Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 26, 2015
Late in October, of 2012, I was able to have a one on one meeting with Hiram Walker Distillery Master Blender, Dr. Don Livermore. It was supposed to be an interview, but instead, it morphed into an information session where Dr. Livermore began to teach me about all things pertaining to Canadian Whisky with a particular emphasis on how they do things at the Hiram Walker Distillery.
One of the many things we talked about was the re-release of Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Whisky (2012 Edition). Dr. Livermore, told me the whisky was first released in the 1990’s as an upscale connoisseur’s whisky for the North American market. Alas, timing is everything, and according to Don, the whisky never really caught on as the market wasn’t quite ready for such a new style of Canadian Whisky. With the new upsurge of interest in Canadian Whisky across North America (and in particular at the premium end of the market), Corby (the owner of the Wiser’s Brand), was optimistic that the time for this whisky has finally arrived.
And I guess you could say that I agree, as it is the #60 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.
“… The initial nose is filled with the scents and smells of honeycomb, freshly harvested rye, and freshly cut oak and cedar planks which are still seeping bits of sap from the wood grain. Caramel toffee and green tobacco, and even more fresh rye climb up out of the glass into the breezes. As the glass breathes, smells of oak and wood sap gain more expression …”
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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 2012, Canadian Whisky, Copper Pot Still, Lot No. 40, Review, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits, Whisky | Comments Off on #60 Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Whisky (2012 Edition)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 22, 2015
Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a whiskey brand produced and bottled in Kentucky by the Heaven Hill company. Evan Williams Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon’s are produced in limited quantities for selected markets in North America, and they have been winning awards since 1990 in a variety of Spirit’s journals, magazines and contests including Gold Medals at the Prestigious San Fransisco World Spirits Competition for their 1993 and 1994 bottlings.
In 2009, Single Barrel bottlings from 1998 began to appear in the Alberta marketplace. The particular 1998 vintage bottle that caught my attention was bottle number 413 which was set in oak on September 9, 1998, and bottled April 18, 2008.
Here is a link to the review of the #64 spirit in my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.
“… I have just stumbled into a sawmill where they are cutting large rough timber beams. I can smell the wood tannins exposed on the sides of the timber and the fresh cut wood grain scent is delightful. Of course there is much more than oak timbers in the glass: wild honey, rich vanilla, toffee, caramel and hints of molasses rise from the glass in a rich vibrant aroma which is spicy and tannin filled …”
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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits
Posted in American Whiskey, Awards, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 1998, Bourbon, Evan Williams, McClellands Single Malt, Review, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits, Whiskey | 2 Comments »
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 21, 2015
Collingwood Handcrafted Canadian Whisky is produced at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood Ontario.This is of course the Distillery which produces its namesake brand, Canadian Mist, which is one of the best-selling Canadian Whiskies in North America. The Collingwood brand is a more premium spirit which is positioned a little higher on the rungs of the whisky ladder so to speak than Canadian Mist. However, it would be wrong to think of Collingwood as a more mature or refined Canadian Mist. It is produced from its own recipe and finished in a manner which gives the spirit a unique twist. Once the whisky is mature and has been blended, it is left in stainless marrying vats where its flavour is enhanced with staves of maple which have also been added to those vats.
The Collingwood 21 Year Old is a 100% malted rye whisky. It was aged in both new oak and refill oak barrels and after 21 years of aging the whisky was set down in a stainless steel marrying vat with staves of maple wood just like its younger sibling.
Here is a link to my newly published review of the #65 spirit in my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.
“… The breezes above the glass bring me rich notes of oak and cedar with bits of sweet honeycomb and maple. There is evidence in the air of the new oak barrels which were used to age at least some of the whisky as the breezes have an oaky freshness which I have come to associate with spirits aged in new oak …”
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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 100 % Rye, 21 Year Old, Canadian Whisky, Collingwood, Malted Rye, Review, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits | Comments Off on #65 Collingwood 21 Year Old Canadian Whisky
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 20, 2015
The original blend for Johnnie Walker Gold Label was created in 1920 by Sir Alexander Walker to commemorate the Johnnie Walker Company’s 100 years in business dating back to 1820. This is of course how this particular blend of Johnnie Walker received its name. Although discontinued during the war due to shortage of blending stocks, the label was reintroduced in 1992, with a blend based upon the original blending notes left by Sir Alexander seventy-five years earlier.
The Centenary Blend (now replaced by the younger Gold Label Reserve) was reputed to contain 15 separate single malt whiskies each aged a minimum of 18 years. Of these single malts four in particular have been noted as being key to the distinctive taste of Johnnie Walker Gold: Talisker generates the general character of the blend; Clynish generates the brine and seaside ambiance; Royal Lochnagar imparts the luxurious palate; and Cardhu lingers in the throat and provides the finish. I have read some claims that grain whiskies are in the blend as well, but whether that is true I have no confirmation. Grain Whiskies if present would certainly add vibrancy and character to the overall blend as well.
Here is a link to the review of the #66 spirit in my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.
“… At first all I tasted was that tried and true Johnnie Walker taste profile. Organic peat, hints of iodine, and lots of toffee. But this is much smoother and creamier than the typical Johnnie Walker. As I let the drink sit on my palate, flavours of honey, mild citrus and cherry took form. A sherry influence is present; it is not heavy, rather it seemed to provide a soft counter punch to the peat …”
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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits
Posted in Awards, Extras, Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Bourbon Review, Centenary Blend, Gold Label, Johnny Walker, Review, Rum howler, Scotch, Top 100 Spirits | Comments Off on #66 Johnnie Walker Gold Label – The Centenary Blend
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 17, 2015
Somewhere in the Highwood Distillery barrel aging warehouse is a darkened corner where all of the oak barrels are all stamped “Lot 1525“. This corner contains the oldest whisky in the entire facility, with the age of the whisky inside the barrels ranging from 15 to 25 years. (It has been hinted to me that some of these barrels contain whisky that is perhaps even older!) These whisky barrels were originally part of a consignment of whisky acquired when Highwood purchased the Potter’s Distillery in 2005. As such, these are barrels of whisky produced from a corn-based distillation at the old Potters Distillery, in Kelowna British Colombia.
The barrels made the journey to the Highwood facility in 2005 and have been sitting in the darkened corner waiting for the right moment to be tapped and bottled. From this darkened corner, the Master Blender has carefully chosen just the right barrels, and then just as carefully blended the wonderful elixir within to create a blend of whisky which contains the distillery’s most prized aged whisky, the Lot1525 Century Reserve Custom Blend Canadian Rye Whisky.
Here is a link to the review of the #69 spirit in my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.
“… A beautiful amber hue seems to accent a lovely honey and caramel aroma rising from the glass. Wonderful mellow rye notes accompany the honey and the caramel and a light bourbon vanilla seems to drift above the glass in the breezes. The impact of nosing the glass is a well received feeling of luxury, and elegance which is divine. …”
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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Century Distillers, Century Reserve, Highwood Distillery, Lot 1525, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits, Whisky | Comments Off on #69 Century Reserve (Lot 1525) Canadian Whisky
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