Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve

New Year’s 2012 thanks to Canadian whisky lovers and whisky makers, and to the promoters and sponsors of the Victoria Whisky Festival, Savour Stratford, The Spirit of Toronto, and Whisky Live, who have supported CanadianWhisky.org in 2011.

Hot on the heels of winning Connoisseur Whisky of the Year – Multiple Markets, in the 2010 Canadian Whisky Awards, Forty Creek Confederation Oak is now Malt Advocate’s Canadian Whisky of the Year.

The City of Waterloo Museum’s latest exhibit, Initial Success: 100 Years of V.O. Whisky, showcases the 100-year history of one of Canada’s best known whiskies. The exhibition continues from Oct. 2, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, my Canadian whisky book, will be published May 8, 2012 by McClelland & Stewart and distributed by Random House.

Packed to travel and sealed for freshness, The Alberta Whisky Cake, in malted maple and whisky runner chocolate, is a most toothsome ways for a traveler to remember Alberta.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, written by Canadian author, Davin de Kergommeaux has been named Canada’s Best Spirits Book of 2012.

Beam Inc. will sell Lord Calvert Canadian and Canada House Canadian whisky to Luxco.

Corby Distillers and the Globe and Mail, are co-sponsoring a high-end tasting event to draw attention to my book Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert. Sample Wiser’s Small Batch; Legacy; Pike Creek; and Lot 40.

Doug Philips has 999 bottles of bourbon in his collection and more on the way. Doug also appreciates malt whisky. Marty Kari is no slouch with single malts either. And both LOVE their bourbon.

BÜZE Magazine – the world’s first interactive all drinks publication is now available in the iTunes Store.

Canadian Club readies for the Canadian whisky renaissance with two flavoured whiskies (spiced and blackberry) and two ready-to-drink versions, one based on cola and the other on ginger ale.

Eight adventurers set off for The Kingdom of Tonga with leader and thirsty traveler Kevin Brauch in search of a case of Canadian Club whisky hidden there as part of the ‘Hide A Case’ brand promotion campaign.

Queen Elizabeth II of England was the fifth in her line to grant a royal warrant (now withdrawn) to Canadian Club whisky. Will King George V of Tonga restore this honour to the much-storied distillery with his warrant?

Post-911 legislation forbids visitors to plants that ship goods into the U.S. by road, so visitors are not welcome at Canadian distilleries. Look inside Hiram Walker’s, Canadian Mist, Forty Creek, Valleyfield, and Glenora.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to get dear ol’ dad some amazing new whisky from a long forgotten category. Think Caribou Crossing Single Barrel and Royal Canadian Small Batch.

Davin de Kergommeaux takes readers on a journey through the first systematic presentation of Canadian whisky: how it’s made, who makes it, why it tastes the way it does, its history, and the rich, centuries-old folklore surrounding it.

Father’s Day shopping for the man who has everything just became a whole lot easier at Chapters and Indigo book stores. Canada’s nationwide bookseller is recommending Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert for fathers this year.

The Canadian Whisky Awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies of 2010, including Wiser’s Legacy, Forty Creek Confederation Oak, Caribou Crossing, Canadian Club, Crown Royal Black, and White Owl Whisky.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Award of Excellence – Brand Extension. Diageo Canada, Crown Royal Black.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Award of Excellence – Canadian Whisky Profile. Beam Global, Canadian Club.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky of the Year, Domestic Market. Wiser’s Legacy.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky, Export Market. Caribou Crossing Single Barrel.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky of the Year, Multiple Markets. Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Award of Excellence – Innovation of the Year. Highwood Distillers, White Owl Whisky.

Canadian Whisky Awards 2011. Whisky of the year: Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1. Canada’s award winning whiskies: Canadian Club, White Owl, Masterson’s, Gibson’s Finest, Wiser’s Small Batch, Wiser’s Legacy, & Collingwood. Special recognition to 20 successful years of Glen Breton.

Canada’s Top whiskies for 2012 honoured at Canadian Whisky Awards. – These are the best Canadian Whiskies of 2012.

Lot No. 40, a whisky that was first distilled seven generations ago has been named the Canadian Whisky of the Year Award at the fourth annual Canadian Whisky Awards held in Victoria BC, January 16, 2014.

