Whisky

Whisky

Canadian Whisky

Canadian whisky has been around for a very long time and is the number one spirit imported into the United States. It currently accounts for 11.5% of spirit consumption in the US and only trails behind vodka for market share. The key reason for this is the smooth nature of Canadian whisky. For most people, drinking is a casual affair, […]

Whisky

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

This is one of those spirits that either gets rave reviews or boos and hisses. Some people think that the price point of Blue Label is a ripoff, while others see that it represents something more than just the liquid in the bottle. It is true that Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a blended scotch, which automatically nix’s this spirit […]

Whisky

A Story About Whisky

The subject of whisky is one of those topics that can go on forever. There are magazines and websites dedicated to just one particular whisky region, there are zealots who defend their brand with the same heart one would defend a country. Then there are those who scream blasphemy at the thought of adding anything to a single malt scotch, […]

Whisky

Schenley OFC Whisky

Schenley OFC was first made in 1955 at the Schenley distillery in Valleyfield, Quebec. According to the manufacturer/distributor, Schenley OFC is the most decorated Canadian whisky. It has won 25 Gold Medals for product excellence in 27 Monde Selection competitions. In Canada, Schenley OFC is an 8-year-old whisky, where as in the US it is a 6-year-old whisky, so taste […]

Whisky

Canadian Whisky Month

Every time I go to the liquor store the Canadian whisky section stands out quite prominently. I personally like the Canadian style of whisky, and that character is smooth with slight toffee sweetness and hints of fruit on the nose, balanced out by some spicy rye and oak flavours. There is a vast array of Canadian whisky brands to choose from, […]

Whisky

Balvenie Signature 12 Year Old

The recent upswing in popularity of spirits has had good and bad effects. The good part is that there are many more options for the consumer, with the healthy competition producing gads of new products. The bad part is that to fill the demand many companies have cut back on quality and put it into marketing. At what point does […]

Whisky

Corby’s Royal Reserve

Royal Reserve is the name of a whisky distilled by Corby’s, a major Canadian distiller that was bought by Hiram Walker a few years ago. With all the mergers going on in the spirit world, it’s hard to say who owns Corby now. The one thing that Corby has done is create some good Canadian whiskies, including the Canadian Whisky […]

Whisky

Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old Whisky

Gibson’s is the third most popular Canadian whisky in Canada. It holds 17% of the market and sells around 300,000 cases per year. Whenever you read the term “case” it means that 9 bottles of 750ml were sold. Just in case you didn’t know. Outside of Canada, you will be lucky to find Gibson’s since it doesn’t have much of an […]

Whisky

Alberta Premium Rye Whisky Review

Alberta Premium Canadian whisky is an enigma. It’s an affordable, run of the mill, 5-year-old whisky made from 100% rye grain. But it is also highly regarded and even considered to be the best Canadian whiskies, according to Jim Murray. What we do know is that Alberta Premium is a 100% rye whisky made in Canada that is readily available. […]

Bourbon Barrels
Whisky

Bourbon

Here is an interesting article from the New Haven Register (August 18, 1880) about how bourbon was made. It discusses both sweet mash and sour mash methods of making bourbon. It also lists a couple of laws I had never heard of before including the maximum amount of time for bourbon mash fermenting. I’ve transcribed the article, and back in […]

Whisky

Woodford Reserve 1838 Sweet Mash

Bourbon is a whiskey with a long history of tradition and craftsmanship. Very few spirits, let alone other whiskies, have bourbons well-defined production specifications. The laws, on bourbon production, create a very flavourful spirit, but with such well-defined specifications, some companies lose interest in creativity. Not Woodford Reserve, and their Master Distiller Chris Morris. For the past few years they […]

Whisky

Maker’s Mark Bourbon

One of my favourite bourbons is Maker’s Mark, plain and simple. This whisky is big, bold and surprisingly smooth. The main thing I like about it is the moderation of the corn aromas in the nose. Being a bourbon it is obviously going to have some corn characteristics, but unlike some cheaper bourbons, Makers Mark has created a wonderful balance. […]