> Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition®
Crisp clean oak and fresh red cedar, ripe fruit, butterscotch, vanilla, grapefruit pith, simmering spices, and dusty rye. A quick explosion of flavour followed by a slow, complex reveal. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
> Alberta Premium aged 25 years (40% alc./vol.)
Sweet vanilla pods and fresh-cut lumber. A complex mosaic of flavours from cedar to tropical fruit set on a creamy base with hot pepper and a delicate underlying citric zest. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
> Alberta Premium Dark Horse 45% alc/vol
Whisky drinkers seeking richer, more robust, and more sophisticated flavours will find that Alberta Premium Dark Horse delivers exactly that – an extraordinary symphony of rye. ★★★★★
> Alberta Springs aged 10 years (40% alc./vol.)
Luscious and weighty with beautifully integrated aromatic spices and waves of white pepper. Sweet, like Mackintosh’s® toffee, vanilla and dried fruit. Citric zest, linen, some dustiness, and hints of oak. Spicy Rye. ★★★★☆
> Amherst Gate 40%
Sweet, peppery and hot with dusty old wood, citrus zest, and burnt toffee that ends with a refreshing grapefruit pithiness. It’s a bit spirity which is why it works so well in cocktails and highballs. ★★★
> Bison Ridge Special Reserve 8 Year Old (40% alc/vol)
Buttery caramels with refreshing bitters in an oaky, peppery, and weighty dram. Mouth warming, spicy and smooth as the proverbial silk. Simple, straight forward, and richly flavourful. ★★★★
> Black Velvet aged 3 years (40% alc./vol. (80 proof))
Candy, sweet, dark fruit, cream sherry, pepper and hot spices, dusty, floral rye, spirit, slight zestiness, and hints of fresh wood. Fruity and Spicy. ★★★
> Black Velvet Deluxe (40% alc./vol.)
Creamy caramel and hot pepper. Ripe dark fruit, citric zest, fresh-cut wood and hints of spirit. Mild rye spices – cloves, cinnamon, ginger. A bit under-stated. Spicy Rye. ★★★☆
> Black Velvet Reserve 8 years old (40% abv (80 proof))
Caramel and pepper dominate well-defined fruits, fresh oak, vanilla, rye spices and zesty undertones. Both dusty and oily. Rich and Round. ★★★★
> Black Velvet Toasted Caramel 35% alc/vol
Succulent buttery caramel cream, canned cream-style corn and Mackintosh’s toffee waft gently into softly glowing peppery rye spices.
> Bush Pilot’s Private Reserve (43% alc./vol.)
Crisp, clean, Canadian oak. Musty corn, cardboard, gentle caramels and vanilla. Herbal, slightly spicy and quite peppery with a cleansing citric pith. Malty & Dry. ★★★★☆
> Canadian Club 30 year old (40% alc./vol.)
Fragrant and flavourful with sweet dark fruit, loads of fresh-cut wood, hot pepper, and recurring rich tobacco notes. Deceptively complex and surprisingly lively. Rich & Round. ★★★★★
> Canadian Club 40 Year Old
Plums, prunes, black currents balanced with sweet butter tarts and baking spices and the warming glow of real black pepper. Silky mouthfeel with hints of oak but not the woodiness of long-aged whisky. ★★★★★
> Canadian Club aged 15 years (40% alc./vol.)
Creamy smooth and full-bodied. Peppery with subtle, understated fresh cedar, black fruits, caramel, musty corn, citric zest, and pith. Soft Corn. ★★★★☆
> Canadian Club aged 20 years (40% alc./vol.)
A weighty, highly integrated, and fruity synthesis of wood, toffee, vanilla, dusty rye, and baking spices, with developing hot pepper, dark fruits, prune juice, and citric zest. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
> Canadian Club Classic 12 year old (40% alc./vol.)
Sweet oak caramels and burnt sugar, raisins, prunes, and Christmas cake. Peppery with a slippery creaminess and underlying notes of clean oak. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★☆
> Canadian Club Dock No. 57 (40% alc/vol)
A typical fruity, rye-forward Canadian Club nose becomes sweet, hot, and spicy on the tongue. The most whisky like of the spiced whiskies with added notes of black licorice, Mom’s baking vanilla and a touch of clean oak.
> Canadian Club Reserve 10 years old (40% alc./vol.)
Sweet, peppery, and fruity, with a pleasing bitter zest. Hard, flinty, earthy rye tinged with cinnamon and ginger. Nice weight and creamy mouthfeel. Spicy Rye. ★★★★
> Canadian Club Sherry Cask (41.3% alc./vol.) Batch SC-018
Rich and very fruity– from raisins to peaches to berries. Sweet hot tobacco, black tea, pencil shavings, pepper and baking spices. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★★☆
> Canadian Hunter 40% alc./vol. (80 proof)
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 Mist (40% alc./vol. (80 proof))
Toffee sweet, vanilla, grassy with citric fruits, and a cleansing bitter lemon zest. Some earthiness, sour mash, rye grain and rye spices, with a youthful spirit. Malty & Dry. ★★★☆
> Canadian Mist Black Diamond (43% alc./vol. (86 proof))
Brio, cola, white pepper, ginger, sultanas, prunes, coconut, grapefruit zest and juice, dry grain, mash, and hints of fresh-cut lumber. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★☆
> Canadian Rockies 10 Year Old 40% alc/vol
An excellent example of a well-aged Canadian whisky with a bold display of gingery spice, pepper, exotic fruit – kumquats, passion fruit – and oak. Finishes with a slight pleasing pithiness. ★★★★☆
> Canadian Rockies 21 46%
The most appealing barrel tones accented by peppery spices, high fruity esters and dark fruits, in a lush, creamy body. ★★★★★
> Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old 40% alc/vol
Robust, yet elegant and fine. Continues to develop in the mouth and in the glass. Sip slowly for maximum pleasure. Red cedar, lilacs, kumquats, and spicy-hot pepper in a rich butterscotch. ★★★★★
> Caribou Crossing Single Barrel (40% alc./vol. (80 proof))
Creamy vanilla, a dusting of rye spices, bursts of citrus and a veritable tsunami of fresh-cut wood. Soft Corn. ★★★★★
> Century Reserve 21 year old (40% alc./vol.)