From hundreds of new spirits books published in 2012, Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is one of five to compete for Best Spirits Book in The World at the Gourmand International Book Awards to be held in Paris February 23, 2013.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert has been selected as the Wine, Beer, or Spirits book of 2012 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. The prize was announced at an awards ceremony held last night in San Francisco.

Sun Network’s Brian Lilley, wonders why Canadian whisky doesn’t get more respect at home.

Western Canada whisky tour to Shelter Point, Victoria Spirits, the ghosts of Potter’s and Canadian Club west, Okanagan Spirits, Black Velvet, Highwood, Alberta Distillers, and Gimli

Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve – 2012 Edition from whisky maker, John K. Hall has been named Canadian Whisky of the Year in the 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards.

This little book may be portable, but make no mistake, it is chock full of fantastic info. Great stories and excellent history. Very thorough yet easy to read.

For the next four Sundays sign on to #DavinTT2 on Twitter for a Canadian whisky tasting, discussion and treasure hunt. Please join us on Twitter at 3:00 PM Eastern time on December 1, 8, 15, & 22, 2013.

A series of six videos from John Hall’s Kitting Ridge Distillery along with clips from Glen Breton, Wiser’s, Canadian Club, Black Velvet, Crown Royal, Still Waters, and Phillips of Revel Stoke fame. Laugh and learn!

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Luxury Canadian Whisky is turning heads in the whiskey world; Gift box makes it ideal for the gift giving season (press release.)

Eric Morham, president of Constellation Brands’ Canadian business will retire and Ben Dollard, SVP International will succeed Morham in the leadership role. Constellation owns the Black Velvet and Danfield’s brands.

What a year 2012 has turned out to be! It seems that nearly every distillery had Christmas giving in mind when they came up with their new releases. Danfield’s, Black Velvet, Alberta Premium, Masterson’s, Highwood, Still Waters, Collingwood, Forty Creek, Lot 40, Pike Creek, Wiser’s, Gibson’s . . .

Whisky, rum and spirits expert, Dave Broom has been named top communicator of 2013 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. A writer and educator, Broom is the world’s leading expert on whisky, rum and spirits.

Dave Broom, a contributing editor for Whisky Magazine, and a leading authority on whisky, rum, cognac and cocktails is introducing a comprehensive on-line whisky appreciation course called The World Masterclass. Here is an opportunity to tap into Broom’s vast knowledge.

To my knowledge, Dave Broom’s new book, The World Atlas of Whisky, is the first major whisky book to include a comprehensive chapter about Canadian whisky written by a Canadian whisky enthusiast.

A directory of all known craft distilleries in Canada, that operate their own still and have product for sale to the public. Starting a distillery? Your biggest asset is a detailed business plan.

From the vestiges of Seagram’s, and the world’s southern-most whisky producer, New Zealand’s rare and acclaimed Dunedin Distillery 10 year old DoubleWood has landed on LCBO shelves.

Let every whisky lover raise a dram – wherever in the world he or she may be – to honour the many unsung heroes, past and present, who have been crafting the King O’ Drinks for centuries.

Ask anyone in the Irish diaspora what distinguishes Irish whiskey, and you’ll get a lecture.They’ll rhyme off a whole list of things that make it special. But nine times out of ten, most of what they tell you will be wrong.

Kittling Ridge Estate Wines & Spirits, has re-branded as Forty Creek Distillery, effective August 2012.

Italy’s Gruppo Campari will buy 100% of Forty Creek Distillery. John Hall will remain as whisky maker and chairman of the company. A small to medium-sized distillery with three stills, Forty Creek has capacity to make about 555,000 cases of whisky annually.

Forty Creek whiskies continue their winning streak with double gold at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Whisky maker, John Hall calls this his Forty Creek Gold Rush.

Heart of Gold, a limited edition of 9,000, individually numbered bottles, will be available beginning September 28, 2013. Forty Creek fans may reserve their numbered bottles between Monday, May 27th and Friday, June 21st, 2013.

On Sept 28 & 29, John K. Hall will crack the seal on Forty Creek Heart of Gold, a skillfully crafted new whisky at an open house weekend at the Forty Creek distillery in Grimsby.

