Lot No. 40 Cask Strength Third Edition

Appearance- medium golden brown, with red hue. clings wonderfully to the sides of the glass with nice fat, medium running legs. Nose- brown butter, hint of mint, rye bread with a touch of caraway seed- then fresh baked jewish rye bread, think your favorite bakery at 5 A.M.! Gives way to butterscotch candy. Palate- it is coating and velvety, coats well without being oily. The kind of mouthfeel one expects in quality rye- well churned butter. I get dark chocolate, cardamom, some newer oak, mint, and dear I say a wee bit of hay (not a note favored in whiskey but rather welcomed, reminds me of a wonderful fall barn in October). There are sweeter layers as it opens up, butterbrickle ice cream? The palate is more like a high rye bourbon or Kentucky rye BUT the rye forwardness in the mash is there, subtle but not hiding out, and why should it be??? Bourbon lovers will be fooled this is not high rye bourbon😆 Finish- shorter than I imagined. I get cherry, cream soda and a gentle warming, slight licorice hit as it goes out. If anywhere there is a flaw perhaps the finish being too soft. There is a slight bitterness at cask sip which with water is quickly extingished

I think this whisky is seriously delicious as an introduction to the series. Somehow the oak takes me back to some fond memories of a cozy cottage on the lake. I'm gonna savour this.

Very nice nose and mouthfeel. Drop of water but no more makes it better

Lot 40 3rd Edition Cask Strength Steps up at a hefty 57%, not my favourite abv as I don’t prefer cash strength. I‘ll comment on 45% and 57%. Nose is spicy rye and hints of what you get out of an American whisky that is aged in new barrels. At 57% it hits the palette surprisingly smooth with less burn than you would expect. It’s actually really nice. The second sip is even better when you are conditioned to the abv. Love the finish. European oak influence shows up, warming and rye spice. The finish is long and drying. It is is really well balanced at 57%, I prefer it as designed and released by Dr. Don. I cut this to 45% with distilled water and careful measurements. At 45% the palette is super smooth but you lose some of the power and almost all of the spice and drying impact on the finish. I don’t recommend cutting the proof. This whisky is outstanding. Add this to the list of fantastic and underrated Canadian whiskies.

Fantastic body lacking in many Canadian whiskeys. Lots of floral notes, fruit, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, spicy rye, huge amount of fresh oak, and some sherry.