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Mars Iwai Tradition Wine Cask Finish
Distiller Score 89
The first whiff brings red fruit and lots of it. The nose then delivers honey, vanilla, and milk cherry chocolate. Rich decadence from the wine influence. The palate is just as exciting with ginger, port, and subtle spice joining the sweet, rich notes from the nose. Dried figs, milk chocolate, and port notes lead the medium finish. A delightful experience through and through.
Reviewed by George Koutsakis
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Crown Royal Peach Flavored Whisky
Distiller Score 77
The aroma of this flavored whisky is filled with ripe peaches including the skins. Some barrel spices make it through, but the nose is all about the peach. The whisky is not entirely overwhelmed on the palate, but it's close. There's a little heat from the proof and the finish is more sweet-bitter than bittersweet. Make sure to adjust for sweetness in mixed drinks. Try adding to an Arnold Palmer on a sunny afternoon.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Pendleton Original Canadian Whisky
Distiller Score 75
There is a strong initial whiff of something chemical, like Elmer's Glue, which quickly vanishes and gives way to a near overpowering sweetness. Toffee, vanilla, and artificial maple syrup all carry from the nose directly to the taste. Despite heavy flavors, it's a very light whisky. Fruity, floral notes lurk beneath the sweetness, along with a faint hint of oak and grass and dark chocolate. Nothing sticks around to produce a finish. This is a casual sipper that would be well-suited by the addition of cola or other mixer.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Forty Creek Barrel Select
Distiller Score 83
There is a fruity aroma from the sherry casks, but it isn't overwhelming. Spices such as cinnamon, orange spice, and ginger come across along with caramel and cooked apples. The whisky is bright and spicy, and for the price, is quite the value.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Canadian Club 100% Rye
Distiller Score 88
This is a familiar rye with textbook floral notes on the nose. Popping toasted grains swirl with oaky vanilla leading your mouth on a journey of rye spiciness and creamy caramel. Orange citrus mixed with baking spices, such as clove and hot cinnamon, hang around a long time like they’ve been charged by the Energizer Bunny. This whisky is a prodigy for cocktails but just as delicious as a sipper.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Canadian Club Chairman's Select 100% Rye
Distiller Score 88
This is a familiar rye with textbook floral notes on the nose. Popping toasted grains swirl with oaky vanilla leading your mouth on a journey of rye spiciness and creamy caramel. Orange citrus mixed with baking spices, such as clove and hot cinnamon, hang around a long time like they’ve been charged by the Energizer Bunny. This whisky is a prodigy for cocktails but just as delicious as a sipper.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Tangle Ridge
Distiller Score 83
Sweet maple covered pecans and dark rye bread come to the forefront upon nosing. As you taste, the sweetness overtakes you at first, but the whisky catches up to make it less unctuous and rummy. The alcohol seems to be a bit out of balance in the glass. Overall, however, the whisky would be fine with a large chunk of ice in your glass.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Alberta Premium Canadian Rye Whisky
Distiller Score 84
The nose presents with dark rye, apple skins, milk chocolate, and wood spices. The taste profile is enjoyable, but not particularly complex. It is a solid, smooth rye whisky with a nice roundness to take the edge off. Considering the price, you'd do well to pick up a bottle if for nothing else but making yourself a damn fine Manhattan cocktail.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Seagram's VO Gold
Distiller Score 82
The creamy sweetness of corn and the dustiness of rye in a bath of pleasing, peppery spices. The middles is filled with peaches and sweet apple pie, seasoned with hints of baking spices. Finishes quickly and tightly on grapefruit pith and just a hint of oak tannin. An amped up version of the ever-popular VO.
Reviewed by Davin de Kergommeaux
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J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel Rye
Distiller Score 90
This whisky is an all-you-can-eat rye bread buffet. The all-rye nose shifts to velvety wheat and vanilla icing on the palate with rye spices still in abundance. The oily and creamy texture of the whisky makes it tough to break long enough between sips to enjoy a bracing clean finish where the rye spices get a chance to pop one last time.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Alberta Springs 10 Year
Distiller Score 85
Richly sweet with fiery pepper over layers of fruit, grain and rye spices. Dusty rye with a slight sourness on the nose becomes richly sweet on the palate with vanilla and crème caramel. Green apples, red grapes, and dried fruits ride waves of hot pepper and luscious caramel. Finishes in dry grain, hints of fresh-cut lumber and mild citrus pith. Deceivingly simple to begin with, then unfolds in many layers.
Reviewed by Davin de Kergommeaux
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Royal Canadian Small Batch
Distiller Score 78
Royal Canadian presents a nose of vanilla, oak, and caramel. These notes carry through to the taste, along with nutty and toffee flavors. The sweetening influence of oak barrels seems to take prominence over the grains used in distillation. This is a smooth whisky, but not the flabby sort of blended whisky often associated with the category. It's a step up from the usual Canadian whisky and makes a nice casual sipper.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier