Review: Bearface Whisky Wilderness Series Matsutake Release 01   (85.5/100)
a review by Chip Dykstra
Posted on September 09, 2023

Bearface Whisky Wilderness Series Matsutake Release 01 is owned by Mark Anthony Wine and Spirits. The company does not have its own distillery for making whisky so to make their Bearface brand they begin with Canadian single grain whisky from an undisclosed outside source.  In creating their Matsuktake limited edition whisky, they first mature the whisky in ex-wine casks and sherry pipes in shipping containers that have been placed in the Canadian wilderness in a process they call ‘Elemental Ageing’. The whisky is then finished in a Cask which contains Matsutake Mushrooms.

To write this review I was working with a small sample which had been sent to me as part of a Whisky judging competition. The sample was judged without knowing what it was and my brief notes for the spirit are the basis for my scoring. After the competition I re-tasted the spirit to confirm the tasting notes and added to them as required.

In The Bottle 4.5/5

Bearface Whisky Wilderness Series Matsutake Release is sold in the medium-tall somewhat stout whisky bottle shown to the left. The closure is corked which elevates the look of the spirit on the whisky shelf as does the bear claw scratch pattern on the face (which serves the duel purpose of making the bottle easier to grab and hold.

I like that the neck is mid-length which makes the spirit easy to pour. Too many of these stubby bottles have a short stubby neck which cause the whisky to tumble out earlier than you expect and often results is s little spillage.

Labeling is kept simple, which is a great idea as this helps to accentuate the bear claw scratch pattern which actually encroaches on the white label.

In The Glass  8.5/10

Colour: Amber

Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla, almond and spice (grain spice and cinnamon). Orange peel moving to marmalade, canned apricots and hints of creamed corn. As you let the glass breathe the scents and smells deepen with both tobacco and hints of milk chocolate and vanilla pudding evolving.

In The Mouth 51/60

Initial Sip:  Heated with both grain spice and alcohol. The heat stays at the front end combined with baking spices (vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon).  This heat is soon swamped by a pleasing butterscotch sweetness.

Palate: Some leathery bitterness and tobacco, oodles of butterscotch with light hints of menthol, vanilla, almond turning to marzipan, apricot brandy, peaches and green apples.

Over ice this is a nice sipper with a creamy mouthfeel.

In The Throat 13/15

The mouthfeel is soft and the finish long making this a very satisfying dram.

The Afterburn 8.5/10

Bearface Whisky Wilderness Series Matsutake Release o1 is a pleasant dram. After I tasted the whisky, I was surprised to learn of the Matsutake Mushroom enhancement. There was nothing in my tasting notes which would lead me to believe that the whisky has been infused with the wilderness ingredient. In the subsequent re-tasting, I had a similar experience. Obviously the infusion of Matsutake Mushroom creates a flavour that I am either blind too or that is very subtle.

What is more important to me than the mushroom infusion, is that my experience with the dram was very positive. This is a good whisky which I enjoyed thoroughly!

You may read some of my other Whisky Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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As always you may interpret the scores I provide as follows.

0-25 A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49 Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59 You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69 Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74 Now we have a fair mixing rum or whisky.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79 You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84 We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89 Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94 Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+ I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be more familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)