Canadian Whisky Awards - 2010

When you hear the words "Canadian whisky" what comes to mind?  For me, as of late, it has been the fictional character, Don Draper, of the television show, Mad Men, reaching for a bottle of Canadian Club.  Ohh, Don, you're such a lovable 'ol SOB.  Even when you hold a tumbler of CC, you're poking a stick in the eye of Canadian whisky's reputation.  There are so many other Canadian whiskies that are far better.  CC is good with 7-up and that's about it.

Americans buy more Canadian whisky than anyone else.  During Prohibition, that dark time in history when alcohol was banned in the United States, enterprising Canadians were more than happy to meet the US market demand for whisky.  Consumption was strong and the whisky was not great.  Times have changed.

There are now many great Canadian whiskies.  The best site on the web to learn about them is operated by a fellow Canuck, Davin de Kergommeaux (pictured above in a most pensive pose).  Davin's site is aptly entitled "Canadian Whisky" (click here).  He has recently posted the "Canadian Whisky Awards" which recognizes the best Canadian whiskies.  

Check it out!

Cheers!


Jason Debly

Review: Gibson's Finest Rare 18 years Canadian Whisky

Soft, light, polite, interesting and talkative, a little complex, but not overly so.  On the one hand, I could be making a generalization about Canadians. Oh hell, you're thinking Wayne Gretzky or Anne Murray crooning "Snow Bird."  Hell, even Candian rock music is polite like Rush and Neil Young.  On the other hand, I might also be making an observation about their whisky. Compared to scotch, Canadian whisky is lighter and sweeter. This is a result of blending. A lot of blending. It is not uncommon for Canadian whisky to have up to 50 different whiskies blended together. They must be at least three years old, but typically are older.

A great attribute of many Canadian whiskies is that while distilled from a wide variety of grains (ie. rye, wheat and corn) in addition to barley, it is rarely grainy in taste. You don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to get a good drink. This may be one of the reasons that Americans buy more Canadian whisky than they do of their own native spirits (ie. bourbon, Tennessee whisky). 

Probably the most famous Canadian whisky is Crown Royal. However, there are others.  One of the less known is Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 years old.  It has always been one of my favorites.  It is a great blend of whiskies resulting in a soft, light spirit with some sweet corn and spiced rye that finishes with a dry flourish. 

Getting infortmation on Gibson's is not easy.  Two books I have on world whisky fail to make any reference to it. Turning to the internet, there is scant information. So, I cannot tell you anything about how long it has been on the market or any other interesting factoid. There is a website, but it is hardly informative.  In fact, I visit the site and think it would discourage a whisky drinker.  Loud alternative rock music targeting a youthful, college age demographic that I am no longer a member of is the aim of the Gibson's site.  Never mind the website. It’s all about the flavor.

Nose (undiluted)

It seems every time I pull the cork on this bottle, I am hit with a sickening waft of pure alcohol. But don’t worry, it passes and in no way is a reflection on what follows.

In the glass, the nose is not offensive, but not memorable. I smell corn. Reminiscent of bourbon. Canadian whisky tends not to be floral on the nose and this is no exception. I am detecting some vanilla. The aromas of this Canadian whisky are very restrained.  Nothing special.

Body

For a Canadian whisky it is full bodied, but compared to Scotch, it would be considered light, along the lines of Cragganmore, Glenkinchie or Glen Scotia.

Palate (undiluted)

There is a sweetness of corn chased by some spicy rye. But, don’t worry, not too spicy. Remember, it’s Canadian eh, renowned for smoothness.  Hmmm . . . good. Oak, citrus, cooked fruit, maybe stewed apples. Vanilla is there too.

Finish (undiluted)

Long, lingering, velvet finish of brown sugar and a spiciness that dries expansively with the warmth of a woodstove. The flavors really hang for a long time. Impressive.

A sign of many great whiskies is the ability to start out sweet, but gracefully transition to a dry as tumble weed, tart finish. Gibson’s Finest does this beautifully.

