Rare Perfection 14 Year Canadian Whisky

EDIT: originally scored 0.25 stars. I have changed my mind, and the newer review states why. This year for the holidays I’m going to try a brand new whiskey every day in December. #lifegoals Dec. 8: Okay. I officially feel duped. Both by shelf placement and direct conversations had with my bourbon dealer, I was led to believe this was bourbon. This whole time on my shelf, I thought this was bourbon. Before doing this review, the only Rare Perfection in this app was tagged as a bourbon. Might’ve been. ‘Tis a different looking bottle. To quote the fair and beautiful Lady Galadriel: they were all of them deceived. On the back, plain as day, to my great horror, is the phrase: “Canadian Whiskey.” How does this shit keep finding ways to my shelf. My hope is that this goes the route of Crown Royal’s super-duper-totes-not-a-bourbon bourbon. Nose is terrifying. Burnt rubber. Sugar. Eraser shavings. Body is interesting. I understand where the disgusting nose comes from, but there’s other stuff in there too which is genuinely good. Caramel. Honey. But hot damn that burnt stuff. Still not good. Finish is peppermint. I don’t mind that. I do mind that every exhale makes me relive that eraser shavings flavor. My kid just told me my breath right now smells like farts. Not great. This may be the biggest bust of 2019. Even for Canadian Whisky. This product line needs to be eviscerated online so that it can’t inflict its grossness on anyone else. I wouldn’t buy this whisky again for $10, much less $140. It’s basically undrinkable. I will be pouring out this glass and storing this bottle until one of my friends wants to take it off my hands for free. ‘Tis the season. I don’t know if I actually have 23 more new whiskeys lined up, so if you’re reading this and there’s something readily available out there you’d like me to enjoy/suffer through this holiday season, leave it in the comments.

Tasted the Rare Perfection 14yr Lot 04 at the Preservation Distillery, along with what seemed like the full lineup of Preservation offerings (incl. a few different batches of Very Old St. Nick). This bottle was the stand out, for sure. Lots of oak, traditional bourbon flavor, and a bit of funkiness. Really unique. Really dang good!