Tastes
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Gooderham & Worts Four Grain Canadian Whisky
Canadian — Ontario, Canada
Reviewed September 9, 2020 (edited May 21, 2022)When your favourite sports team earns a hard fought playoff win, you feel a need to celebrate. In lieu of being around my nearest and dearest, the end of my Gooderham & Worts Four Grain Whisky will do (a little Canadian pride is necessary!). While neat, the nose provides an ethanol, vanilla and orchard fruit trio. First sips bring heat, a dry cereal flavour with a dash of maple. Like an impressive rally in overtime, there's an enjoyable peppery swell that ends on a sweet creamy tone. Much like my other Canadian whiskies, it plays well after a meal. 7/10. -
I've had quite a few people suggest that I try the Collective Arts gin, so when I saw a pop-up bottle shop nearby, my curiosity got the best of me and I left with their Plum & Blackthorn (+15 botanicals) gin. I have a hard time walking away from strikingly-hued gins too, so it was a done deal. The nose delivers a beautiful bouquet of balanced, unconventional aromatics, wrapped together with a slightly plummy base. With such a complex mix of spices, where spirit flavours could go sideways, this one hits the mark. Its spicy mouthfeel is like a good masala chai which brings a unique, yet comforting warmth for a gin. Despite a slight heat, this gin is incredibly smooth. Extra points for the striking bottle art and lavender colour. Looking forward to trying their other gins. 8.5/10
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My partner is a big barbecue enthusiast, so he has been wanting to try Buffalo Trace bourbon because of its cult following in the BBQ community. Buffalo Trace tends to be on the bar of most bourbon enthusiasts as a divine staple. It has a brown sugar vanilla nose with a smoky-meets-briny flavour journey. Over time, the nose deepens, adding a drizzle of hot caramel. Similarly, the flavour matures with added juiciness as if you've taken a bite into a ripe apricot. Subtle oak says "hello" during a relaxed finish. It still feels like a fairly straightforward classic bourbon, with mild heat while neat. Best on ice (or with a touch of water) for a smoother sip. I'm not sure it deserves a pedestal, but would be glad to have it in my rotation. 7.5/10
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Maison Selby Cucumber Gin by Dillon's Small Batch Distillers
Flavored Gin — Canada
Reviewed July 7, 2020This Maison Selby cucumber gin by Dillon's Distillery was one I knew I had to try as soon as I saw it. I love cucumbers and I love gin, so I was hoping that this would be a no brainer for an impulse buy. The cucumber and floral nose quenches your thirst before you even drink it. Sipping neat, this gin might blow your hair back from a dominant ethanol flavour profile burn. That said, this gin positively shines in a simple cocktail (ice, soda, lime)! It's a dry gin (rather than other botanical-forward gins one might be used to), which does allow the cucumber to shine through. I'm impressed by how well it elegantly transforms into a crisp, refreshing tipple for a summer evening. 7.75/10 -
On Canada Day eve (can't that be its own holiday, eh?), I thought it appropriate to break open a newer Canadian rye in my collection: Lot 40 Rye Whisky. It has a maple nose with oak and charred orange zest that makes me feel downright patriotic. This rye has an initial sweet vanilla oak flavour that morphs into a baking spice-meets-pepper burn amidst damp, tannic wood. It has a moderately drying rye spice and savory finish that politely waves goodbye. It's not as nuanced as some of their earlier expressions, but is a decent basic rye on your bar over ice or for within a cocktail. I do find myself missing its previous iterations that had a bit more character and intrigue. Until then, O' Canada. 6.75/10
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Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve
Single Malt — Highland, Scotland
Reviewed June 15, 2020 (edited June 25, 2021)Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve (since 1797) has had a lot of time to refine their process. This bottle was a gifted favourite from a friend of mine who looks to this as their go-to dram. With its pear and honey nose, it's easy to understand why. It's beautifully comforting. That said, while neat, the heat-filled first sips will jolt you awake with its caramel spicy tones and an oak-y herbal finish. Enjoyable on a weeknight. 7.5/10 -
Canada has a growing amount of what I like to think of as "dessert" whiskies. Not because they are cloying sweet, but because they have treat-like notes and they're far to easy to enjoy (and likely overindulge on). Luckily, this one won't increase your waistline too quickly! Collingwood Toasted Maplewood Stave Finished blended whisky has a polite Canadian maple syrup nose with a smooth wood, spice and vanilla flavour. Straightforward short finish, which makes it easy to drink quickly. Flexible for cocktails and refreshing with ice. I also admire their unique and elegant bottle. 7/10.
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Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 26, 2020 (edited May 28, 2020)Some days just call for a really good freakin' bourbon. One of the first summer nights on my patio oasis makes it worth its amber glory. Colonel EH Taylor Small Batch Bottled In Bond has a comforting vanilla oak-y nose that I'd happily light as a scented candle. A sip brings a 1-2 punch of spicy heat with notes of corn/leather that gracefully melts like boozy ice cream cone. Drinking with a large ice cube smooths out the heat, but keeps an umami-like tanginess that makes this a fabulous sipper. 8.75/10 -
Have you ever had gin for breakfast? Ok, sure. If you *were* to consider it, this would be the perfect one! I happened to pick up this bottle of Madison Park Breakfast Gin (lot #4!) by 1769 Distillery in a tiny liquor store in Montreal. I had yet to try a bergamot infused gin, but I'm glad I took a chance because I'm a huge fan. It has a pleasant orange blossom and earl grey tea aroma with a juniper, spice and well-steeped tea flavor. I'd imagine this creating a unique French 75 or perfect as is with a lemon wheel. Very easy to drink, especially for tea lovers. This gin is truly a unique cuppa you can enjoy on ice. 8/10
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Aberlour 12 Year Double Cask Matured
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed May 19, 2020 (edited January 1, 2021)The Aberlour 12 double cask matured was one the earliest bottles in my collection, so it's a nostalgic favourite. While it's not particularly complex, its smoothness and familiarity is like a solid friendship that you don't have to overthink. The nose features a confident sherry with citrus notes. The first sip opens a rush of spices and honey with a warming mouthfeel (+ tongue tingle!) that transitions into a dry oak and apple finish. Enjoyable without ice. 8/10.
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