Happy Canada Day Week!
This week Canada celebrated their 146 Canada day (celebrated July 1), so I’m using this opportunity to review this week some Canadian Whisky samples I received from #whiskyfabric member and the unofficial Canadian whisky ambassador Johanne McInnis (check her blog here: theperfectwhiskymatch.blogspot.ca). Johanne heard my sad confession I never had Canadian whisky and before you could say 3 “jumping jack” in a row, she sent me 3 samples, so lots of thanks Johanne 🙂
The first one I tasted was Lot No. 40
Lot No 40 is produced by Corby Distilleries at Hiram Walker distillery in Ontario. This is a 100% Rye whisky (90% non malted and 10% is malted) and It’s mostly 7 – 8 years old whisky.
So how was my first Canadian whisky dram?
Lot No. 40 43%, 2012 Edition
Nose: Rough alcohol punch, lots of pine wood notes (which I understand is the rye trademark). Lots of Caramel/burned sugar. Spices led by cinnamon and even some slight solvent note as well.
Palate: Initially a harsh and sour pine wood, menthol, spices again, some background vanilla.
Finish: medium length, bitter, spices, some slight metallic note
Conclusion: No doubt this is Rye whisky. It’s quite funky and very different then your average scotch whisky, as Joanne said: “Canadian Whisky is not Scotch. It’s Canadian”
e acrid notes at first, peat, brine, oily smell, vanilla. lots of punch here due to high ABV. initially some weak sherry notes but dissipated with time, sweet layer below the peat, not much wood showing. after a while some chocolate fudge and salty lemon/citrus
Nose: fruity and sherry influenced, raisins, pineapple. Background layer of honey and vanilla, definitly have some liquerish feeling to it, also some beeswax and plums notes. After few minutes in glass we have spices and honey with dash of lemon
Nose: ooh, this one is young and kicking whisky – lots of vanilla, honey, sweet citrus and oaky wood notes, chocolate fudge, quite punchy at first, then relax in glass. Very fresh and light dram. After a while in the glass showing strong notes of new make spirit
Nose
Nose: Comparing to the 1997 above, much more restrained – less fruity and heavier. The Vanilla and honey notes shows some muscle here. nail varnish, some sherry-like notes of sultanas and red berries, cinnamon, peat that crawls to the front over time
Nose: Starts with strong varnish and wax notes, then malty, zesty spices, old dusty wood. Some sherry notes dropped here and there like lightly dripping rain. Spices and fruity. After a while tobacco too, old leather, cocoa and some background light peat. then after another a minute or two, some bananas notes. it’s crazy stuff!
Whisky Gospel 