Tastes

Brand reputation is an interesting thing. A company that is barely known in the market can suddenly win visible awards with high quality spirits. Others that are relative behemoths may lead consumers to disappointment and crushed expectations. I received a sample of Canadian Club 100% Rye and I had my Canadian pride at the ready. This rye's early nose smells like cherry syrup, grain, demerara sugar and wet newspaper. It later settles to burnt sugar and wood shavings. Canadian Club 100% Rye has a modest, light flavour profile: Subdued simple syrup sweetness is paired with polite pepper. There's light tanginess with notes of plain vanilla biscuits. It has a moderate, vaguely bitter finish that ghosts you for flavour like a fun conversation with a person who was never to be heard from again. The lasting impression is just a quiet tongue tingle without much discernible flavour. It feels like drying, television static that makes me wish for the momentum this rye gained from its nose. Canadian Club 100% Rye may appeal most to people who would like to "shoot" whisky or "don't really like the taste of whisky." Though this pour is not directly off-putting, there are other "local" bottles I'd prefer for the (fortunately low) price point. 5.25/10

What's your favourite springtime dram? With the sun shining and temperatures on the rise, I thought it would be a great day to taste Glengoyne 12. The nose brings me to an orchard with smells of ripe apple and barley. Over time, creamy vanilla, faint coconut and aged wood waft in like a warm breeze. The taste of this oily, rich golden-brown pour begins coquettishly mild with honeyed grape sweetness. Seconds later, a medium pepper spice kick with tannic accompaniment join in. It descends to a moderate length finish with oak, bitter orange zest and nutmeg. It's a light and easygoing dram that would be great in the spring. Its freshness is welcome for variety's sake or as an addition to an unpeated roster. It doesn't have massive layers of complexity but some days, that is quite alright by me. 7.25/10

This eye catching bottle hails from its humble Speyside distillery in the town of Rothes. I love that they still maintain in-house cooperage and I admire their dedication to no added artificial whisky colourants.  The Glenrothes Select Reserve's nose has an even blend of apple, gentle smoke and clover honey. I can also smell subtle pear and lemon marmalade. No one note pops out, but the nose is very nicely balanced. As the dram continues to sit, the sweet jammy pear becomes more pronounced under a thin veil of smoke and creamy vanilla. This golden pour has a light and oily mouthfeel. The gentle peat from the nose is my first flavour along with plain biscuit, toasted almond and lime. Smoke and pepper intensify through the tasting and finish, like it's ascending to a climax. This is unique, since I'm more accustomed to "louder" smoke notes that diminish after their initial blast. The billows of smoke that grow through my tasting suddenly stop. It's as if a large gust of wind came along and blew it away. What remains is a long, lightly peated finish from its former flame that warms my heart. I can taste subtle sour and vanilla notes reminiscent of classic plain cheesecake. Because of its light sipping ease and unique, mischievous charm, this is one of those pours that would disappear too quickly. The described reversal of smoke feels like a coquettish 'wink and a smile' that piques my curiosity for the next sip. 8.25/10

Have you had that feeling when you return to your corporate job after time off and see a triple digit amount of emails in your inbox? While an abrupt return to reality can cause heart palpitations, as silly as it sounds, Tomintoul 10 reminds me to be gentle with myself (...marketed as "the gentle dram" afterall). Who would have thought that whisky would invoke such sound philosophy?  The nose shares orange blossoms, oak and steeped chamomile tea with a drizzle of honey. Delicate, aged dry wood shavings and toffee chime in to add more rustic charm.  My sips of Tomintoul 10 are smooth and I taste soft honeyed apple sweetness that compliments the nose. Sadly, it's fleeting. A brief wave of dried barley and lemon zest makes way to a slightly drying, moderate finish. What lingers is a primarily tannic flavour. While I would smell that nose all day, the flavour journey is too quick for me. In my head I shouted "wait, I'm just getting started!" as I flailed my metaphorical arms. Some days do call for a mild pour, but I prefer Tomintoul's expressions with a few more years on them.  6.5/10

Are all wheaters winners? I've heard that Larceny's star is on the rise in the bourbon world. To my surprise, I spotted a lone bottle of Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon on the liquor store shelf in Canada (where it has become notoriously challenging to source bourbons from recently). I celebrate the small wins when I can while the US border is closed! The nose is fairly light with wheat, wood shavings and caramel candy. Later, oak and vanilla ease in.  Larceny Small Batch has a hot first sip (though it's only 92 proof) and has a thin, oily mouthfeel. A brief blast of spice and pepper leaves as quickly as it arrives. There's distant orange zest and torched crème brûlée sweetness in the background as the spice wave subsides. This bourbon has a relatively short, mild and dry finish with subtle burnt sugar like the baked tops of muffins exiting the oven. Larceny Small Batch seems like a fair, everyday bourbon with some pep in its step. It could be placebo, but I swear that this bottle improved after being opened 4 months ago. If the price is reasonable, I'd be perfectly happy to snag and sip over ice.  7.25/10

How have you made home more cozy this year? In the spirit of staying close to home, Glenmorangie's The Cadboll Estate 15 Year is crafted with barley from 440 glorious acres by the distillery itself. Glenmorangie’s Head of Whisky Creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden selected the particular kind of barley and processing for this inaugural single estate whisky; maturation exclusively in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels. The nose smells like barley and sunshine. I can imagine myself going for a stroll through Cadboll Estate with its smell of straw, light citrus and hint of molasses. The aroma settles more deeply with aged wood shavings and chamomile flowers. The Cadboll Estate 15 has a bright 'n' light grain and citrus palate with a smattering of pepper. This initial tanginess quickly transitions to a rich, moderate length apple, oak and savory shortbread finish. This easy drinking pale yellow pour would be gentle for wince-worthy palates. While it could risk being considered bland to folks who prefer stronger profiles, I'll happily bask in its sunshine. 7.75/10