> 2011 Thank Yous and Happy 2012
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.
> 40 Creek – Malt Advocate’s Canadian Whisky of the Year
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.
> Canadian Club Hide a Case in Tonga
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.
> Canadian Club Whisky for the King of Tonga?
Queen Elizabeth II of England was the fifth in her line to grant a royal warrant (now withdrawn) to Canadian Club whisky.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?
> Canadian Feature in Whisky Magazine 98
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.
> Canadian Whisky – the Comeback Category
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.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2010
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 – Brand Extension
Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Award of Excellence – Brand Extension. Diageo Canada, Crown Royal Black.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Canadian Whisky Profile
Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Award of Excellence – Canadian Whisky Profile. Beam Global, Canadian Club.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky, Domestic
Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky of the Year, Domestic Market. Wiser’s Legacy.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky, Export
Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky, Export Market. Caribou Crossing Single Barrel.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky, Multi-Market
Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Connoisseur Whisky of the Year, Multiple Markets. Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Innovation
Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 – Award of Excellence – Innovation of the Year. Highwood Distillers, White Owl Whisky.
> Canadian Whisky Awards 2011
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.
> Canadian Whisky Feature in Whisky Magazine #90
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
> Canadian Whisky Videos
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 TOASTS THE HOLIDAYS
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.)
> Dave Broom’s World Masterclass
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.
> Dave Broom: The World Atlas of Whisky
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.
> Five Myths about Irish Whiskey
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.
> Forty Creek Gold Rush continues
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.
> Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1
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.
> Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old Wins Gold
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.
> Glen Breton Wins Prestigious Awards
Glenora Distillers, producer of Canada’s Most Famous Single Malt Whisky has been accorded highest awards in a series of recent international competitions.
> Introducing Canadian Mist Black Diamond (43% alc./vol.)
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
Introducing Collingwood Canadian Whisky, the only Canadian whisky mellowed in toasted maple wood. New from Brown-Forman February 2011.
> Introducing Wiser’s Whiskey For Austin Texas
Wiser’s DeLuxe Canadian Whiskey – Yes, McCormick Distilling Company is bringing the Canadian Whiskey legend to Texas.
> Looking Good Made Easy
In 6 to 8 weeks a new internet magazine called ‘flave’ will launch. It’s kind of a “user manual for being a guy” magazine. And who better to grace the cover than Edmonton’s Rum Howlin’ Arctic Wolf, Chip Dykstra. (Humour)
> Malt Maniacs, Canadian Food Blog Awards, & Happy 2011
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!
> Malt Whisky Yearbook 2012
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.
> Sazerac Acquires McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky
Sazerac Company has agreed to purchase McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian whisky, from Corby Distilleries Limited.
> Sazerac Introduces R&R Reserve Canadian Whisky
Sazerac Introduces R&R Reserve To Fast-Growing Rich and Rare Line Up –
The Way Great Canadian Whisky Used to Taste
> Shelter Point Cask Offer
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.
> Still Waters Distillery
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 Single Malt Vodka Wins Gold
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. ★★★★★
> The Essence of Canadian Rye
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.
> The Twelve Whiskies of Christmas
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.
> WhistlePig 10 year old Straight 100% Rye Whiskey
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.
> Wills & Kate’s Honeymoon Cocktail
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.
> Wiser’s Legacy ultra premium rye – press release
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.
> Wiser’s Legacy Canadian Rye Whisky (45% alc./vol.)
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 wins in World Whiskies Awards
Wiser’s Legacy has won Canadian Whisky of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s fifth annual World Whiskies Awards.
Speaking of Highwood, who wants to bet that that is where Proof is distilled?
I just picked up a bottle of Proof. Strange stuff indeed. I can’t say I’ve ever had a whisky with the same characteristics. The lemon note you described is immediately evident. It comes across as candy-ish but also astringent, like all-purpose lemon cleaner. I also get a familiar smell of some sort of fruit drink crystals; orange Tang? The flavour, I find, has herbaceous elements of pine and juniper; is this whisky or gin? Again, strange.
You nailed it when you said it is a mixer. Straight up, it is some rough stuff. Tastes very young and raw to me. An ice cube helps mitigate the burn. My motto is that any whisky worth drinking is worth drinking straight, so I’m not sure I would buy Proof again. Also, at its price point it in the same bracket as Crown Royal, Wiser’s Small Batch and Century Reserve 15 years+. I doubt it would stand up to that sort of compeition in any sort of head-to-head.
It is also interesting that they just call it Proof Whisky. By not specifying it as Canadian Whisky, do they perhaps sidestep certain regulations regarding age and composition? This is pure speculation, of course.
Hi Mike,
I’m sure it is Canadian whisky. As far as I know, in Canada you can’t put the word whisky on a label unless it meets or exceeds regulations. For example, some American whisky can’t be labelled ‘whisky’ up here.
Their vodka is called proof vodka and their rum – proof rum. It’s just a name as far as I know. All are at 42%.
Yeah, it’s not a sipper, but I can see people at a barbeque going through quite a bit of it, mixing it and enjoying the citric kick. They recommend mixing with pear juice.
I have literally just purchased and sampled Proof Whisky, and I have to say that it is an exceptional Rye Whisky. It seems to be very high in citrus notes with both scent and taste and incredibly smooth!