Rich in nuance and suggestion, though muted, this is about as complex as pure corn whisky gets, with bittersweet citric notes, lilacs, spices, fresh-cut wood, and hot pepper. Soft Corn/Rich & Oaky. ★★★★☆
> Century Reserve Lot 15/25 40% alc/vol
Charred oak, pencil shavings and silky tannins melt into sweet citrus fruit, marzipan, hints of flowers and a certain meatiness. Peppery baking spices. Finishes long and hot with woody undertones. A carpenter’s nirvana. ★★★★★
> Chinook 5 year old Canadian Whisky (40% alc./vol.)
Ripe fruit and stewed prunes with vanilla coconut custard, blistering hot spices and a nutty cereal side accented with rose water, dusty roads and hints of oak. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★☆
> Collingwood (40% alc/vol.) Canadian Whisky Review
Dark fruits, Concord grapes, roses and spring flowers with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. Split cherry firewood with earthy rye and tingling hot pepper. Floral & Fragrant. ★★★★
> Collingwood 21-Year-Old Canadian Rye
Mellow, smooth and oh so robust with dark and sour rye bread, floral tones, something like licorice, and loads of herbal notes. The smoothest of the smooth. ★★★★☆
> Coyote Ugly Canadian Whisky (40% alc/vol)
Scotch snobs who rely on age statements to tell them if they like what they are drinking take note: Coyote Ugly is one three-year-old shooting whisky that is simply loaded with flavour. Loaded! Recommended. ★★★☆
> Crown Royal Black 45% alc./vol. (90 proof)
Rum-soaked Christmas cake. Creamy, with vanilla, hot pepper, ginger, dark fruit, orange bitters, Bourbon, charcoal, oak, and floral notes. Rich and Round. ★★★★
> Crown Royal Blenders Mash 40%
Fruity/floral esters, vanilla, green apples, nutty and creamy with clean grain and oak tannins. A silky smooth and very approachable whisky. ★★★★☆
> Crown Royal Bourbon Mash 40%
High esters, vanilla, green apples, nutty and creamy with oak tannins. A silky smooth Canadian whisky in the bourbon vein. ★★★★☆
> Crown Royal Cask No. 16 (40% alc./vol.)
Peaches, apricots, Concord grapes and Port wine with rye spices, hot white pepper, peach pits and bitter lemon. Fresh-cut lumber. Fruity & Spicy. Last Call – 2013. ★★★★☆
> Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend 40.3%
Spicy, sweet, fruity and floral. Rye spices, rye grain and fresh-cut cedar. The fruity notes turn tropical with mango, papaya and bananas. Chocolate tones that linger just below the surface fade slowly away.
> Crown Royal Fine De Luxe from 1963 (40% alc./vol.)
A complex synthesis of ginger, clove oil, hot white pepper, cedar lumber, and prunes, with fresh spring lilacs and pansies and wilted tobacco. Caramel, vanilla and cooling citric pith. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
> Crown Royal Limited Edition (40% abv)
Controlled, elegant, creamy, and balanced with nutmeg, cloves and ginger, hot pepper and peppermint, green and ripe apples, floral bourbon-like vanilla and oak, cereal, and orange bitters. Spicy Rye. ★★★★☆
> Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye 45%
Sweetness and apple pie with hints of roses that develop tingly spices, crispy wood and typical rye fruitiness. Smooth vanilla pudding with a buttery finish. ★★★★★
> Crown Royal Texas Mesquite 40%
Vanilla sweet with a mesquite-smoke undercurrent. Barrel spices with clean dry oak and typical Crown Royal creaminess. ★★★★
> Crown Royal X.O.
The smoothest Crown Royal ever, except for the 1939 original. Rich and creamy in the mouth with clean wood, leather, tobacco and ripe black fruits Some berry notes and sizzling gingery pepper. ★★★★★
> Crown Royal XR – Extra Rare (40% alc./vol.)
A rich, weighty, hugely complex and skillfully structured whisky displaying ripe red fruit, fresh-cut oak, hot spices, dry grain, and violets. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★☆
> Crown Royal XR LaSalle Canadian Whisky
★★★★☆ Prune juice, sweet sherry and black fruit with spicy heat, clean oak and a delectable mix of clean farm smells and coniferous forest. Rich and creamy with a dash of black licorice.
> Danfield’s Limited Edition 21 years old (40% alc./vol.)
Classic rye spices—cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and pepper—all brought together in a lumber yard. Sweet, fragrant wood with a tangy citric zest and lots of weight. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★☆
> Dillon’s – The White Rye 40%
Dillon’s unaged Canadian rye grain spirit is handcrafted in a copper pot still, from 100% Ontario-grown rye, without being aged in wood, thus showcasing the pristine flavours of the rye grain itself.
