I happened to go over my tasting notes and seems like I forgot to post tasting notes for one of the whiskies from Dramming.com Freestyle Blind Tasting competition.
I guessed it to be some american whisky (got the right continent!) and 40% (spot on!). Ranked it as 4th out of 5 in the competition. Here are the tasting notes: Continue reading
It’s still Canada week and it’s time for the last part of this week special of Canada whisky.
The first one (Lot No. 40) is here
The second one (Alberta Premium Dark Horse) is here
This time we’re going for Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve.
This is quite a unique whisky since it’s prepared using barrels made of Canadian Oak. It’s the same Oak specie as American Oak (Quercus alba), but since it’s grown in Canada, where weather is much colder and harsher, the growth is slower and it produces denser wood, which in turn leads to more condensed flavours and different set of oak impact.
Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve, lot #1867B, bottle #02815 (3yo, 40%)
Nose: despite low ABV there’s a huge alcohol punch at first, then strong vanilla notes comes up, creamy, sweet maple, oranges notes develops over time.
Palate: strong butterscotch at first, then sweet maple and vanilla punch, very chewy which dissipate into combination of sweet and sour fruits
Finish: medium long, leaving tingling burning sensation at the back of the mouth which gradually turns into final featherlight wood notes
Conclusion: Unlike previous 2 Canadian expressions, this one isn’t Rye Whisky and is more like bourbon/whisky combo. Very rich and yummy expression.
This is the 2nd Canadian Whisky I review in celebration of Canada Day that was held this week.
The first one (Lot No. 40) is here
This time we go for Alberta Premium Dark Horse. This is quite a new expression (2012) and is following a very successful Alberta Premium expression. This is a mingling of 12-year-old rye whisky and 6-year-old small pot rye. Dark Horse also has an 8% dollop of well-aged corn whisky added to flesh out the body. The whisky is aged in heavily charred American white oak barrels, and is bottled at 45% ABV.
So how this Rye Whisky compares to Lot No. 40?
Alberta Premium Dark Horse (45%)
Nose: Strong pine wood notes (Rye), gentler and rounded then Lot No. 40, background bourbony vanilla notes, sweet caramel, some rubbery note too. Lovely nose!
Palate: Sweet and creamy, pine wood/rye, spicey – ginger, peppery, nutmug, the whole 9 yards
Finish: medium-long, menthol, pinewood, some lingering sweet notes.
Conclusion: It’s not harsh like the Lot No. 40 and is a nicely balanced Rye Whisky. Sweet but not overly so. Very good dram and when a full-sized bottle costs merely $35 it’s a huge winner in the bang for the buck isle. Really saddening it’s not globally widepsread, so if you see it for sale outside Canada, grab one and thank me later.
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”
Whisky Gospel 