Tastes

Pendleton Directors Reserve Aged 20 years, 40% abv, Canadian whisky bottled in Oregon. Aroma: brandy, fruity, apricots, sweet aroma Taste: brandy like up front, moderate sweetness but not overpowering, minor to medium oak on the back end, light to moderate spice. Very nice whisky, very nice neat or on the rocks. It lost its complexity over time and the sweeter notes slowly started to dominate. Cost: 127 plus tax for a 750 ml Grade: B+/A-

Three Fingers High 40% abv, distilled in Canada but bottled in California. Aged for 12 years in oak and finished in sherry, 100% pot still rye. Aroma: minor alcohol, light sweetness, odd cheap Canadian whisky aroma, not much there Taste: oak/use barrel up front, some more of that cheap odd canadian whisky taste, no sherry to my taste, not really sweet, super smooth/drinkable. Did not get any spice. God knows what they aged for 12 years and apparently finished in sherry and then put in a nice bottle at this price point to taste like this, I may have got a bad bottle or something and want to give it another chance but not sure if I want to risk it for the price. Overall this was a very disappointing whisky. Cost: 37.00+tax for a 750 ml (overpriced) Grade: C-

Redneck Riviera Granny Rich Reserve 95% American Light Whisky aged 3 years 5% American malt Whisky aged 4 years Bottled in Oregon, 43% abv. Aroma: vanilla, sweet, minor oak Taste: minor oak, light spice, vanilla, light to moderate sweetness, but not bold on flavor, very smooth, somewhat okay to solid blend but very overpriced at BEVMO. Cost: $39.99 + tax for a 750 ml Grade: C+

Gooderham & Worts 44.4% abv, no age listed, minimum age is 3 years. I believe it is bottled in Canada. Nice wooden top, cork seals tight. Aroma: sweet, brandy like, sharp ripe fruit, unique unlike most Canadians I have had. Taste: moderate to high sweetness, vanilla, fruity, almost brandy like, light spice, minor oak comes at the end, nice and sweet aftertaste. So far maybe the best/most complex Canadian I have had for the price. Super smooth. Very enjoyable neat, spice, oak, and sweetness all come through working well together. Highly recommended and will definitely buy again. Cost: 39.95+tax (750ml) Grade: B+/A-

Stalk&Barrel Red. 43% abv. Bottled in Canada. No age listed, minimum is 3 years. Very light in color. Aroma; not much, maple and nutty sweetness, grainy Taste: toasty, sweet, similar to blue blend but not as sweet, grainy, some oak comes through. Cost: 39.99 plus tax (750ml), not worth the price Grade: C+

Stalk&Barrel Blue, 40% abv. Bottled in Canada. No age, minimum 3 years. This may be the lightest colored whisky I have ever had, at least there may be no color added. Aroma: maple, vanilla, honey, minor oak. Taste: moderate to high vanilla.candy sweetness, a little toasty. I did not get much oak or balance, sweetness dominates. Cost: 31 to 32 bucks plus tax for a 750ml bottle. Overpriced in my opinion. Grade: C

Lot 40 (Canadian Rye) 43% abv. Bottled in Canada. No age, minimum is 3 years. 100% rye, copper pot still used and aged in new oak. Aroma: fruity, apple, bourbon like. Taste: bourbon like, lightly fruity, some charred oak notes. Light to moderate spice. Cost: 34.99+tax for a 750ml bottle. Grade: C+/B- (decent whisky but I expected better, I am willing to revisit in the future)

Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve 40% ABV. Bottled in Canada. No age listed, minimum is 3 years. Forty Creek brand owned by Campari group. Aged in white oak and finished in ex-bourbon barrels. Aroma: maple/vanilla sweetness, minor oak/char Taste: light to medium maple/vanilla/caramel sweetness, minor to some barrel in back end. Minor astringency, some odd/indiscernible notes. Cost: 47.99 + tax for a 750ml bottle, it is not bad but definitely not worth the price. Grade: C+

Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve 43% ABV. No age listed, minimum 3 years. Bottled in Canada. Aroma: pleasantly sweet aromas, hard to discern. Taste: minor sweetness, minor barrel, brandy notes. Light in flavor yet suppose to be bolder than the barrel select. Cost: 23.99 + tax for a 750 ml bottle Grade: C/C+

Forty Creek Barrel Select, 40% abv. Bottled in Canada, no age statement, minimum 3 years. Aroma is indiscernible sweetness yet complex. Taste: strong maple sweetness, vanilla, minor spice and astringency. Typical Canadian taste that passes as it breaths and gets less sweet. As it breaths it improves with sherry notes and some very minor oak shows up. This was an older bottle that had been sitting on the shelf for some years, willing to revisit this one. Cost me 19.99 plus tax for a 750 ml. Grade: C+/B-