Hi Andrew,
This Proof whisky is getting lots of good comments from people whose palates I really respect. I’m glad you like it.
Davin
It is also amazing straight up and served neat.
I have recently purchased proof whisky and throughly enjoyed its unique taste.I was attrated to it for three reasons-size of bottle,sophisticated packaging and it was Canadian…not in that order
It lived up to its name the proof is in the tasting-well done proof brands.
I hear you are coming out with other spirit drinks -what will they be and when?
Sam
Hi Sam, A lot of people seem to like Proof whisky and it is quite unique as you say. I understand they have a rum and a vodka which will be presented in the same style of packaging. Not sure when they’ll be released though.
Where is this stuff made or should I say bottled? The LCBO website says Alberta but my friend in the business in Alberta said it is not available there and it is an open market so if it was made there it would be sold there?
He also said he phoned Highwood Distillers and they do not have anything to do with it.
Rum is obviously imported, Canadian Whisky has to be aged so they are definitely not a distillery but a bottler buying bulk and packaging & marketing someone else’s liquids.
Hi Shaun,
You have hit the nail right on the head!
If only more small Canadian beverage companies would follow this example. Independent bottlers of Scotch single malts and blends have found so much success bringing outstanding independent bottlings to market and whisky drinkers around the world have benefited from this. I’m talking about small batches (really small), custom blends, and even single cask bottlings that simply are not worth the while of major distillers who rely on economies of scale to keep their operations efficient.
There are so many fantastic Canadian whiskies that we will never taste sitting in barrels waiting for some small entrepreneur to bring them to market either as straight whiskies, as Dave Pickerell has done so spectacularly with WhistlePig, or as blends as the proof folks are doing with their custom-blended whisky.
Proof whisky is distilled, aged, and blended in Alberta. Sometimes distilleries don’t identify a product that strays from their established flavour profile. They leave it to the bottler to do that. And sometimes bottlers don’t identify the source of their whisky preferring to keep the spotlight on the brand.
Proof whisky is custom blended. There is nothing else like it on the market and the response shows it is finding its own niche. It is too bad proof is not available in Alberta. Perhaps the company is choosing to concentrate their marketing efforts on one region at a time so as not to become spread too thin.
This is a superbly blended whisky. A real treat as a gift for the holidays. I gave away 5 bottles for Christmas and evryone loved it.
[...] Riley, President of the still relatively new brand Proof whisky, said that his product was made for this kind of crowd, riht down to the design of the [...]
Just trying Proof tonight. I have been drinking mostly scotch lately, but this is a nice change, definitely a different taste. I really enjoy your site and reviews – thank you for the time you put in, I will take your reviews into consideration on my next purchase at the LCBO.
Thanks for your comments Dave. I do enjoy running the site and notes of appreciation help keep it fun.
Davin
Are you kidding? A “mixing” whisky? This whisky will soon be the replacement for scotch drinkers. Try a shot on the rocks and you’ll see. I’m an old rye and coke drinker from the West as well as an old scotch drinker. My doc says “no more pop drinks for you” (threat of diabetes and poor glucose absorption). Straight rye really didn’t do it for me. Too harsh with a bite..so I switched.
Proof will definitely satisfy the scotch drinkers crave for a smooth gulp of all the descriptions in your promo. I just ran out and I’ll be a Proof whisky drinker from now on. Besides, it tastes great and the price is better than Johnny Walker.
Good name too, Proof that we can produce as fine a whisky as anyone.
Wayne
Hi Wayne, It seems a lot of people agree with you.
Just had a couple of shots of this stuff with a wedge of peach…wow. It goes down smoothly..as fine as frogs hair..which is what we are now calling it. “Frogs Hair”
I just bought a bottle of Proof here in Alberta. It is wonderfully unique. I found the odor almost like perfume and the smokey aftertaste hinted at bourbon. Real nice straight, but delicious with a splash of water. I usually drink Canadian Club Classic and this is a fabulous alternative.
I have been a rye whiskey drinker for years – I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this blend. It has quite a refreshing flavor to it with the citrus kick. Definitley a nice blend to enjoy again.
I have have to say,…I’ve been basically trying every colour of the rainbow when its comes to rye this summer..and Proof surprisingly has been the top contender. I’m a mixer so rye and ginger all the way and lately I’ve stopped my taste testing and stuck with Proof. Its just very smooth and the hint of citrus mixes pleasantly with ginger. Scary thing though…cause half and half’s are very easy to consume lol.
I have always stored my bottles ( Rye, vodka, rum )
in the freezer and no nothing ever froze – was kind of surprised to find yours had turn slushy in a freezer that I can’t keep ice cream in. Kind of puzzled
[...] toffee pudding from Tuxedos and T-Shirts (@chefsteveS). There was also a booze booth hosted by Proof that was serving homemeade apple and pear cider spiked with whiskey. It was legen… wait for [...]
I am enjoying this whiskey neat, and disagree that it’s a mixer, unless that’s what you drink.
There are so many flavours and after effects that I’m at a loss presently to name them all. lemons, celery, orange, and tannins.
Very nice, keep up the good work.
Hi Alistair,
I have heard similar comments from a number of other people as well. As long as you enjoy it, who cares what someone else thinks?