> Dillon’s Rye Whisky 59%
Hot, and sweet with dark fruits, creamy cereals, hints of pansies. Burley tobacco takes it into the lower registers as do hints of oak. A bright, lively, potent, but not overly complex whisky, with a sweet and fruity finish.★★★★☆
> Dock 57 Blackberry 40% alc/vol
Blueberries, grape popsicle, sweet simple syrup and maybe just a hint of clean oak in a whisky liqueur-cum-ice-cream-topping designed for summer patio or winter hot spot bliss.
> Forty Creek Barrel Select (40% alc./vol.)
Creamy, sweet corn whisky with dusty, earthy rye, ripe red fruits, sherry, sweet-and-sour sauce, floral perfume, ginger, cinnamon, hot pepper, and hints of citric peels. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★★
> Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve (40% alc./vol.)
Butterscotch, fresh-cut wood, toasted oak and wood smoke. Sweet vanilla, berries, barbeque sauce, mash, granola. Restrained, but full-flavoured. Rich & Round. ★★★★☆
> Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve 43% alc/vol
Rich toffee and searing chili peppers with bursting rye spices, rye grain and bitter orange. A delicate floral touch with oaky maple syrup. Rich and hearty. ★★★★
> Forty Creek Cream Liquor 17% alc/vol
John K. Hall looked to Ireland for inspiration when crafting one of his latest creations, a cream liquor, made with fresh Ontario dairy cream in a base of Forty Creek whisky.
> Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve (40% alc./vol.)
Toasted oak sugars, vanilla, hot pepper, mustard, and ginger. Lemon cream, sweet- and-sour rye, dry grain, new sawdust, fresh fruit, and a citric zestiness. Almost chewy. Soft Corn. ★★★★☆
> Forty Creek Heart of Gold 43% – Preview
Oh my, what wonderful whisky! On-line reservations from Monday, May 27th to Friday, June 21st, 2013. After that you take your chances.
> Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1 Review
Bursting gingery spice bombs, dark fruits, clean sweet wood, and crème caramel. A spice
“Monster.” Sultry fruits and dusky rye spices like fireworks in an ancient muggy rainforest. Spicy Rye. ★★★★★
> Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve 2012 45% alc/vol
Full-bodied with floral rye, black fruit, herbs, butterscotch, licorice root, celery, gunpowder, & old Madeira. Spiced fruit berries, apple cider, sweet pipe tobacco, clean oak, peppery cloves and cinnamon hearts. ★★★★★
> Forty Creek Three Grain Harmony
Mountains of dark fruit, toffee, and crispy oak burst to life amidst searing peppers. The initial boldness is then tempered with a delicate range of fruits, spices and floral notes. Complex. ★★★★★
> Gibson’s Bold 8 year old 46%
Redolent of rum, kola beans, vanilla, and sweet rye on the nose and the ever-so-robust palate. Sizzling spices spiciness and the classic Gibson’s grapefruit pith finish. ★★★★
> Gibson’s Finest aged 12 years (40% alc./vol.)
Crème brûlée, oak, cedar, spicy pepper, cloves, citric zest, black fruits, strawberries and cream. Masterfully balanced and seamlessly integrated. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★
> Gibson’s Finest Rare 12 – Canada Day 2018 40%
Butterscotch, crisp clean oakiness, peppery spice, citrus fruit. Creamy with baking spices, then bitter citrus pith and black tea. ★★★★
> Gibson’s Finest Rare Bourbon Cask (40% alc./vol.)
Creamy, soft, round and smooth. Fresh-cut wood, caramel, and vanilla. Hot peppery spices, a slight saltiness, and gentle citric zest. Mildly floral and fruity. Soft Corn. ★★★★
> Gibson’s Finest Sterling (40% alc/vol)
Rich and creamy mouthfeel with a plethora of sweet fruits and berries, citric zest and pith, a nuttiness, black pepper, and hints of spirit. Soft Corn. ★★★★
> Gibson’s Finest 100th Grey Cup Limited Edition
Spicy rye, butterscotch, and vanilla fudge, with glowing with heat. Hot pepper is softened by vanilla ice cream and fresh dairy butter. Real maple sugar and real maple syrup accentuate clean wood.
> Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 years old (40% alc./vol.)
Sweet, spicy oak and pine sawdust, rich in toffee, vanilla, and hot spicy pepper. Biscuits, with typical rye dustiness, spice, fruit, and just a drop of pickle juice. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
> Glen Breton Battle of the Glen (43% alc./vol.)
A complex interplay of fresh fruit, spring flowers, nutty grain, and hot white pepper all kept in place by the pith of white grapefruit. Floral & Fragrant. ★★★★☆
> Glynnevan Cabot Triple Barrelled Canadian Rye 45%
Sweet heat and very flavourful. Rich dark rum brisk spices and strong barrel tones with camphor and cinnamon. Body is robust and muscular body. ★★★★☆
> Golden Wedding 40% abv
Hot, peppery and slightly spirity. Rich in toffee, with hints of burnt caramel and nutty dry grain. Dusty rye with earthy and flinty overtones and hints of pickle juice. Cooked fruit and hints of flowers. ★★★☆
> Gooderham & Worts
Warm floral tones, fresh-baked bread, clean but creamy palate with nutty dry grain, and a warming glow in the throat. ★★★★★
> Gooderham & Worts (44.4%)
Pansies, clean, crisp oak, dry grain, dark fruits and pithy citrus notes. Tightly integrated and very complex. Great Canadian whisky. ★★★★★
> Gooderham & Worts Little Trinity 17yo
Clean wood, vanilla, crème brulée, dried candied fruit, smoldering rye spices, creamy corn and delicate barrel notes. ★★★★★
> Gooderhams Centennial 15yo
Dark fruits, wet slate, sweet spices and assertive pepper. Sweet, crisp and slightly pulling. Great complexity and tightly balanced. Fruity, silky, long and clean. ★★★★★
> Grand Grizzly (40% Alc/Vol)
Black pepper and an earthiness reminiscent of agave spirit give way to hard and gingery rye while citrus zest, with dark fruits, real black pepper, and dashes of pickle juice meld into cold wet slate. ★★★★
> Highwood 25 Year Old Calgary Stampede Whisky
Vanilla ice cream with butterscotch pudding and real maple syrup. Fresh, sweet red cedar and weathered wood, dried cloves, sweet grapefruit juice. ★★★★★
> Highwood Canadian Maple Whisky 22% alc/vol
What’s a visitor to bring home from a visit to Canada? The easy answer is maple syrup. The whisky lover’s answer is Highwood’s maple whisky.
> Highwood Ninety 20 Year Old (45% alc/vol)
Rich, luxurious and creamy sweet with dark fruit, maple cream, cooked corncobs, hot peppermint candy and both sweet and savoury spices. Huge, complex and simply gorgeous. ★★★★★
> JP Wiser’s 18 Year Old
Complex, balanced and elegant with green apples, clean lumber, peppery spices, butterscotch, vanilla, barrel notes, cigar box, and dried baking fruits. Typical Canadian citric zest finish. ★★★★★
> JP Wiser’s Canada 2018 – 43.3%
Round, creamy butterscotch, fragrant flowers, clean wood, sweet baking spices, then peppery rye fading into a sweet citrus flavours. ★★★★★
> JP Wiser’s Hopped Whisky (40%)
Canvas and burlap with heavy fall flowers and dry brown hay. The palate begins with burnt caramel, searing spices and ripe orchard fruits and ends in a long juicy finish with a slight bitterness that integrates IPA hops and citrus pith. ★★★★☆
> JP Wisers 35 Year Old – 50% abv
Fruity floral tones, oak, tobacco, sweet grain, and brisk and glowing peppers. Hints of hay and green grass. Soft waxy finish. ★★★★★
> JP Wisers Last Barrels 45%
Floral fruity esters, sweet butterscotch, balsam, crisp clean wood, tobacco, vanilla, dark fruits, silky corn and lively peppers The glories of great spirit matured slowly. ★★★★★
> JP Wisers Seasoned Oak 48%
Clean dry exotic woods, dried figs, marmalade, brisk peppers and rye spices, Bounty chocolate bars, fresh firewood. Very unusual. ★★★★★
> JP Wiser’s Double Still Rye (43.4%)
Big whisky with butterscotch, bracing hot peppers, sweet baking spices, dried grain, roasted chestnuts, dried fruit, and coffee beans. ★★★★☆
> Lohin McKinnon 43%
Malty with cereal notes, mild honey, tree fruits, gentle spices and a creamy mouthfeel. ★★★☆
> Lord Calvert Canadian (Seagram’s 1970-80s) 40% alc./vol.
Maple butter, vanilla, and butterscotch. Dry wood, shellac, cedar, apricots and lilacs. Fresh-churned butter. Balanced, simple, and very flavourful. Soft Corn. ★★★☆
> Lot 40 (43% alc./vol.)
Rye, rye bread, sour rye, floral rye, hard rye, earthy rye, dusty rye grain, and then sweet citric notes, oranges, hot peppery spices, and tannic wood. Spicy Rye. ★★★★★
> Lot No 40 Cask Strength 55%
Dark fruits, blistering spices, pleasingly bitter with oak caramels, an oiliness and hints of wild flowers. ★★★★★
> Lot No. 40 – 2012 Release 43% alc/vol
Hard Christmas candy, sour rye and sweet fruitiness with hot pepper, hotter spices and heavy rye bread. A pleasing farminess accents sweet floral esters. ★★★★★
> Masterson’s Straight Rye Whiskey (45% alc./vol.)
A carefully crafted panorama of grassy dry grain, moist earth and burlap sacks, along with zingy pepper, blossoming floral vanilla, fragrant leather and tobacco leaves. Spicy Rye. ★★★★★
> Mastersons 12 Year Old Straight Wheat Whiskey (50% alc/vol)
Grand Marnier, luscious sweet buckwheat honey, creamy, rich and mouth filling, bran buds with chocolate milk, hot and peppery. Dried, dark fruits, barrel notes. Creamy and weighty in the mouth. Highly recommended. ★★★★☆
> Masterson’s Straight Barley Whiskey (46% alc/vol)
Unusual 100% unmalted barley whisky with a huge herbal nose and dusty herbal palate. Earth, corn cobs, fennel, green apples, sweet spices and crème brulée. ★★★★★
> My Very Own Crown Royal
Dark ripe fruit, lively spices, clean crisp oak, simmering white pepper and citrus zest all wrapped in luscious butterscotch. Big, big whisky.
> Odd Society Release 6 Single Malt 40%
Sweet and spicy, with apples, peaches, sweet flowers, malt, and nutty cereal. Slippery mouth with hints of chocolate and halva. Long, sweet spicy finish. ★★★★☆
> Pendleton 1910 Canadian Rye Whisky 40% alc./vol
Butterscotch and maple fudge with cleansing zesty limes. Gingery hot pepper and fresh cooling mint. Crisp charred oak. Rich, weighty, balanced, and ever so complex. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★★☆
> Pendleton Midnight (45%)
Full bodied with hefty toffee notes and searing peppers over flinty rye, citrus notes and soft fruit. ★★★★☆ (Four and one half stars)
> Pike Creek – Export Edition (40% alc/vol)
Red wine and ripe red fruit with candied ginger, caramel and blistering pepper. Minty and herbal notes complement the softest oak tannins. A big, slippery, smooth, voluptuous whisky. ★★★★☆
> Pike Creek 10 year old 40% alc/vol
Spicy dark fruit, poached pears, gingery spice, and clean oak. Like a nutty fruit bar with cleansing bitter grapefruit pith on the finish. Treads softly into single malt territory. ★★★★★
> Pike Creek 21yo Speyside Finish 45%
Sweet and fruity with dry lumber, tobacco, mild peppery spices, malted barley and dried fruit. Mouth warming and a little bit slippery. ★★★★★
> Proof Whisky (42% alc./vol) – Canadian Whisky Preview
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.
> Revel Stoke Spiced Whisky (45% alc/vol (90 proof))
Rich and creamy; smooth as the proverbial baby’s bottom. Vanilla, camphor, cherry cough drops, spicy pepper, and pleasing citric pith. Tasty Spice.
> Rich & Rare 40% alc./vol. (80 proof)
A vibrant young whisky with a lush and creamy richness. Caramel and sweet fruits swim in peppery rye spices, musty rye and sweet fruit. A tightly balanced mixer. ★★★☆
> Rich & Rare Reserve (40% alc./vol. (80 proof))
Full-flavoured and peppery with creamy maple syrup, clean oak, hints of rose petals, dark fruit, and tangy oranges. Fruity and Spicy. ★★★★
> Royal Canadian Small Batch (40% alc/vol (80 proof))
A very sweet fruit smoothie with earthy rye, hints of fresh oak, hot pepper, baking spices, pickle juice, spirit, and refreshing bitter notes. Fruity & Spicy. ★★★☆
> Royal Reserve Canadian Rye Whisky (40% alc./vol.)
Prototypical light and smooth 1970s cocktail whisky. Starts small, gradually becoming complex but subtle, with brittle rye, hot pepper, creamy toffee and lemon zing. Spicy Rye. ★★★☆
> Royal Velvet (40% alc./vol.)
Pine pitch, Canada balsam, butterscotch, clove oil, dusty rye, pickle juice, hot pepper, flowers, and assorted fruits all neatly stitched into one. ★★★★☆
> Seagram’s VO (40% alc./vol.)
Much nuance, many hints. Pepper, ginger and other rye spices, ripe dark fruit, earth, dry grain, floral notes, vanilla, cedar, Fruity & Spicy. ★★★
> Shelter Point 5 Year Old Single Grain Rye 46% alc/vol
A complex synthesis of maple sugar, licorice cough drops, ripe black fruits, sweet flowers, and sizzling pepper painted in oils on an artist’s canvas. ★★★★
> Snake River Stampede 8 year old 40% abv (80 proof)
Butterscotch, dusty rye, hot white pepper, dark fruits and ginger. Refreshing citric pith and zest. Creamy smooth, then slightly grippy. Spicy Rye. ★★★★
> Stalk & Barrel Cask 1 (62.3% alc/vol)
Sweet, poached pears, marzipan, and apple pie with juicy fruit gum, cinnamon, nutmeg, wet hay, and earthy rye. Grain dust and cream of wheat mellow hot white pepper. Youthful but mature beyond its years. ★★★☆
> Still Waters 1+11 Canadian Whisky (40% alc/vol)
A tingling effervescence turns initially buttery, mouth-filling, toffee indulgences into clear, clean refreshment. Ever-present hot pepper is restrained by a richness of body and crisp cleansing pith. ★★★★☆
> Twelve Barrels 40%
Hits all the right notes with sweet intro, peppery, spicy, citrus middle and a longish peppery, pithy finish. ★★★★
> 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.
> White Owl Spiced Whisky (40% alc/vol)
Subtle vanilla, crisp oak, rich butterscotch and subtle rye spices, then hot pepper, lots of citrus pith in the finish with tingling ginger and cloves – a most whisky-like spiced whisky.
> Wiser’s Dissertation – Thesis in a Bottle
Maple syrup, vanilla, oak, marzipan, suggestions of red fruits and floral rye notes. Luxurious creamy mouthfeel and developing hot peppery spices. Complex and beautifully balanced. ★★★★★
> Wiser’s Legacy: Canadian Whisky Review
Sweet, rich and very spicy with overt rye notes. Cinnamon and cloves, dark fruits, hot peppermint and citric zest. Spectacular. Very highly recommended. ★★★★★
> Wiser’s Red Letter 2013 Release 45% alc/vol
Dusty rye, baking spices, crisp oak and fresh-cut firewood, with vanilla-caramel sweetness dissolve in a long, hot, gingery finish that fades to citrus pith. ★★★★★
> Wiser’s Small Batch (43.4% alc./vol.)
Big whisky. Cinnamon, cloves, and other rye spices. Dark fruits, vanilla, butterscotch, cedar oil, some earthy tones, and a slight flintiness. Weighty. Spicy Rye. ★★★★☆
> Wiser’s 18 years old, aka Wiser’s Very Old (40% alc./vol.)
Wood, wood, wood, but ever so complex with hot pepper, baking spices, butterscotch, vanilla, rye grain, tobacco, cigar box, sour-dough, and dried baking fruits ending in a citric zestiness. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
> Wiser’s Red Letter, 150th Anniversary (45% alc./vol.)
Complex, ever-changing flavours of dry grain, tobacco, Christmas spices, wood smoke, new tires, sour German rye bread, black fruits, cedar and fresh-sawn oak, toffee, vanilla, hot pepper, and bitter grapefruit. Rich & Oaky. ★★★★★
I wonder how this stacks up against Still Waters single malt vodka from Ontario. The vodka has a surprising amount of malt character, and indeed might taste almost as much like whisky as White Owl (which I haven’t tried).
Hi Mike,
I’ve tasted both, and after your comment tasted them heat to head. Actually each has a lot of flavour but they are quite different from each other. The Still Waters vodka is a so-called “vodka with character” and it’s fruity but not whisky like. White Owl, on the other hand, is more flavourful and has whisky characteristics (like wood, for instance) that are not present in the Still Waters. I found apple cider notes in the Still Waters, and a slight sourness, but not a whole lot of malt. Either one is enjoyable to sip on the deck, but I think both benefit from a splash of gingerale.
[...] Innovation of the Year: Highwood Distillery, White Owl Whisky White Owl Whisky has no peer in Canada or anywhere else in the world for that matter. The first ever fully oak-matured white whisky, White Owl retains the flavours of Canadian rye whisky, while adding the cocktail-mixability of white spirits. In so doing, it successfully introduces the flavours of Canadian whisky to a whole new demographic. [...]
Best whiskey available in manitoba. By far worth the extra 10 bucks a bottle. Wont be buying anything else when white owl is available
Just tried it and I love it. Amazing straight up on the rocks. very unique. might be nice to try it with a hint of coconut aroma..umm.
Hi Al,
A dash of Malibu perhaps?
I tried that. It doesn’t quite work for me. What the problem is IMO, White Owl has too much flavour, and the whisky tends to overpower the coconut flavour of
malibu.
I find Malibu has too much artificial flavours and sugars. What about a cocktail mix with rum cream or coconut milk. Worlds end has a great product that I have tried.
Just bought a bottle yesterday. First time I saw it at the local LCBO. I must say, I like it, but it’s almost difficult to categorize. I’m having a hard time with it just because I’m not expecting that much flavour and smoothness from a clear spirit. All I know is that White Owl will replace Vodka and white rum in my supply!
Hi Davin:
I just talked to the fellows at Highwood again yesterday. White Owl Whisky is as you say by far the most successful new product launch in their history, and you are right, they cannot keep up with the demand now that the product has reached Ontario. A great Canadian success story.
(PS: I’m stalking up on this one)
Hi Chip,
Yeah, this stuff just goes from strength to strength. What a great idea it was.
Davin
Hello and thank you for the recent updates on the White Owl. I am so looking forward to seeing this product in Atlantic Canada… I understand from the folks at Highwood that they currently have their product in front of the NBLCC board but they (NBLCC) have not yet approved their application for distribution in New Brunswick. Keeping my fingers crossed that someone will either send me a sample or pick one up for me in their travels in Ontario! Grrr..c’mon NBLCC — get it on the shelves!
I keep looking at this on the shelf but I can’t get myself to spend the forty bones when Century Reserve 1525 is $10 cheaper. I can’t get past the idea of paying more for less (less age, and presumably less flavour). It strikes me that they are marketing it in the same way as “ultra-premium” vodka: fancy bottle, relatively high price. On the other hand, if it tastes good and stands apart from other whiskies that alone might justify the cost.
Any comments?
Hello friend.
I’m sipping on a glass of White Owl as I type and would highly recommend spending the extra 10 dollars if not only for the experience. “fresh” was the word that sprung to mind when sipping on the whiskey and believe that the addition of this whiskey to either a dark or fruity drink would bring a new intensity to your drink.
Man, this is tough for me to take seriously. I’m with Mike here…let’s take several “well-aged” whiskies and run them through a filter so that the color (conveniently no mention of flavor here) is removed, then sell it as whisky.
I understand that the regulations prohibit you from calling white spirit “whisky,” but why go through all this trouble to remove whatever congeners were imparted by the barrel just to compete with vodka or rum, and need I point out that it’s being done at that most flavorsome (read: minimum) 40% alcohol?
This is EXACTLY why our microdistillers bottle new make as whiskey…we want to avoid the malarkey that’s involved here and get a good unaged spirit on the shelves, often at 45% or higher (gasp!). For crying out loud, Canada, please give us something that peeks above that 40% threshold. Really…we can handle it!
40% is actually quite a norm for any liquor, this is mainly for serving regulations. Also, it maybe be a point to mention that Canada is stereotypically know for drinking more aclohol dense drinks (albeit the generality is concerning beer)
It’s interesting, unusual stuff, and I’m also unsure what to think of it. It’s delicious, and it -is- whisky, but it’s the vodka in my cabinet that it’s replacing, and not the whisky. For that I’m also more likely to just buy my old amber and golden colored favorites.
As it should be, WC>
We had this at our monthly Whisky club meeting. Most didn’t like it but some like me enjoyed it enough to buy a bottle. I like it for sipping but then I appreciate new make as well. Don’t get me wrong, I have a cupboard always full of single malt, it’s just that I tend to enjoy all whiskys. If you like White Owl, try 40 Creek! It’s cheap at $25 here in BC and a great whisky. (Your mileage may vary)
Wonderful review! thanks Davin!
Sprite?
I have sampled some White Owl whisky tonight in the UK and would love to buy a couple of bottles for Christmas for my guests, could you kindly advise where I could order some please.
Many thanks
Colin
Hi Colin,
Unfortunately Canadian liquor stores are not allowed to ship whisky by mail or courier.
Whiskey for sure is my favorite, and the other month I saw White Owl in the LCBO and thought i’d give it a try finding how awesome it is considering its not like your usual whiskey. Since then I havn’t drank anything else the flavour is amazing and is now my favorite whiskey by far, I drink nothing else. “Cheers to you Canada”
The new spiced one, soooo good. Defiantly will be getting some of that. I don’t even like whiskey, and both the regular white owl and the new spiced one are very good.
Hi Julie, Yes, it is quite unique. They added spice to whisky like a good chef adds spice to food. It enhances the flavour without taking it over. Very nice stiff.
[...] White Owl Real rye whisky with the colour filtered out, White Owl is made for cocktail drinkers who want to raise their game. Funny thing though, once whisky drinkers started sipping it, White Owl became the most successful new whisky ever introduced by Highwood Distillers. It is still selling like hotcakes so don’t wait till the last minute to get yours. White Owl opens new possibilities for cocktails and mixed drinks. $39.75 at LCBO. [...]
Picked up a bottle to try (always supportive of the Canadian whisky industry) and I had high hopes. Have to say Im disappointed. I found it too sweet to really enjoy straight up. Hope they do well with it, but its not for me.
Picked this up last week and I must say, not a fan at all. Although going into buying it, I had a feeling it would not be my thing, so this came as no surprise. From nose to finish, this whisky just doesn’t have the kick I desire. It tastes lifeless, without body, processed, whatever you want to call it, but it was definitely not for me. Was worth one try to at least say that I’m not denouncing it without trying. But as someone else here said, why spend $40 on this when you could get Century Reserve 1525 for $10 less, or, if you want to spend a little more, Wiser’s Legacy at $45. Heck, any of the Canadian whiskies priced around $25-$30 are better than this. I did not know of the fact that some American micro-distillers were selling un-aged spirits though. Glad to know we uphold our standards in Canada.
The U.S. upholds standards too, just different ones. Bourbon, the dominant U.S. whiskey, has many regulations–you won’t be seeing any white bourbon. “Whiskey” is the catch-all category for everything else that doesn’t meet the more stringent bourbon, rye, corn, or tennessee whiskey requirements. It could be argued that the U.S. has stricter regulations than Canada for some products, such as the requirement in the U.S. that anything called rye whiskey must contain at least 51% rye.
Not stricter, just different.
Hi Davin,
interesting review. i’ve not seen this product on the shelf here on the rock but will have a look around.planning a trip out west later in the year i’ll deffinately give it a go then.
all the best
Paul
HI, I am was at the liquor store in Innisfail and am always interested in new whiskey products. I have tried your White Owl. My favourite has always been Crown Royal. Since trying White Owl I am not touch anything but. Thanks so much for introducing this to me. It will become my long time favourite.
Diane
I have been soley a whiskey drinker for for almost 30 years. The best I ever had was called Captain’s Table. White Owl, in my humble opinion, is by far the best. I don’t “mix” my drinks because to me that’s just an excuse to cover the flavour and the harshness of other whiskies for the sole intention of getting drunk. White Owl doesn’t need anything to make it “taste” better. i’m sold on this one.
Okay, this is something special. I am having a difficult time determining exactly what it is…but it is very nice. Strange, more like a very high quality vodka than Canadian Whiskey. Very cool. On ice it is a stand out! It is a first rate conversation piece to be sure…but it has the goods to stand up to it’s looks. I’m going to end with what I started…my gosh but this is something special!
Do you know if White Owl is gluten-free? Many whiskeys have all the gluten filtered out but then they put some of the mash or whatever it’s called back in to give it colour. I picked up a bottle of this today for a friend who loves whiskey but can’t consume gluten and am hoping that he will finally be able to enjoy life again.
Sorry, I honestly do not know. I think this is a question for a dietitian or doctor.
Tried it, love it, great straight up or over ice to get the full flavour, currently drink it with 7-up and a wedge of lime (around this house we call it a snowy owl )
Never heard of this whiskey until I took a trip up to Bon Echo. Upon in the local town I saw this bottle from afar and the look alone catch my attention. I’m a huge CC fan but since trying this… It’s the only whiskey I drink.
When did Highwood Distillers change its name from Century Distillers? Or are the names synonomous? Reason I ask is that I bought a bottle of Centennial 10 Year, which is produced by Highwood, that had a White Owl miniature as a Value-Added Promotion attached. Given that it was a PET mini, I shouldn’t let that totally taint my impression of the White Owl, but honestly, it was the worst whisky I have ever tasted. The issue is, the mini says Century Distillers, with http://www.centurydistillers.com as the website. This address now redirects to Highwood’s website. Is it possible that the minis they are now giving out for free at the LCBO have been kicking around for several years? If so, this is not the best way to promote a product that is, according to most reviewers, actually fairly decent.
