Review: Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt – Peated Release No. 12    (84/100)
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted On March 8, 2020

In 2009, the folks at Yukon Brewing decided that it was time to expand their horizons, and so they grabbed a still, formed the Yukon Spirits Company, and began to make whisky. When I first learned about this a few years ago I was a little surprised. The Yukon is quite a ways north and it is not a place where you would naturally think of folks making beer, let alone whisky. Then again it just might have been the perfect place for both the start-up beer and spirits companies. You see up in the North, they like to support one another, and it wasn’t long before Yukon Brewing and Yukon Spirits were doing a nice business supplying northern communities.

Their whisky is made in small batches which they release one at a time. Each release is made with a variety of malted roasted grains, using different fermentation techniques and a mixes of different barrels. The goal is that no two releases are the same, so that as each expression emerges, it is layered and complex and probably never to be repeated. Having said that the releases can normally be slotted to fit into one of four specific categories: Classic, Peated, Special Finishes, and Innovative.

A few years ago I reviewed  Yukon Brewers Peated Single Malt Release No. 3 (here). Today I am revisiting their Peated Releases by taking a look at their recent Peated Release No. 12.

In the Bottle 4.5/5

As you can see from the bottle shot to the right, the folks at Yukon Spirits do a fine job with their whisky presentation, A corked bottle with a mid-length neck (for easy pouring) and a fine-looking stubby bottle (for easy storage) that fits easily in the hand. The labeling looks smart and attractive, and rudimentary tasting notes are right on the light orange band to guide the consumer. Well Done!

Note this is the bottle shot for Release 1, Two Brewers uses the same style of bottle and label for each Single Malt Release.

(Note: Release No. 12 is each bottled at 43 % abv.)

In The Glass  8.5/10

The whisky shows us a golden hue in the glass with immediate aromas of herbal grassy peat underlain with a mild malt sweetness. The style of peat features an oily muskiness which almost reminds me of cod liver oil. A damp swamp is hinted at with boggy willow and herbal grass. It is nice that the malt whisky within the dram is able to break free and show us some of its grain spice and malt characteristics in the breezes as well.

In the Mouth   50.5/60

The entry is smooth; however there is a bit of an astringent kick at the back end which seems to indicate some younger whisky in the mix. The mild herbal peat seems to dominate the flavour; but as it was on the nose, some oak and grain spice breaks through as does a light malty sweetness, Vanilla and almond join in as the dram seems to find more balance as you let it breathe.

I am able to sip the dram comfortably, although I was hoping for more complexity and structure.

In The Throat   12.5/20

This is a medium bodied whisky with a herbal finish. The touch of astringency I noted in the delivery has disappeared and we are left with a lingering honeyed sweetness mingled with herbal peat and menthol.

The Afterburn   8/10

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt – Peated Releases No. 13 is a pleasant dram. The peat is not overdone which allows the underlying malt flavours of the whisky to shine through. I am not sure of the age of this dram but based on the light complexity, my guess would be 5 years or so, although some younger whisky is hinted at. Additional time in the barrel would allow the spirit to develop more which would allow the score to travel upwards.

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)