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Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
Distiller Score 89
A very unusual bouquet for a rye whiskey, very fruity, with plum, apricot, baked pears, and a hint of spearmint. Very light oak and just a hint of the grain are also apparent. The entry on the palate is quite sweet, reminiscent of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, with vanilla, moderate oak, baking spices and orange marmalade. The finish is moderate, with big cinnamon, oak, grain notes and a bit of an alcohol burn.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Crown Royal XO
Distiller Score 87
The nose is sweet, with the low-key caramel, oak, and nutmeg that will be familiar to Crown Royal drinker, as well as a dash of orange bitters. In the mouth, it starts out similarly familiar, with toffee, rich chocolate, charred oak, and candied nuts. This gives way eventually to more oak, dried apricot, cream, butterscotch, rye spice, and cloves. Pleasant and easy-drinking, though the effect of the Cognac cask may be less pronounced than you expect.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Nomad Outland Blended Whisky
Distiller Score 85
The sherry is massive on the nose, lending this whisky the aroma of marzipan, toasted almonds, and raisins. That big, sweet profile carries through to the taste, which is bursting with figs, dark chocolate, orange marmalade, and nuts. A whisky for fans of Spanish brandy.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Starward Two-Fold Double Grain
Distiller Score 89
The Two Fold shows off Starward's deft hand in blending the more delicate characteristics of French oak into their "double grain" mash bill. Toasted hazelnut and dark berry aromas gather around a predominant and delightful creme brûlée center. The palate shows a little more of the grains with a round and creamy spirit featuring loads of buttered toast flavors. The berry note (from the barrel) adds a light accent in the finish.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel
Distiller Score 93
Not a lot of oak on the nose on this whisky, instead, the bouquet shows butterscotch, flambéed bananas foster, freshly-baked cinnamon rolls, and maple syrup covered flapjacks. The palate starts sweet, think divinity, with walnut and a touch of oak before going into a very soft grain-forward profile. Ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg notes follow behind. The finish is smooth and lingering, with warm gingerbread, black pepper, oak, spearmint and a bit more cooked banana. There is a bit of heat from the alcohol, but it is balanced and provides a good counterpoint to the sweetness of this whisky.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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J.P. Wiser's Legacy Canadian Whisky
Distiller Score 94
J.P. Wiser would be rolling in his grave. Not because this whisky insults the name, quite the opposite in fact – he’d be rolling to bust out and try it. The whisky’s nose pulses from one note to the next where a potpourri wafts in and out like a star-studded movie full of cameos. The cast includes maple, baking spices, vanilla, rye bread, charismatic oak and the full spectrum of orchard fruits. Missing is George Clooney. All of the same notes land in the palate mingled with a sweet and peppery citric zest. Toasted oak comes through and fades into tobacco as Legacy starts rolling its long list of delicious finishing credits.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Collingwood Town Collection Double Barrel
Distiller Score 92
The imaginative nose is rich with floral honey, roses, ripe cherry, chocolate-mint and off-the-charts wood. It’s a chocolate cherry bolt on the palate with some intricate sour spice characters. These are balanced with oak and rye spices zapping this whisky into a perfect storm of flavors. The wood sets up a long tangy finish.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Gooderham & Worts Four Grain Canadian Whisky
Distiller Score 93
Dr. Don Livermore masterfully layers subtlety after subtlety in this soon to be classic Canadian Whisky. Poised spices are discreet but big enough to direct vanilla, dusty straw and crisp dry grains from over acting. This is before even taking sip. The flavors blend with a sturdy wood framework seamlessly held together without nails. Freshly baked bread and cereals lead into a complex finish that lights up the mouth with just a shade of tannins. The gusto flavors extracted from each grain is woven so tight that pulling them apart would produce a thesaurus of words worthy of Webster.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Gibson's Finest 12 Year
Distiller Score 88
Honey and strawberries on the nose. There's also a bit of citrus zest, caramel corn, and it has a waxy astringent character. Lots of rye, bitter orange peel, wood varnish, and caramel come next. Both caramel and strawberry notes assert themselves as it sits. The finish is warm but doesn't stick around very long. A thoroughly pleasing example of a refined, complex, but smooth and familiar tasting Canadian whisky.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Crown Royal Black
Distiller Score 80
The whiskey is certainly smokey and robust upon inhalation and certainly sticks around for the long haul. Vanilla and bourbon-like qualities are abound and the palate is still full and soft like the classic bottling. After the sweet middle, however, it finishes spicy and dry.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Basil Hayden Dark Rye
Distiller Score 78
Winey notes lead on the nose with a range of red fruits from juicy plums to sour cherries, along with vanilla, and just a touch of rye spice. A creamy-vanilla palate is dominated by wine-soaked fruits — think the morsels you'd pluck from a downed glass of sangria. A short finish offers more of the same, plus cocoa powder, oak, spice, and pepper. Though a bit one dimensional, it's easy drinking and plays well on the rocks or in cocktails.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Alberta Premium 30 Year
Distiller Score 95
This whisky is like being punched by the Michelin Man. Soft and pillowy. Aged in well-used casks, the flavors come from oxidation with a slight caramel nose, crisp oak, restrained wood and fruity esters. Rye spices like clove and pepper accent floral notes. The sweetness carries through with a touch of vanilla. The wood has mellowed out the finish with an attack of citrus pith that’s just so slight.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips