Tastes

Dillon's 2020 Rye [Batch 2] has a mash bill of 10% malted rye and 90% unmalted rye and is packaged at 57.2% ABV. This bottle 188/1000 is aged in New Ontario Oak (cask 113 to be exact) for 59 months. This makes it just shy of 5 years old (...for anyone not wanting to calculate the math here). Its nose shares orange blossom honey, grain and damp straw. I feel like I'm strolling around a farm and can hear happy chickens clucking in the distance. A bit of apple and rural funk come out after it sits. Post cork pop, sips bring subtle honeyed apple, strong pepper and a dryness that verges on acidity. The moderately long finish is a reprieve with pear and light honeycomb sweetness. This golden hued rye feels like summertime in the countryside. Interestingly, the nose and finish are my favourite parts. This rye's palate improves through the tasting session as it opens in the glass. I've revisited this bottle months later and it stays true to its initial notes. Dillon's 2020 Rye release is an interesting departure from the plethora of highly oaked, baking spice driven ryes. 7.5/10

A moment of stillness. Peated drams tend to bring me to those moments more easily since they're hard to ignore. Smoke beckons your attention and when done well, makes you coyly excited about nuances that you pick out amidst the haze.  Ardbeg's An Oa (pronounced An-Oh) is named after a peninsula in the southwest of Islay. This whisky is the output from a bespoke French oak Gathering Vat of mingled whiskies from casks including (but not limited to): Pedro Ximenez, ex-bourbon and new charred oak.  Rather than making you aware of its various components, the nose sings together in perfect harmony. It's a seductive serenade of sweet and savoury smoke. Well rounded BBQ-ed applewood planks, toffee, brine and a hint of ripe banana paint quite an interesting picture. Notes of toasted sweetgrass and vanilla waft in later on.  This rich, oily dram is pleasantly herbaceous. While there is a wave of smoke, it's far more gentle than what one might preconceive for Islay peated scotch. Savoury smoke is paired with light pepper, anise and nutmeg. The finish lasts infinitely long on your palate with a chocolate and mild bitter tobacco smoke reminder of what you just sipped. It leaves an aftertaste of torched wood that I enjoy (...I'd much prefer this on my breath than garlic). I'd consider this to be a step above an "introductory" peated whisky without spooking folks off in a palate fire. I appreciate the artistry and alchemy involved in creating this light golden dram that I'd imagine to be difficult to replicate.  8/10

I bought The Antiquary Blended Scotch Whisky for the bottle and label design alone. To no one's surprise, I went weak in my knees for its Victorian font and the embossed geometric cut bottle sealed the deal. This 12 year old offering has a faint scent of whispering smoke over salted caramel. The nose does deepen slightly over time with honey, barley and light mustiness. While neat, I'm struck by a similar savory-sweet tango dancing in front of a background of gentle pepper and peat. I enjoy its smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel. That main flavour disappears quickly amidst a moderate length, drying finish of subtle oak and fruit salad. Like when a great song abruptly changes when you're dancing with the perfect partner, it's a bit disappointing. This feels like an "easy" whisky for folks who would prefer less intrusive flavours and finishes. I'd consider this as a sweet-inspired inexpensive weeknight dram that grows on you while you drink it. The Antiquary's bottle is a striking addition to a bar, but I wish the top had a cork rather than a twist top with plastic insert pourer. Have you tried this fancy looking bottle? 7/10

Where are you seeing growth in your life? As seasons start to change, I'm reminded to take an opportunity to pause and reflect on where I can improve in my career and personal life. This year has given me an opportunity to revisit my bottles, much like this attractive WhistlePig 10 Rye Whiskey that has sat behind a closed cabinet for far too long. I have a soft spot for it since its initial rye stock was sourced from Canada. It's then aged for a decade in new American oak barrels. My initial scent impression is pleasant orange, black tea and walnuts. The nose further steeps with stickiness as if the oranges were stewed in vanilla syrup. There's a light wooden mustiness like an antique storage crate with light fennel. At 100 proof, it does bring some early heat along with bright, juicy sweet citrus, baking spices and rye grain. The flavour profile remains fairly mild though the taste turns slightly tannic. The finish is body warming, slightly drying and moderate in length. I can taste oak, cinnamon, caramel, black pepper and herbal orange peel. This is one of the better 100% rye whiskies I've tasted though it doesn't make me do backflips at a premium price. It's still a fairly easy drinking pour considering the proof. With its citrus highlights, I'd love to make an old fashioned cocktail with this little piggy. 7.5/10

I see Canada Day as an opportunity to show gratitude towards local innovators, makers and distillers. In the international whisk(e)y community, I am frequently asked for Canadian whisky suggestions (since most folks are exposed to one or two "mainstream" brands that fail to do us justice!). The Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Windsor Ontario has been in operation for >160 years and has one of the largest distillery capacities in North America with 37 fermenters. One of the whiskies produced is Lot 40. Lot 40 Dark Oak is aged in new American Oak and finished in a second, heavily charred new Oak barrel. Similar to the standard offering, it's 100% rye that is pot still distilled. Lot 40 Dark Oak is bottled at 48% ABV, unlike the 43% standard Lot 40. Let's dig in, eh? I can smell orange, syrup, vanilla, nutmeg and vintage oak must. Though there might be some Canadian bias, I swear that I can smell some maple sugar over time as well. This amber coloured offering is subtle to start. The mouthfeel is rich and full with sweet cherry paired with oak bitterness. A wave of spices build gradually; anise, cinnamon and black pepper. The spices wane to a medium finish. It's nicely belly warming, lightly drying, with a wisp of menthol and echo of oak on the palate. I like Lot 40 Dark Oak's namesake oak-forward profile and think that it would play well in an old fashioned too. I appreciate how versatile the use cases for this offering would be: neat, on a rock or in a cocktail. 7.75/10

With all of the COVID lockdown restrictions, I've missed tasting and reviewing drams outside of my four walls at home. Taking some vacation time away from routine is sorely needed! Visiting the only whisky bar in the rural area I'm in is a must. Bunnahabhain 12 is double matured in ex bourbon and ex sherry casks. This Northern Islay dram is non chill filtered with no added colour (its rich golden colour dazzles au naturale!). The nose is lush and sweet. I can smell honey and orange molasses. Freshly torched crème brûlée and light herbal mustiness waft in. As I sip Bunnahabhain 12, red fruit sweetness pairs with ascending pepper that feels electric for my tongue. Slightly bitter tannins transition to tangy brine. Warm toffee and vanilla finish together with oak and comforting earthiness. I enjoy how the spice keeps you on your toes with a grounding nature that keeps you coming back for more. 7.75/10

Do you ever have those days where by its end, you just think to yourself: "oh my gosh, I survived"? Today is one of those days for me. My brain feels fried, my eyes are throbbing and I feel simultaneously like I could sleep for a month and/or be awake all night. On these types of days, I keep my expensive drams on the shelf and reach for something cheap and cheerful. Canadian Club 12 is aged in charred oak bourbon barrels and at a price point of $31.95 CAD, it's hard to beat for a 12 year old whisky. The first image that popped up when I nosed this was orange marmalade and a wet old barn. Comforting aged charred oak and vanilla custard reveal themselves over time. Canadian Club 12 has an initially sweet, faintly medicinal sip that ascends with baking spice. Woodiness and a slightly bitter note take over through a mellow and moderate vanilla finish. This is a decent budget bottle that would work nicely in cocktails as well. It's fairly straight forward, but its sweet-leading palate would be appealing to folks who prefer less smoke. 6.75/10