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Posts Tagged ‘Whisky’

#Top100CanadianWhisky #38: Whistle Pig Straight Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 16, 2017

Whistle Pig 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey is an interesting whiskey. It is a 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey which began its life as part of the blending stocks at a distillery in Alberta Canada (almost certainly Alberta Distillers in Calgary Alberta). This spirit was purchased by Whistle Pig Whiskey and transported to the Whistle Pig Farm in Shoreham Vermont where it was finished in once used bourbon barrels. According to my discussions with the local rep for Whistle Pig, because the whiskey was not aged for the entire maturation period in Canada, it is technically not a Canadian Whiskey (which must be aged only in Canada). It does though, meet the requirement in the USA to be bottled as a Straight Rye Whiskey.

Here is a link to my review of the #38 Whisky in my Countdown of Canada’s best:

Review: Whistle Pig 10 Year Rye Whiskey

“… The initial aroma from the glass is full of burly rye notes with accents of maple and wood spice. Both oak and cedar are present with firm vanillans and spicy wood sap. Some dusty dry grain is evident as well …”

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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.

Note: The heritage of Whistle Pig as a whisky distilled and produced in Alberta, Canada is sufficient for me to place the spirit upon my list of Best Canadian Whiskies of 2017. I am after all judging whisky not rabbits, and I see no need for spitting hares.

 

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky #38: Whistle Pig Straight Rye Whisky

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

#Top100CanadianWhisky of 2017 – #71 Shelter Point Artisanal Cask Strength

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 14, 2017

Shelter Point Artisanal Single Malt Whiskies are distilled in small batches on Vancouver Island (British Columbia). The distillery uses a single grain approach, and the Canadian barley used for distillation is grown right on their own family farm (in Oyster River) and never blended with other grains. The water source is the spring water that comes from the mountain-fed aquifer directly beneath the Island. Perhaps the only things that aren’t sourced locally are the oak barrels, which were sourced from Kentucky bourbon distillers, and the massive copper pot stills which came from Scotland.

This Shelter Point Whisky was bottled at Cask Strength (58.4% alcohol by volume).

Here is a link to the review of the # 71 Canadian Whisky of 2017:

Review: Shelter Point Artisanal Cask Strength

“… Intense heat and spice from high alcohol strength. Malt and Speyside spiciness and red licorice and raisin. Some sweet and sour fruit, and some  spicy musty tobacco and leather …”

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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 Books, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky of 2017 – #71 Shelter Point Artisanal Cask Strength

#TopCanadianWhisky of 2017 – #72 Caldera Hurricane 5

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 13, 2017

Caldera Distilling is a new Canadian distillery located in the historical shipbuilding community of River John, in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Not only is the distillery based in the community of River John, according to their website, the ingredients used to produce their  premium whisky are grown on the Distillery property, meaning that the entire grain to glass process happens in one place and is a true expression of that small community in the maritime province of Nova Scotia.  In an homage to the community’s early beginnings the distilling company is named after one of the largest ships ever built in River John, the Caldera.

Here is a link to the #72 Canadian Whisky of 2017:

Review: Caldera Hurricane 5

“… Flavours of butterscotch and vanilla mingle with fine wood spice, and soon impressions of baking spices develop as well (cinnamon and a touch of cloves and nutmeg). There is a little orange peel struggling to make the transition to marmalade, and a light winding of grassy tobacco and nutty almond flavours …”

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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 #TopCanadianWhisky of 2017 – #72 Caldera Hurricane 5