Sazerac's Canadian Hunter Canadian Whisky - (formerly Seagram's)

Canadian Hunter 40% alc./vol. (80 proof)

March 4, 2012

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Faint spirit evolves into robust rye spices with rich butterscotch, hints of dry grain, and ripe dark fruits. Very flavourful and mouth-filling with sizzling pepper, fleshy dark fruits and lime peel. Spicy Rye. ★★★☆

Canadian Hunter was long a staple whisky in the line-up from the House of Seagram. Seagram’s first distilled the whisky at its plant in Waterloo, Ontario. Following the death in 1971 of Sam Bronfman, who had brought the Seagram’s whisky brands to global domination, the company lost its way. Sam’s grandson, Edgar Bronfman, finally just cast the family heritage to the wind at the turn of this century. The Canadian whisky brands his grandfather had nurtured so carefully, and newer ones such as Canadian Hunter, which was introduced in 1984, were dispersed. But they were not lost altogether. Canadian Hunter eventually found a welcoming home with the Sazerac Company of New Orleans.

Sazerac takes its Canadian whisky portfolio very seriously. Its Canadian whisky team is led by Drew Mayfield, a Canadian whisky man who was the last chief distiller at Seagram’s before that company imploded. Canadian whisky, of course, can be made only in Canada, and this is why Sazerac now has hundreds of thousands of barrels of Canadian whisky ageing in Canadian whisky warehouses. From this ready supply Sazerac blends upwards of twenty different Canadian whisky brands, most of them with distribution limited to the U.S. market.

The label on the Canadian Hunter bottle has been updated recently. However, it still retains its image of the mushing huskies that continue to provide transportation in some of Canada’s more remote northern communities.

Nose: Simple and straight forward Canadian rye whisky with sweet baking spices, butterscotch, dry grain, and dark fruit. An initial wisp of spirit quickly develops rich aromas of sweet caramel, typical Canadian rye spices, and a broad ripe fruitiness.

Palate: Sweet, peppery, rich and mouth-filling. This is a big flavourful though not overly complex whisky. The creamy caramel holds steady throughout while hot pepper, ripples of clean oak – and in the background sweet dark fruit including prunes and dried currants – provide substance and body. It is loaded with sweet baking spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg and throbbingly hot ginger, with a wonderfully peppery burn. Round and mouth-filling, its strength is in its straightforward simplicity.

Finish: Longish. Clean but sweet on the finish with dry linen, hints of oak, bitter lemon rind, and pleasingly tingly spices. You can almost hear it calling for ginger ale.

Empty glass: Not a lot, maybe a bit toffeeish with hints of lumber.

$10.00 at liquor stores in the U.S.

Recommended ★★★☆

Comments

13 Responses to “Canadian Hunter 40% alc./vol. (80 proof)”

  1. Darko Vusir:
    August 23, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    Wow! Nice review. I haven’t had this since the ’80′s. I remember buying a 1.75 litre bottle in Buffalo for like 10 bucks or so.
    I think, next time I go across the ditch, I’ll pick up a bottle or two for old times sake.

    Thanks for the review.

    Reply
    • Davin:
      August 23, 2011 at 3:44 pm

      Thanks Darko, Yes, it’s really kind of nice and I quite enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. ed:
    February 19, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    just tryed it for the frist time and i have to say it’s real good

    Reply
  3. Ben Phelps:
    March 21, 2012 at 5:14 pm

    I work at the Army& Airforce Exchange in New Jersey.is there a distributor

    Reply
    • Davin:
      March 21, 2012 at 8:34 pm

      Hi Ben,

      Sorry, I do not know. Best to check with whoever distributes Sazerac there.

      Davin

      Reply
  4. Skipper:
    August 10, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    People have called this the “Poor mans Crown Royal”. Is it really good enough that people would compare it to Crown Royal?

    Reply
    • Davin:
      August 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm

      It does have quite a few fans, that’s for sure.

      Reply
  5. Leroy Bragg:
    August 17, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Drank Crown for many years, got tired of paying for a blue bag then throw it away.Bought Canadian Hunter and will never go back.

    Reply
  6. keith:
    January 7, 2013 at 12:04 am

    just finished the last bottle of the old style and compared the old with the new US version before all of the old was gone. Its not the same..while close the original is better….much better. Hope they can figure it out. I’m refering to Canadian Hunter. Keith

    Reply
  7. Brittany:
    February 13, 2013 at 2:58 am

    i work in a liqour store in Alberta.. i have a customer who is looking for this type of whiskey.. is it avaliable anywhere in Alberta??

    Reply
    • Davin:
      February 13, 2013 at 12:43 pm

      To my knowledge this is not distributed in Canada. If any store in Alberta has it it would be Kensington Wine Market in Calgary. I’d call first as it’s a long shot.

      Reply
      • Brittany:
        February 14, 2013 at 1:16 am

        Okay i will have to do that then… kinda odd its Canadian and isnt sold here!! haha but thank you :)

        Reply
      • Brittany:
        February 14, 2013 at 1:21 am

        nevermind!! haha that ones a bust they dont have it either

        Reply

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