It’s a September tradition for Kittling Ridge Distillery to release a limited edition Forty Creek whisky and a May tradition for people to visit the Forty Creek website to sign up for a numbered bottle or two. This year’s release is called John’s Private Cask No. 1.

I found an old bottle of whisky in my grandfather’s garage. How much is it worth? What is the best whisky in Canada? How much does a Texas Mickey cost? Does Canadian whisky have gluten in it?

The 2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) honoured Gibson’s Finest with three coveted awards. The Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old earned the highest rating of all Canadian Whiskies taking home a Gold Award.

Glenora Distillers, producer of Canada’s Most Famous Single Malt Whisky has been accorded highest awards in a series of recent international competitions.

No thanks, in 2013 I only drink Canadian! Wishing everyone who visits CanadianWhisky.Org a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

This new video from Hiram Walker Distillery gives a good overview of how Canadian whisky is made and what makes it unique.

Canadian Mist Black Diamond will launch in the United States later this month. – A richer, more robust expression of Canadian Mist is on the way.

Introducing Collingwood Canadian Whisky, the only Canadian whisky mellowed in toasted maple wood. New from Brown-Forman February 2011.

Crown Royal has introduced a new version of their XR Canadian whisky using the last remaining stocks from the long-defunct distillery in LaSalle Quebec. Who knew this whisky even existed?

Tapping into the growing trend of flavored whisky, Hood River Distillers, Inc. announces the launch of SinFire™ Cinnamon Whisky. The “SinFire” name instantly lets the drinker know they are in for a unique, sweet yet sizzling experience.

TAP 357 is a new premium maple-flavored Canadian rye whisky. This small-batch whisky is a marriage of two purely Canadian flavors: rye and maple. New in February 2012 from Van Gogh Imports in Orlando Florida.

Wiser’s DeLuxe Canadian Whiskey – Yes, McCormick Distilling Company is bringing the Canadian Whiskey legend to Texas.

It’s safe to say there was no pagoda atop the Kinclaith Distillery, no quaint dunnage warehouses with earthen floors and blackened, low, stone walls. Kinclaith was part of a big, ugly, industrial complex. Yet in its 17 short years some much-sought-after Scotch malts were put to cask.

According to The Fake AP Handbook you don’t spell whisky, you savour it. However, millions of know it alls would smugly disagree.

Canadian Whisky has been nominated for a 2010 Canadian Food Blog Award in the Wine & Spirits category. So have Billy’s Best Bottles, Cellar Door, Vin Arts Enterprises, and The Jolly Inebriate. The winner is announced, January 31!

The 2012 Malt Whisky Yearbook is rich in the latest single malt whisky information and is beautifully illustrated with more than 500 new colour photos of all of malt whiskydom.

All in all – the most updated malt whisky book on the market!

Thorough, detailed and up to date, The Malt Whisky Yearbook is a goldmine of malt whisky facts and figures. As more Canadian malt whiskies become available, Ingvar Ronde and his Yearbook will be there to tell the world about them.

Since Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert was published people ask me more about writing than about whisky. My book blossomed after Dave Broom included me in his World Atlas of Whisky, and Dominic Roskrow in his two books, 1001 Whiskies to Taste Before You Die, and The Whisky Opus.

Introducing Proof Whisky, a new Canadian whisky from Toronto’s Proof Brands, that has been showing up quietly on LCBO shelves for the past couple of weeks.

The new Chicken Cock whisky bears little resemblance to the original, but the name is so eye-catching it was only a matter of waiting until someone revived it.

Government-subsidized rum war threatens small Caribbean rum producers.

Conservative James Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake, today introduced a private member’s bill to reduce federal excise duties on spirits by $1.00 per litre of absolute alcohol. ★★★★★

Sazerac Company has agreed to purchase McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian whisky, from Corby Distilleries Limited.

Sazerac encourages gift givers to go Canadian for Father’s Day 2012 with Royal Canadian Small Batch and Caribou Crossing Canadian whisky.

Sazerac Introduces R&R Reserve To Fast-Growing Rich and Rare Line Up –
The Way Great Canadian Whisky Used to Taste

The former Seagram museum in Waterloo, Ontario, will step back in time on January 29 to celebrate the home-coming of Seagram’s New Zealand whisky, a long-lost child of Canada’s former distilling empire.

