Pike Creek Canadian Whisky (Port Finish)

January 27, 2020January 28, 2020 The Scotch NoobReviews1 Comment 14012 views

Pike Creek is another in a spate of Canadian whisky brand revivals along with Lot 40 and Gooderham & Worts from Corby Distillers. From 2012 until 2016 or so, Pike Creek was available as a 10 year-old Port Finish edition in Canada and a Port Finish edition in the US which is only aged 7 years, although this is not disclosed on the label. The US version is younger because the producer felt that demand for the new brand would outstrip supply. Thanks, Canada.

Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve

December 30, 2019December 28, 2019 The Scotch NoobReviews2 Comments 15034 views

Forty Creek’s Confederation Oak Reserve was making noise in whisky circles a half-decade ago. “The rebirth of Canadian whisky” and similar phrases were bandied about. I regret now that I didn’t taste it at the time, because maybe the heady air of mass shared public delusion might have improved the experience. Also, before you start digging out your Dixie flags…

Treaty Oak “Red Handed” Rye (10 year)

November 26, 2018February 11, 2019 The Scotch NoobReviewsLeave a comment 12246 views

The rye has a bit higher ABV at 50%, and an actual age statement at a resounding 10 years. That’s pretty high for rye in the current market. A bit of digging revealed that this rye is from the Schenley distillery, at a mashbill of 53% rye, 39% corn and 8% barley. I spent a little too much time researching this, as the name Schenley is both a storied name in American whiskey and also awash with confusion…

J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky (18 year)

August 21, 2017September 12, 2017 The Scotch NoobReviews23 Comments 13389 views

…a Hiram Walker brand previously known as Wiser’s Very Old. It is a blended Canadian whisky, meaning a blend of grain whiskies (rye optional). The components are mashed, distilled, and aged separately, and then blended together in batches for bottling. The 18 is bottled at an anemic 40% ABV.

Canadian Club 100% Rye

December 26, 2016December 29, 2016 The Scotch NoobReviews10 Comments 8747 views

Canadian Club 100% rye is distilled by Alberta Distillers … although the Canadian Club brand is owned by Beam-Suntory. The 100% rye whisky is aged in a combination of casks: brand new American white oak barrels, previously-used bourbon barrels, and barrels that previously held Canadian whisky. The resulting batches are bottled at 40% ABV.

Alberta Rye Dark Batch Canadian Whisky

July 18, 2016July 16, 2016 The Scotch NoobReviews6 Comments 7094 views

We have something unique here, people. Everyone knows that some scotch is aged in sherry barrels (some of which are “wet” with residual liquid sherry), but who puts actually sherry in the vat with the whisky? Who’s actually allowed to do that? Canadian distillers, that’s who.

Forty Creek Barrel Select

April 11, 2016December 30, 2019 The Scotch NoobReviews12 Comments 15599 views

The entry-level product from the upstart Canadian distillery, Forty Creek. As it’s positioned as a direct competitor to the entry-level Crown Royal, the flavor profile makes sense. It definitely tastes like a “higher end” Crown for not much more money. It’s also cheap enough to mix with. Forty Creek ages their copper pot-still components (rye, corn, and barley) in separate barrels and then carefully blends them together for the final product, an unusual approach.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

February 1, 2016January 31, 2016 The Scotch NoobReviews17 Comments 10433 views

The Northern Harvest Rye bottling itself is a blended Canadian whisky comprising a high percentage (90%) of rye. (Most Canadian whisky contains rye, to some extent.) The packaging claims the rye used is from fields that over-winter under cover of snow which, we’re expected to believe, leads to smoother whisky. The result is bottled at 45% ABV. That’s pretty much all Crown has revealed. So, am I about to taste the world’s best whiskey?

J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Rye Whisky

January 26, 2015March 23, 2015 The Scotch NoobReviews13 Comments 13952 views

till, with the word ‘rye’ on the label you’d expect a little spice or something. The sweet flavors are artificial, and the whisky flavors so light as to be ignorable. I suppose you could mix drinks with it, but unless you’re allergic to flavor, a similarly-priced bourbon is likely to give you more bang for your whiskey buck in any cocktail.

Lot 40 Canadian Rye Whisky 2012 Release

March 3, 2014March 31, 2015 The Scotch NoobReviews23 Comments 14101 views

This isn’t saying much, but this is the best Canadian whisky I’ve ever had. It’s also the best nose I’ve ever smelled on anything with rye in it. Hell, I’ll say it, it’s even better (on the nose) than anything from Van Winkle.