> 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.
> White Owl Whisky 40% alc./vol.
Sprite™, citrus fruit cooler, anise, soft baking spices, butterscotch, hot cayenne, hints of oak tannins. Probably the tastiest white whisky anywhere in the world.
> 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. ★★★★★
Well, did i missed something on this one ‘cause this was a real disappointment to me. For this price i would prefer the whole range of Forty Creek or 6 bottles of Alberta Premium… I gave a 76%. Bloody hell !
Well, tastes differ. Try tasting Red Letter blind with a few others, and include Wiser’s 18 in the flight. I think it compares very favourably with the 18 year old, and I know you like that one as much as I do.
Is it a 100% Rye Whisky?
Hi Marty,
No it was not distilled from 100% rye grain.
Davin
Jim Murray gave this his Canadian Whisky of the Year award in the 2010 bible.
Jim Murray also gave a 90% to the Macallan Fine Oak who is one of the worst single malt i’ve ever tasted…
Much to my surprise, I found a bottle for sale – $142. Sadly beyond my budget at the moment
Wiser’s Red Letter is going fast so that bottle won’t last too long, especially at that price.
Davin
I have myself a slight issue. I own a bottle of Wiser’s Red Letter that hasn’t been opened but I just discovered it has floaters in the bottle. LCBO will take it back no problem but now I’m stuck there are a few bottles available of this stuff left in my area but with Alberta Prem 30 year coming I’m wondering if I should change this and get 3 bottles of Alberta or do I get another Wiser’s red letter? Which one would you say tastes better?
Whew! That’s a tough one. If the Red Letter has bits of cork in it then that means it may have been stored lying down at some point. If it’s a haze at the bottom then probably a good shake will take of it. I would be very hard pressed to choose between the two. I generally open my bottles so I’m never in a position to return them. If it was me, I’d keep the Red Letter or exchange it and I’d still try to get an Alberta Premium. They both really are quite special.
I just today looked at my bottle for the first time since I bought it and it is full of floating bits … very sad
Not at all! Those are flavour congeners that have fallen out of solution because the whisky was not chill filtered. Most whiskies are chill filtered and this removes some less soluble compounds but also some flavour. Don’t sweat it. The whisky will still taste great.
Hey Davin,
OK so I called all of the LCBO locations that have the Red Letter, unfortunately each and everyone of them are being sent back for testing due to this same problem. So as it stands it seems I will never get to try the Red Letter. I’ll jump on Alberta Premium 30 year asap but for now I exchange the Red Letter for Wiser’s Legacy and Forty Creek Barrel Select. Sipping on the Legacy right now and it’s outstanding I would say even better then Wiser’s 18 year and at 15 bucks less it’s a steal.
This is so bizarre. I have two bottles of Red Letter left, one recently opened. Both have a little bit of haze, but this just looks like the normal haze you get after a few years when whisky has not been chill filtered. I’m keeping mine. The open one still tastes fantastic.
So I think I may have had something to do with J.P Wiser’s 150 anniversary being discontinued in LCBO’s. On the site it says it’s discontinued and I was told it is being tested. All I did was try to buy the thing at three different locations and each place had the same issue.
been trying to locate a bottle of Red Letter for a while now. Went to Queen’s Quay LCBO in Toronto and asked customer servie what the deal was on availability. Gave me the number for Corby’s and said they will at times arrange for a private delivery if they have it available.
I called Corby’s and they were very helpful. I don’t know how they did it but they made a few calls to some local LCBO stores and were able to locate the last bottle available in Ontario. Red Letter has not been avialable on their website for months so I don’t know how they found it and I couldn’t. They will now ship it to my local LCBO and I will finally own my own bottle, finally. Duty Free website for Fort Erie/Buffalo Peace Bridge lists it on their website but they have no stock. I was also able to secure a bottle of Canadian Club 30year old from BCliquor. Some friends will bring me the bottle in August when they visit Ontario. Don’t know if we’ll ever see the Wiser’s Red Letter again.
Hi Marc,
Thanks for letting us know. I was also searching the LCBO website and found none. I have one bottle left but if I ever see another I’ll snap it up.
Davin
I’m suprised you guys didn’t find any bottles of 150 annaversary at the LCBO. I just picked up a bottle today at a Mississauga LCBO.Pretty psyched about it, going to open the bottle on the Wedding day in 3 weeks.
I just checked and it is not listed in inventory. I guess you got lucky. I wouldn’t mind buying another bottle myself. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I can’t think of a more appropriate toast.