Shelter Point Distillery is making history by releasing its inaugural Canadian Whisky Cask Offer to the public. Shelter Point makes traditional Scottish-style single malt on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Hood River Distillers, Inc. Scores Two Silver Medals in the Canadian Whisky Awards
1910 Rye Whisky and SinFire™ Cinnamon Whisky Earn Industry Acclaim

Eight years ago, Johanna Ngoh founded the popular Spirit of Toronto whisky show, held each May at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. In 2002 she began publishing a whisky fanzine called Single Minded™. Single Minded™ is now back as Johanna’s full-colour, annual guide to really good whisky. Just $15.00.

Vaughan, Ontario, May 23, 2014 – Still Waters Distillery announces the release of its STALK & BARREL SINGLE MALT WHISKY at the LCBO. This is the first Single Malt Whisky to be distilled, aged and bottled in Ontario.

Long-time chums, Barry Bernstein and Barry Stein are making single malt Canadian whisky at their Still Waters distillery in Concord, Ontario. And now they have opened a shop at the distillery.

Still Waters Distillery has released it’s first mature single malt whisky. Stalk & Barrel was drawn from the first few casks of whisky made at the distillery in 2009 and is bottled at natural cask strength.

What? Vodka on a whisky site? Yes, this is Still Waters Single Malt Vodka – it’s vodka made from the same spirit that is slowly maturing into Still Waters Single Malt Whisky. We thought you should know. ★★★★★

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is on the short list for the 2013 Taste Canada Book Awards.

A list of some of my favourite Canadian whiskies of 2012 and 2013. If I made this list over again it would probably include different whiskies.

Follow canadianwhisky.org as it Goes on the Road to Find the Essence of Canadian Rye Whisky Tasting Old Crown Royal, WhistlePig, Lot 40, and Wiser’s Legacy.

A month of discussing the book, Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert will wrap up on Sunday, May 26, 2013, at 3:00 eastern time. Search for #DavinTT on Twitter and join us!

Whisky making traditions have changed radically over the years. Take your pick and you can prove just about anything is traditional (or isn’t.)

Thirteen favourite Canadian Whiskies to make Christmas 2011 just that much more special: Canadian Club, Collingwood, Crown Royal, Royal Canadian Small Batch, White Owl, Pendleton, Danfield’s Alberta Premium, Wiser’s, Masterson’s, Forty Creek, Gibson’s, & Glen Breton.

Make this the perfect Father’s Day with a gift Dad can enjoy all year round.

Join whisky fans from around the globe on Twitter this Sunday, May 19, at 3:00 Eastern time as they discuss Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, and raise a dram of Canadian whisky. Go to #DavinTT on Twitter at 3:00 Eastern time this Sunday to take part.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, book review and Canadian whisky tasting on Twitter at 3:00 Eastern time, Sunday. May 12, 2013. Join us on Twitter at #DavinTT

There was plenty of good whisky around in his time. So what was Sir John A.’s tipple? What was his drink of choice? Rye? Champagne? Gin? Read on.

Whimsical “whisdom” from Canadian Club: Never send beer to do a whisky’s job; Everything in moderation. Except bacon; Drafts are best suited for fantasy football – order a Canadian Club Whisky.

Dave Pickerell is a true icon of the American whisky industry so when he declares Canada as the source of the world’s very best rye whisky, that’s news to be shouted from the rooftops.

There are two kinds of distillers: Those who make whisky, and those who pretend to make whisky. Why do the people who bottle WhistlePig insist on pretending it’s American straight rye?

Is Canadian whisky really “rye”? You bet it is, and that’s the way it has been for some 200 years now.

To mark the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey today, William Grant & Sons mixologist, Charlotte Voisey, has created a honeymoon cocktail featuring Gibson’s Finest Canadian Whisky.

Expertly crafted, blended to perfection and made in Canada – an ideal gift for the whisky enthusiast. Available in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia in time for Christmas.

John Philip Wiser, distiller. Born October 4, 1825, Trenton, New York; died April 30, 1911, Prescott, Ontario. Legacy: Wiser’s family of great Canadian whiskeys and now a brand new one.

Wiser’s Legacy has won Canadian Whisky of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s fifth annual World Whiskies Awards.