Whisky Tasting No.3 at The Embankment, Bedford

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Whisky Tasting No.3 at The Embankment, Bedford
Welcome to our third Whisky Tasting at The Embankment and tonight, not only do we have
seven Canadian whiskies for you but also Canadian Whisky Writer Johanne McInnis aka
Whisky Lassie (@whiskylassie on Twitter) co-presenting this tasting.

Johanne’s blog can be found here: http://whiskylassie.blogspot.com you really must
follow her on Twitter @whiskylassie and she also has a Facebook page, so follow here too!

The seven whiskies chosen represent Canada coast to coast, spanning 5,000km. Three of
the distilleries we’ll be visiting tonight are based in Canada’s largest province, Ontario. Two
from Alberta, one was distilled in British Columbia and one from Manitoba.

Just about all of the information in these pages has come either from Davin De
Kergommeaux’s book or website; both aptly named ‘Canadian Whisky, the portable expert’.
The book is available on Amazon, although there were only 2 copies of the hardback edition
available this morning, I was assured more are on the way. It is also available as a Kindle
download. A paperback version is about to be launched in the UK no later than the middle of
June.

If you are tweeting during this tasting, please feel free to do so, we would appreciate it if you
could use the hashtag #WDT3 so we can capture your thoughts and photos in our blog post
as well.

1. Alberta Premium ‘Dark Horse’ (45% abv)
Alberta Distillers - Canadian Rye Whisky

Alberta Distillers Ltd. was founded in 1946 by entrepreneurs, Max Bell and Frank
McMahon. From the beginning their philosophy was strongly influenced by their
western heritage and rural values. They were Prairie boys to the core. The distillery
began producing Alberta Premium over 50 years ago and since then has become
Canada’s largest buyer of rye grain. Most often it purchases the grain directly from
farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, many of whom still deliver it
themselves by truck.

Alberta Premium showcases all the spicy, peppery notes of high-rye-grain whisky.
Dark Horse is richer, more robust, and has more sophisticated. It’s simply an
extraordinary symphony of rye.

A mingling of 12-year-old rye whisky and 6-year-old small pot rye, Dark Horse has an
8% dollop of well-aged corn whisky added to flesh out the body. The whisky is aged in
heavily charred American white oak barrels, and is bottled at 45% alc/vol. Rich oak
caramels and vanillas imbue Dark Horse with classic bourbon notes which
complement the signature spiciness of Canadian Prairie rye grain.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: Slate, charcoal, bourbon-like vanilla, sweet pickles, dark
fruits, sweet and herbal flowers, hot pepper, sweet ginger and crispy clean oak. An
extraordinary symphony of rye.
Follow the Whisky Discovery™ Blog on our 'Voyage of Discovery' into the world of Whisky & distilled spirits
Dave M: +44 7802 734029 E: Dave@whiskydiscovery.com T: @WhiskyDiscovery
Kat M: +44 7751 320832 E: Kat@whiskydiscovery.com T: @WhiskyDiscovKat

2. Collingwood 21 Year Old (40% abv)
Canadian Mist Distillery - 100% Canadian Rye Whisky

The whisky story of 2011 may well have been Collingwood Canadian Whisky. This
richly flavoured upscale brew was distilled at Brown-Forman’s Canadian Mist distillery
in Collingwood, an Ontario resort town a couple of hours north of Toronto.
Collingwood, the town sits on the shores of Nottawasaga Bay, an inlet on the massive,
crystal clear Georgian Bay.

Collingwood, the whisky, is unique. Once it has matured, it is blended, then rested for
up to a year in a huge marrying vat filled with Maplewood staves. Not maple syrup,
mind you, but maple wood. The result simply gushes berry fruits. Intended for the
burgeoning Canadian connoisseur whisky market.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: Dark rye bread with complex undertones of herbs, spring
flowers, newly turned earth, hot white pepper, liquorice and creamy milk chocolate.
The defining feature is it’s creamy smoothness. A real treat and a genuine treasure.

3. Forty Creek ‘Confederation Oak (40% abv)
Forty Creek Distillery - Canadian Blended Whisky

Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve is the fourth special release from whisky
maker John Hall’s Kittling Ridge Distillery. At 16,800 bottles, this is also Hall’s largest
special release. Hall produces Confederation Oak Reserve with his traditional Forty
Creek “Meritage” process whereby he ages the corn, rye, and barley spirits separately
before blending them together. He then re-barrels the blend for a period of marrying
prior to bottling. However Confederation Oak is very much a unique whisky in that the
marrying process takes place in barrels made from Canadian white oak trees that grew
in a forest just forty miles (65 km) from the Grimsby distillery.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: Butterscotch, fresh-cut wood, toasted oak and wood
smoke. Sweet vanilla, berries, barbeque sauce, mash, granola. Restrained, but full-
flavoured. Rich & Round

Follow the Whisky Discovery™ Blog on our 'Voyage of Discovery' into the world of Whisky & distilled spirits
Dave M: +44 7802 734029 E: Dave@whiskydiscovery.com T: @WhiskyDiscovery
Kat M: +44 7751 320832 E: Kat@whiskydiscovery.com T: @WhiskyDiscovKat

4. Highwood Ninety ’20 Year Old’ (45% abv)
Highwood Distillers - 100% Winter Wheat Whisky

Several years ago, Highwood Distillers made a strategic decision to put a stronger
focus on connoisseur whiskies. It’s a decision that has paid off in spades for whisky
lovers. This year, Highwood has added a new dimension: long-aged whisky released
at a higher proof. Ninety, a rich fruity whisky is bottled at 45% alc/vol – 90˚ proof.
There are two versions; tonight you are experiencing the rarer of the two – 20 years
old.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: Creamy sweet and very rich with peppermint, candy cane,
hot white pepper, and fragrant baking spices. Cooked corn cobs buttress sour fruit
and sweet spices. Huge, complex, and beautifully balanced