Century Distillers is a division of Highwood Distillers. This has been the case for many years. I doubt those minis have been around for long. They probably were bottled specifically for this promo. White Owl is aimed at the cocktail market and not everyone who drinks their whisky straight is going to like it.
But it was just bad all around…the nose was like paint thinner, and the only other note I could coax out of it was flat cream-soda…the palate was like water (that bad, bottled mineral water taste) or flat-Sprite…and it had zero finish, just an unpleasant chemical-plastic taste…I know that reviews are somewhat subjective based on the sense memories of the reviewer, but I’ve agreed with you on everything else (the Danfield’s 21 is fantastic, and the Alberta Premium Dark Horse is great)…maybe its the plastic in the mini?
after drinking whiskey and rye for years and years and years,I have found white owl the smoothest and most refreshing of all the products out there.its crisp and clear and leaves no lingering after taste. You people have nailed it perfectly. and upon tasting your spiced version, i must say, i was leary at first as the original didnt need messing with what-so-ever.i broke down and tasted it and instantly found it was perfect over ice and a slaash of water.the taste was a perfect, non fattening christmas beverage.egg nog ,without the egg or the nog(what ever that is?)low cal and real easy sipping.you have to do a christmas blitz just for calorie wise folks.perfect job.(if you need help, lol, I have a beard the same colour as that owl. thanks for a great new beverage..BRAD.Y ou have all my support. pardon the spelling, im in the middle of a White Owl.
I must admit that I am first and foremost a single malt scotch man. Having said that and living in Canada, I also appreciate Canadian Whisky. White Owl Whisky is an appealing enjoyable dare I say “dram” that is well-balanced with a fragrant fruity nose and a bang for your buck palalte and finish. A high class whisky with a more reasonable price point. Way to go, high fives….
I’ve gotta say i’m surprised by our so called “whisky drinkers” out here supporting this. I was ultimately offended that this was being marketed as a whisky at all. All the colour, aroma, and a little more flavour than the bulk of premium vodkas out there for less money. Why sell it as whisky when you’re not creating a whisky product, but are destroying any competition in the vodka category. I don’t get it. Makes a pro caesar though.
New drink of choice – tasted it on Friday night with
friends. I am a whiskey drinker and White Owl certainly
is a lot nicer than the whiskey brands I have tried over
the years – I have become a fan.
I have to tell you that this is the best whiskey there Is I have bin a whiskey drinker for years and there is nothing that comes close to white owl I have let my friends try it now there hooked on it as well so if you don’t have lots don’t share it because you will be out.
Thanks for the good time that we all have on white owl
Tried this on the weekend, and as a Scotch and Rye lover I’ll certainly add this to my list of whiskeys I like and definitely would recommend, probably as a sipping whiskey since I cant figure out what I would mix it with, but very nice and smooth on its own.
where can I buy White Owl in CA thx
Probably one of the best things to grace my life in terms of alcohol, great taste, i laugh when I see people saying Ciroc and other liquors are high quality, if this got crazy exposure it would easily become a high class premium. I Love It and when i feel like treating myself and splashing some extra cash this is my go to no matter what
I had a guy at work come up to me about 2 yrs ago an told me to go a buy a bottle of White Owl to try, I’m not an advid Whiskey drinker nor do I drink booze stright on the rocks I’m a Bacardi White guy. I must say this with a splash of coke is DANGERIOUSLY delicious. Huge fan I tell everyone about this clear whiskey. From having (JD) and 40 creek, this tops them both buy far. Welllll worth the extra $10
[...] Enjoyed somewhere in the deepest, darkest Albert with old and new friends … White Owl Clear Whisky [...]
Can you tell us if the sugar content is less than other whiskeys?
Not sure. There is not much sugar in whisky other than caramel from the barrels,
I’m gonna go against the grain here and say White Owl really isn’t all that good. Within the gamut of Canadian whiskies available, even within the Highwood range, White Owl must be among the least interesting flavour-wise.
I find this spirit has insinuations of flavours more so than actual flavours. The citrus is there, maybe some overripe fruits (I’m thinking greengage plums), mild butterscotch. Finish is short and insipid.
In terms of concept and product design, White Owl seems exciting enough. The liquid simply cannot stick the landing. I have passed this around to several bartender colleagues, all of whom share this view. It’s not an interesting sipper, nor does it hold up in cocktails. White Owl is easily overwhelmed but pretty much any other flavour.
For $40 you can do miles better in Canada. And should.
Well then…. now how can I get ahold of the further aged white owl? One must of camr across me before and it was amazing. I am proud to admit I only drink the original white owl… chilled and straight. Great work guys!!!
[...] body is screaming for a loaf of bread, and you don’t mind a little alcohol, have a whiskey. White Owl has definitely eased my transition into keto on several [...]
[...] looks like vodka. In the glass, it tastes something like whisky, although Devin De Kergommeax’s tasting notes don’t inspire a ton of [...]
[...] looks like vodka. In the glass, it tastes something like whisky, although Devin De Kergommeax’s tasting notes don’t inspire a ton of [...]
I live in the States and I purchased this product while visiting relatives in Ontario. Just now have sampled for the first time.
First sample was straight up on the rocks. Was very good. Very smooth. However, without the color, I thought I was drinking vodka.
Second, I made a classic manhattan with sweet vermouth, which happens to be my favorite cocktail. Obviously, this puts the color back into the drink. Perhaps the smoothest manhattan one could ever consume. This is a very good product but takes some getting used to because of the color. I’m impressed.
im very interested in White Owl Whisky and wanted to know if you ship to uk?