Forty Creek Barrel Select

Spicy, sweet, dark fruits.

Simple, apparent vanilla. Nice to sip.

I've heard a lot about this one from a few friends that this is their go-to, cheap rye. We think their name may have come from some poor chap who drank a forty of this juice and then passed out in a creek. But i digress... Nose is classic Canadian profiles. Maple, grain, vanilla, and a touch of acetone. Reminds me a lot of CC. Palate is quite pleasant if a little unbalanced. Surprisingly less watery mouthfeel than would indicate in the glass. Maple, grain, vanilla and oak. Very much telegraphed by the nose. A definite step up from CC here though. Finish is a brief burst of oak and fruits, but disappears faster than an Irishman's paycheck at happy hour. That's fine though as this is really just made for cocktails or on the rocks.

Notes of toffee, banana chip, maple, and hay on the nose. Rounded, somewhat buttery mouthfeel. More hay, banana chip, and toffee on the palate – along with marmalade and vanilla. Finish is very smooth, and short-medium in length. 3.00/5.00 – Good (neat)

Mild taste, not much to it.

I like the look of the bottle, but that’s about it. The nose wasn’t desirable. I felt like I couldn’t get off a vanilla extract note. When I gave it time I could pick-up other sweet notes but it was tough beyond the Vanilla Extract. I got some caramel sweetness on the palette, but it was thin and vanished quickly. The finish was smooth, but I did get a longer aftertaste that wasn’t enjoyable. The kind of aftertaste that you need to get rid of because you don’t want it to stay. Overall, it isn’t for me. But if someone is just entering into Whiskey drinking this is a mellow pour that is more welcoming than most. 2/10

Burnt caramel. Good. Not the best.