5. Crown Royale ‘Limited Edition’ (40% abv)
Gimli Distillers – Blended Whisky

In 1965 the demands of Canadian oil workers in Texas were heard, and they
released Crown Royal in the United States. It was an auspicious decision, for Crown
Royal has since gone on to become the best selling Canadian whisky in North
America. Since 1994, Canadians once again have their own exclusive Crown Royal,
unavailable anywhere else in the world - Crown Royal Limited Edition. Since taking
over the Crown Royal portfolio in 2001, Diageo has maintained the Limited Edition
and its Canadian exclusivity. Complex, mannerly, cultivated, and understated. The
judges at the 2010 World Whisky Awards in London obviously agreed, awarding
Crown Royal LE the title of Best Canadian Whisky.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: Dark rye bread with complex undertones of herbs, spring
flowers, newly turned earth, hot white pepper, licorice and creamy milk chocolate.
The defining feature is it’s creamy smoothness. A real treat and a genuine treasure.

6. Lot 40 (43% abv)
Hiram Walker Distillery – 100% Rye Whisky

Lot 40 was a plot of land occupied by one of the ancestors of Mike Booth, the now-
retired Master Distiller responsible for creating this whisky. Proud of his distilling
heritage, he paid homage to his ancestry by naming this rye-heavy whisky for the
spot where his family set up their first Canadian still many generations ago.

Distilled from a mash of rye malt and rye, this is the whisky against which all the
bragging ryes should be measured. The rye shines through, perhaps even dominates
the nose and the palate, but it is neither biting nor overbearing, even though it does
not have the taming influence of new wood so common in heavy rye whiskies, and
particularly American ryes. A very unusual, almost succulent whisky.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: Rye bread, sour rye, earthy rye, dusty rye grain, and then
sweet citric notes, oranges, hot peppery spices, and tannic wood. Spicy Rye.

7. Still Waters ‘1+11 Canadian Whisky’ (40% abv)
Still Waters Distillery – Blended Whisky

This was meant to be in tonight’s tasting, but was stolen one evening once it had
arrived in the UK. I wanted to leave it into the tasting, as the good people from Still
Waters have already sent a replacement but sadly hasn’t arrived in time fro this
evening’s event.

First and foremost, Still Waters is a craft whisky distillery, sourcing local grain, then
fermenting, distilling, ageing, and bottling it right on site. However, making great
whisky takes time. According to distiller and company co-founder, Barry Bernstein,
“While waiting for our single malt and straight rye whiskies to mature, we wanted to
release a traditional Canadian blended whisky. We personally selected the whiskies in
this blend and are quite proud of the international recognition it has already received.”

Still Waters’ pot-distilled single malt whisky is made from 100% Canadian two-row
malted barley. Similarly, its corn and rye whiskies begin with locally sourced Ontario-
grown grain. True to the craft distilling tradition, its whiskies are made by hand in small
batches using artisanal distilling techniques. They make 1 barrel per week.

Davin’s Tasting Notes: A tingling effervescence turns initially buttery and mouth-
filling, toffee indulgences into clear, clean refreshment. Ever-present hot pepper
buttresses a richness of body and crisp cleansing pith

8. Cadenhead’s Authentic Wold Collection ‘Potter 11 Year Old’,
(55.1% abv)
Potter Distillery – 100% Indian Corn Whisky

So this was our hurried replacement Canadian Whisky which we galloped across
London for yesterday, when we realised the Still Waters would not make it in time. No
animals were hurt in obtaining this whisky, but Dave’s knee suffered a minor blow-out
during the gallop after spending too long in the Soho Whisky Club..

The Potter Distillery was situated in British Columbia, and although registered as a
distillery it was essentially a whisky brokerage with a bottling line (no stills). In 2005 all
the stocks were purchased by Highwood Distillery and moved to High River Alberta.
The bottle we are enjoying this evening is an extremely rare bottling. It was purchased
by Cadenhead’s and sold in the German market. The Cadenhead’s shop in London
purchased as many of the bottles they could get their hands on, this is one of 4 left (as
per manager at shop). Total bottled were 372. It was distilled from the Weyburn
Distillery which has been mothballed & sold to a methanol plant in 2002.

To find out more about Canadian Whisky we would strongly suggest that you point your
browser to Davin De Kergommeaux’s website: http://www.canadianwhisky.org and get
yourself a copy of the book!

Although none of these whiskies are available in the UK yet, with the interest in Canadian
Whisky gaining momentum, I’m sure we will see more Canadian Whisky in our specialist
retailers soon. The ‘super-sub’ Cadenhead’s bottling was available when we left their
London shop last night as he was closing, but just three bottles remain – priced circa £60
(They also had a 24 Year Old expression from the Potter Distillery at around £70)

Our favourite local independent retailers are:

Cambridge Wine Merchants Ampthill
12 Church Street,
Ampthill,
Bedfordshire
MK45 2EH

Tel: 01525 405929
Email: ampthill@cambridgewine.com

Blue Otter Wines, Hitchin
37 Churchyard,
Hitchin,
Herts,
SG5 1DW

Tel: 07785 388 311
Email: Paul@blueotter.co.uk

 Follow the Whisky Discovery™ Blog on our 'Voyage of Discovery' into the world of Whisky & distilled spirits
             Dave M: +44 7802 734029 E: Dave@whiskydiscovery.com T: @WhiskyDiscovery
               Kat M: +44 7751 320832 E: Kat@whiskydiscovery.com T: @WhiskyDiscovKat

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