Thanks! On the online LCBO website there are two listed one in Collingwood and another in Meaford, both located in Ontario obviously for it to be on the LCBO page. Heres the link
http://lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=59071
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the information regarding the Red Letter. I just learnt something by reading your entry. If you enter Wiser’s into the lcbo search engine the Red Letter won’t come up, you must enter J.P. Wiser’s then it will pop up and you’re right, two bottles left in Collingwood and Meaford. Unfortunatly I was in Collingwood yesterday but didn’t go into the LCBO store, looks like I’m going back tomorrow.
they actually just dropped the price to 115 bucks
Picked up bottle #4812 for $125 yesterday.
just bought #5810 here on the “Rock”.NFLD. Have friend searching the liquor store of edmonton for AB Preium 30yr anyone know where a bottle of this might be? thanks.
Hey Paul,
We have lots of the AB Premium 30 year old in Ontario. On my third bottle since being released. Jim Murray sadly didn’t give it that great of a score in the 2012 Whisky Bible. Stil good stuff produced right here in Canada.
Hey Marc,
if i know of some one going that way i’ll ask them to oick me up some more..If get there i’ll buy what i can carry. just bought a set of canadian whiskey tasting glass online. should be interesting to see if there is a difference.
take care
Paul
Davin,
Bought my bottle of Red Letter last year but haven’t opened it. Took it out of the box the other day after it had sat for 10-12 months and my bottle also had a haze and looked cloudy like unstired orange juice. I’m keeping it as I’m a collector but it must be the same issue one of your readers experienced last year. Have you heard anything regarding the quality of this stuff, is Wiser’s aware of the problem?
the haze is from non chill filtered whisky. it’s a great thing, more flavor and an ideal trait in an aged spirit
have 2 bottles.. one for a special occasion, and the other to stash away. already polished off a bottle.. it was delish
Davin, I have a bottle of this on my bar. To be completely honest I’m a little worried about opening it because it’s expensive and I don’t want to be let down. Have you ever considered creating a quality vs price chart. Something like a ranking system?
Hi Rob. This is great whisky, really great. I have never done a “bang for your buck” chart as prices vary so widely from place to place.
Hey Davin, I’m curious. What do you think whisky like this one, Canadian Club 30 Y.O and Crown Royal XR will go for in 10 to 15 years unopened in the original box. I own one of each and I’ve been debating whether I should drink them or store them.
It’s hard to say for sure, but generally old bottles do not go up much in value. I also have a couple of each of these and it is my intention to open and savour them. Slowly.
Davin,
I’m seeing indications that this will be re-released; do you have any information that you could share with us?
Sure is. Ive been labeling and packaging 700+ by hand everyday so enjoy it everyone. And no floaties either. Cheers
Small amounts have shown up in Sk. $100 a bottle.
40 bottles at Ontario LCBO’s as of today, well 39 now, at $115.
Any chance it’s as good as the last release?
[...] Wiser’s Red Letter 150th anniversary edition reviewed here. [...]
Just treated myself to a bottle and have to say it ranks up there with any high end whiskey. Highly recommended
After special order I finally got my hands on a bottle. My father in law got the original release in 2007. His came in a really nice box but mine is a few bucks cheaper. I’m tempted to get a second to stash away.
I have enjoyed about 50% of my bottle and really like it.
That said it is not worth 2 bottles of Highwood Ninety which I like more anyway…so 1 of WRL or 2 HWN, no contest here.
Have an unopened bottle of this. Getting rid of it email if interested. Rdesantis9779@gmail.com
I have a Wiser’s token from 1857 and want to know what it is worth
It’s actually from about 20 years ago and has no value that I know of. Sorry.
I would like to ask for some guidance. I have a bottle of Wiser’s Red Letter 150th Anniversary in it’s original wood case. According to the enclosed documentatio, it is one of only 6,000 produced. The bottled is numbered “0098″.
What should I do? Should I savour it over ice? If I do, would I be foolishly opening an extremely valuable bottle of fine wiskey? What is it worth?
If it was mine I would open it and enjoy it. The value has not gone up since it was released. It is very good whisky and well worth savouring.
Does anyone have a bottle of this they would like to part with?
Adam_johnstone_14@hotmail.com
Found a bottle and box in a small place in Alberta. Crazy find for being 10 years old.
I have a bottle forsale in Alberta contact if interested lgdag@yahho.com original box sealed 200.00
I Have an Un opened bottle in wood box. 150.00. Niagara Falls, On. paul964@sympatico.ca
I am looking for $224. If interested im in kw ontario area . contact me at 12stepsA@gmail.com. This is bottle 0224 of 6000 ever made mint unopened w wooden case velvet liner certificate bottle signed by master brewer
And one trade one for a 40 year old Canadian club email me gordonlatour@live.com