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Posts Tagged ‘Canadian Whisky’

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2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #1 – Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old Canadian Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 22, 2019

I have a particular fondness for the Highwood Distillery. Part of the reason, is that it was the first major Canadian Distillery that visited, and when I was there, I was treated so well that I could not help but have good thoughts towards them. Another part of the reason is that Highwood is 100 % Canadian owned and operated and that means something to me. But the main reason I am fond of the the Highwood Distillery is that they make some of the best whisky in Canada if not the entire world.

Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old Canadian Rye Whisky is one of their truly great whiskies. Made from 100 % corn it is a single grain whisky aged for a full 20 years and bottled at 45 % alcohol or 90 proof. And … I can usually find a bottle for about $40.00.  This makes the 20 year old whisky from Highwood perhaps the best whisky bargain in the entire country.

All of these factors, make the Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old my favourite whisky to recommend to friends and family. And for that reason, it tops my list as my favourite Canadian Whisky of 2019.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old

“… Tasting notes do not adequately reflect how good this whisky actually is. The words which I wrote down a year ago to describe the flavour are correct: oak, cedar, corn, butterscotch, vanilla, orange peel, marmalade, almond and tobacco, but they do not adequately convey how rich and flavourful this whisky is …”

Chimo!

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2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #3 – Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 20, 2019

Seven years ago, I encountered Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky as a random sample which I was assessing as part of my duties when I served on the jury for the 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards. At the time the small sample bottle which contained the Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky was one which I earmarked as a superior whisky. So, when the Awards Competition was complete, it was to my dismay that I learned this particular whisky (Random Sample number 7 by the way) was a brand destined not for Canada; but instead for Taiwan.

The Fountana Group Canada is the brand owner, and it turns out the whisky was produced by Highwood Distillers right here in my home Province of Alberta. The Fountana Group contracted Highwood to produce a well aged whisky for export to Asia where it has by all accounts been well received. It was, I should add, also well received by the other jurors on that panel for the Canadian Whisky Awards as this brand won the prestigious Connoisseur Whisky of the Year for the Export Market at those same 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards.

When I wrote a brief review for this whisky in 2013, I lamented that this great whisky was available only in Asia, and I hoped that the brand owner (and the folks at Highwood Distillery) might read the review, and decide that maybe Canada deserved this Whisky too. The Fountana Group must have agreed with me as the whisky has for a few years now been available across Canada.

Here is a link to a more recent review written in 2017:

Review: Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky

“… The initial breezes above the glass brought me impressions of dusty grain fields and firm oak spices. Soon I began to notice orange peel and butterscotch scents moving together over time creating impressions of marmalade and caramel toffee. There were also lovely hints of cinnamon and vanilla weaving within the breezes …”

Please enjoy the review!

Chimo!

 

 

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2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #4 – Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 19, 2019

Caribou Crossing is what is known as a Single Barrel Whisky. From the company’s inventory of over 200,000 barrels of Canadian whisky, Sazerac’s whisky making team selects what they deem to be some of the very finest barrels. Each of these chosen barrels is bottled individually capturing its unique flavour. This means that each individual bottling offers a unique taste experience for the whisky enthusiast.

This is a whisky which I believe has gotten better over time. When the brand was first introduced, my review scores were high, but nothing to get to excited about. But over the past three years my review scores have jumped significantly. I’m not sure whether that barrel picking team from Sazerac has just gotten better at their job, or if maybe I am just more attuned to the wonderful mixture of spicy rye and sweet corn that jumps to my palate each time I sample a new bottle.

Whatever the reason, Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky is now one of my very favourites. I certainly would like Mrs. Claus to put a bottle under the tree for me this year:

Review: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

“… The lightly buttered mouth-feel gives the Caribou Crossing a little length in the exit featuring flavours of oak, corn and butterscotch which trail down the throat. After the whisky is swallowed, sweet honeycomb lingers on the palate and the glowing embers of disappearing rye spices leave their imprint …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

 

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2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #7 – Alberta Springs Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 16, 2019

Alberta Springs Canadian Whisky is the last of the so-called ‘economy’ whiskies on my 2019 list of favourites. It’s not really an ‘economy’ whisky, it’s really a 10 year old sipping whisky sold at an incredibly attractive price.  The price is in fact so attractive, that this sipping whisky is a great choice for those who prefer high end mixers.

Myself, I am as likely to mix a nice Old Fashioned Cocktail, as I am to mix a rye and ginger-ale splash, as I am to sipping the spirit neat or over ice. Like the Alberta Premium previously published as part of this list, Alberta Springs is an incredibly versatile dram.

Here is a link to my most recent review:

Review: Alberta Springs Canadian Whisky

“… The initial breezes from the glass represent a dusty spice filled Canadian whisky with firm almond scents tagging along with the spicy grain. Fine oak spices drift upwards, and the spiciness in the air reminds me of ginger and cardamon with perhaps a few hints of cinnamon drifting in between …”

Chimo!

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2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #9 – J.P. Wiser’s NHL Alumni Whiskies

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.

 

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