Posts Tagged ‘Whisky’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 16, 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 the 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 by 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 Rum Howler #9 Canadian Whisky of 2015:
“… Upon entry into my mouth, I taste a clean rye whisky which oozes honey and spice. A nice light corn flavour rests underneath supporting the whisky with a gentle elegance. Like the Centennial rye which I reviewed previously, this is polished, with the hard rye buffed and smoothed into a silky suave flavour experience. Oak spices and marzipan weave in and out of the corn, the rye, and the honey …”
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You may read about the Top 25 Canadian Whisky Countdown here:
The Rum Howler 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies, Canadian Whisky, Century Reserve, Lot 1525, Review, Rum howler, Whisky | Comments Off on The Rum Howler’s #9 Canadian Whisky of 2015 – Century Reserve (Lot 1525)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 15, 2015
Lot No. 40 is, make no mistake about it, a new style of Canadian Whisky. It is made with locally grown rye which has been distilled upon a single 12,000-litre copper pot still. The final whisky is aged in new oak barrels to showcase the creamy caramelized flavours which new freshly charred oak barrels bring. Hiram Walker Distillery Master Blender, Dr. Don Livermore. elaborated on the process for me:
“Without getting into specific recipes, Lot 40 is comprised of 100% of our (Hiram Walker) rye whisky. This whisky was made via pot distillation and subsequently aged in new casks. There is a proprietary proportion of distillers malt(s) used in the brewing process that allows for conversion of the rye grains into fermentable sugars. The brewing process is made in small batches according to the traditional recipes dating back to the early 1900s.”
Here is a link to the Rum Howler #10 Canadian Whisky of 2015:
“… The whisky has all the flavour that the nose implies with fresh new oak and lots of rye blazing a trail of flavour through the mouth. Bits of fruit (grapes and applesauce), some spicy wood sap, green tobacco, and orange peel join in the onrush of whisky flavour that threatens to batter the taste buds. Tempering the full throttle of oak and rye however, are sweet accents of honeycomb, toffee, maple and hints of chocolate …”
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You may read about the Top 25 Canadian Whisky Countdown here:
The Rum Howler 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies, Canadian Whisky, Lot No. 40, Review, Rum howler, Whisky | Comments Off on The Rum Howler’s #10 Canadian Whisky of 2015 – Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still
Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 14, 2015
According to my correspondence with the media company responsible for, Gibson’s Finest Whisky, the Gibson’s Finest brand is produced from of two sources: a base grain whisky (which would be a corn-based column still whisky), and a blend of rye based flavouring whisky which contains rye and malted barley (distilled by a single column still and a pot still). When aging their whisky, Gibson’s Finest uses a variety of barrels: ex-bourbon barrels, new oak barrels, etc. The ratio of each barrel-type used can differ from batch to batch because the whisky is blended to a specific taste profile rather than to a specific barrel regimen.
Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old Whisky is limited to a production of not more than 12,000 bottles per year. All of the whisky in the blend, is of course 18 years old or more, and it is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.
Here is a link to the Rum Howler #11 Canadian Whisky of 2015:
“… the clean oak spice that poured into the breezes above the glass is the centerpiece of the whisky. It is hot with rye spice and white pepper; but the spiciness brings along just enough flavours of caramel, butterscotch, maple, and canned fruit (apricot and pear) to make this a joyous ride through the glass. The rye brings me impressions of ginger and cardamom. I sense waving fields of ripened rye and barley in the foreground, and more distant fields of ripened corn in the background …”
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You may read about the Top 25 Canadian Whisky Countdown here:
The Rum Howler 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies, Canadian Whisky, Gibson's Finest Whisky, Review, Rum howler, Whisky | Comments Off on The Rum Howler’s #11 Canadian Whisky of 2015 – Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old
Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 14, 2015
When the Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition Rye Whisky hit the store shelves in June of 2011 it caused quite a furor. A fully aged 30 Year Old whisky (the oldest 100 % Rye Whisky ever produced) and it was on sale in most retail locations for a ridiculously low $49.95. Within weeks of its release the 30 Year Old Whisky was sold out almost everywhere.
I still have a few bottles which I treasure, and although they were inexpensive, I prize them as highly (or perhaps maybe even more highly) than my much more expensive well aged Single Malt scotches. That is because this whisky is simply better than almost every one of them. Price does not dictate quality, care and attention do. And this whisky is the proof of that.
Here is a link to my review of the #11 Spirit in my Rum Howler 2015 Top 100 Spirits Countdown:
“… I was greeted with a wonderful mellow rye accented by caramel oak syrup! I have tasted so many aged spirits where the oak turns to bitter sap and smothers the other flavours, but not here. Instead the oak has melted into the rye creating a subdued, sweet and spicy elixir that has my mouth begging for another sip. And under it all is that accent of corn holding the oak and rye together. But there is much more …”
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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirit
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 100 % Rye, 30 Year Old, Alberta Premium, Review, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits, Whisky | Comments Off on #11 Alberta Premium 30 Year Old (Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 13, 2015
Canadian Club Whisky is now the oldest (and probably the most influential) Canadian Whisky brand in the world. It is found in over 150 countries, with sales in Canada that are unmatched by any other premium whisky brand. Recently Canadian Club (owned by Beam Suntory) launched a new 100% rye grain whisky, Canadian Club Chairman’s Select – 100% Rye. It is of course produced exclusively from rye grain, distilled (and almost certainly aged) in Calgary by Alberta Distillers Ltd (who are also owned by Beam Suntory). The Chairman’s Select is aged in American Oak (bourbon barrels), cut to bottling strength (40 % abv) and then bottled in Walkerville Ontario, the home of Canadian Club.
Here is a link to the Rum Howler #12 Canadian Whisky of 2015
“… As it should be, the Chairman’s Select 100 % Rye whisky is very rye forward with lots of fine peppery wood spice dancing with that rye in the breezes. Melded into the spicy rye is a lovely light sweetness of butterscotch with a gentle sweep of vanilla and a few bits of almond. I also receive strong impressions of freshly harvested grain fields with dusty chaff blowing in the wind and lots of fresh straw lying in the windrows …”
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You may read about the Top 25 Canadian Whisky Countdown here:
The Rum Howler 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 100 % Rye, 2015 Top 25 Canadian Whiskies, Canadian Club, Canadian Whisky, Chairman's Select, Review, Rum howler, Whisky | Comments Off on The Rum Howler’s #12 Canadian Whisky of 2015 – Chairman’s Select – 100% Rye
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