Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y Review’ Category
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 14, 2022
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 Winter Wheat is the sixth expression of the Noble Collection. It is a limited-edition whisky with mash bill heavily influenced with hearty winter wheat (51%) combined with corn (39%), and malted barley 10%.
I first became aware of this newest edition to the Noble family when I encountered the spirit when serving as a juror for the recent 2022 Canadian Whisky Awards. This spirit, identified to me only as Sample Number 156 at the time, was one of those samples which caught my attention while I was judging the various spirits. It came as no surprise to me when that particular sample was identified by the other judges as something special, and the spirit subsequently was named Canada’s best whisky and Canadian Whisky of the Year 2022 at the twelfth annual Canadian Whisky Awards.
Here is a link to my review of this remarkable whisky:
“… Deep notes of rich oak and honeycomb with luscious toffee and toasted walnuts greet the nose. Robust corn notes join with the oak giving the glass a little bit of a bourbon quality. The winter wheat breaks through soon thereafter bringing notes reminiscent of burly rye grain …”
Please enjoy my review.
Chimo!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Crown Royal, Noble Collection, Review, Winter Wheat | Comments Off on Review: Crown Crown Winter Wheat
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:
“… 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: !6 Year Old, Canadian Whisky, Crown Royal, Diageo, Noble Collection, Review, Rye, Rye Aged 16 Years | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years
Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 4, 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.
I was recently sent a bottle of the Great Plains Craft Spirits Brandy Cask 18 Year Old Canadian Whisky to review. I had previously encountered the spirit when I judged it in a blind format for the 2020 Canadian Whisky Awards (CWA). I remember going back to this particular whisky sample after the reveal as it had made quite an impression on myself during the judging process. In fact, it made an impression on all of the judges, and was one of the award winners being named as the CWA Best New Whisky of 2020.
Here is a link to my latest review of what I have found to be an outstanding Canadian Whisky:
“… 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 …”
Please enjoy my review, Chimo!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: 18 Years Old, Brandy Finish, Canadian Whisky, Craft Spirits, Great Plains, Review | Comments Off on Review: Great Plains Brandy Cask 18 Year Old
Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 19, 2020
Pendleton Midnight is a premium Canadian Whisky produced in Oregon by Hood River Distillers brought to bottling proof (45 % alcohol by volume) using the glacial fed waters from Mt. Hood. Pendleton Whiskies are named to honour the Pendleton Round-up, which is a respected rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon. In fact, Pendleton Whisky sponsors numerous rodeos, including the aforementioned the Pendleton Round-Up, the Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Walla Walla Frontier Days.
According to the company website a portion of the Midnight whisky is aged for over six years in American brandy barrels.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… As the glass rests dusty rye and wood spice continues to pour out with impressions of straw and chaff alongside. There is now a well defined fruitiness apparent as well with orange peel, apricot liqueur and raisin all melding together in the breezes …”
Please enjoy my review, Chimo!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Hood River Distillers, Midnight, Pendleton, Review, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Pendleton Midnight
Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 14, 2019
A few years ago J.P. Wiser’s and the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA) got together to bring whisky fans something uniquely Canadian. One time edition Canadian whiskies which are each blended with the aim of containing characteristic links to specific NHLAA members for whom the blend is named.
I was recently sent three of the 2019 – 20 Edition Alumni Whiskies to review on my website, J.P. Wiser’s Mark Messier, Dave Keon, and Yvan Cournoyer, and if you follow my blog you will know that those reviews are just recently published.
I really enjoyed each of the the J.P. Wisers NHL Alumni Whiskies that I was able to sample. Although each whisky is unique in its own way, I nevertheless found an underlying theme of quality running throughout the line-up.
Here are links to the reviews of the 2019 Captain’s Line-up.
Note: As part of the partnership with the NHL Alumni, a potion of the sales are be donated to NHLAA to support their philanthropic causes.
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Alumni Whisky, Canadian Whisky, J.P. Wiser's, NHLAA Alumni, Review, Whisky | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #9 – J.P. Wiser’s NHL Alumni Whiskies
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