisit them after the judging when it was revealed to me which sample belonged to which whisky. From those tasting notes and from my last sampling session afterwards I wrote this review.

Here is a link to the #69 Canadian Whisky on my 2017 List:

Review: Glen Saanich Single Malt Whisky:

“… The whisky has a ribbon of corn-like bourbon in its profile which is melded into impressions of oak spice and barley malt. Sweet and sour fruit (apples pears and canned peaches come to mind) hang in the breezes with a nice wisp of vanilla as well as an herbal quality which is almost like a mixture of fresh clover and mint …”

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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.

To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the  list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

 

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky of 2017 – #69 Glen Saanich Single Malt Whisky

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