Ice?
Ice and Canadian whisky go well together and are particularly refreshing during the summer months.  This whisky is very smooth and inviting.  Ice is not needed to tame the flavor profile.  It's a personal decision.  Neat or with ice, you will definitely enjoy it.

The Price is Right!
Don't worry Bob Barker is retired and I am not taking Drew Carey's job.  For an 18 year old whisky, I think the price is reasonable.  Not a steal of a deal, but a fair price.

General Impressions

Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 years is an excellent whisky and would make the perfect gift for the person you know likes whisky in general, but knowing nothing more as to likes or dislikes. Gibson’s manages to be instantly likable, but not boring. There is a complexity of flavor that reels the drinker in for more and more.  There's no fancy marketing campaign, just the quiet, humble Canadian way.  Give it a try!  You won't regret it.

Cheers!

Jason Debly

Copyright © Jason Debly, 2009-2010. All rights reserved.

Crown Royal - Canadian Whisky

I know that my blog is focused on scotch reviews, but I am making an exception to review this great Canadian whisky.

Introducing a Fine Canadian Whisky

Crown Royal is enormously popular in the US, as well as elsewhere in the world. The reason for the popularity comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with this spirit. Crown Royal is pleasant, easy-drinking, refined yet versatile. It is versatile in the sense that there are a number of ways to enjoy it. Neat, on the rocks, mixed with ginger ale, coke, or as an ingredient in mixed drinks.

Crown Royal is comprised exclusively of Canadian whiskies.  Distillation of the whiskies comprising Crown Royal is carried out at an enormous group of buildings in Gimli, Manitoba.  This whisky achieves its' unique and complex flavor by way of the distillation of several different grains, namely: barley, corn, rye and wheat. These grains are then aged in both new oak casks and also used ones that previously housed wine.  The combination of varying ages and storage casks produce the whisky, which of course is blended.  In this standard Crown Royal bottling, the majority of composite whiskies are young, though there are a few older ones added.  Of course, as you progress into the more expensive product offerings like the Limited Edition, Special Reserve and Crown Royal XR, the whiskies used are more aged imparting terrific complexity.

Serving Suggestion

I enjoy Crown Royal in a crystal tumbler neat but also from time to time with two ice cubes.

Nose

Faint notes of vanilla and fresh out-of-the-oven lemon bread. No scent of alcohol here, which is nice.

Palate

A sip of this will introduce the taster to gentle vanilla and honey. "Delicate" in a word is a way of describing how these flavors intermingle. You will also note faint oak in the background, which no doubt was contributed to by the time spent aging in barrels of all the whiskies composing this spirit.

Finish

Light, balanced and almost instantly the flavor is gone, prompting the taster to sip once more (a potentially intoxicating endeavour).

Final Thoughts

This is certainly an enjoyable drinking experience. Crown Royal is more sophisticated and smoother than other Canadian whiskies like Canadian Club or Royal Reserve. While the smooth character of this whisky is pleasing and a source of pleasure, it is also a source of disappointment for the whisky connoisseur seeking a thought provoking flavor profile.  The connoisseur who wants to sit with a tumbler of this whisky and plumb the fathoms of its flavor will be disappointed quickly because the flavour while delicate and smooth will quickly bore such an individual who is looking for "complexity" of flavor.

Another source of disappointment for the serious whisky afficianado is the short finish. There is virtually no lingering of flavor. Its gone as quickly as you swallow it. It should be noted there is no "burn" when swallowed. Its that smooth!  I like Crown Royal for what it is: an easy drinking whisky to be enjoyed with friends while socializing. When I am in the mood to sit in my lazy boy and treat myself to a complex whisky, I would not choose this whisky, but rather would opt for a single malt Scotch.

Cheers!

Jason Debly

P.S.  Are you looking for a review of Crown Royal Black?  If so, click here.

© Jason Debly, 2009-2013. All rights reserved.