And so we reach the eldest of my samples from the Canadian special releases of 2017, and indeed the oldest age statement ever produced north of the border. The Canadian Club 40 is deliciously creamy on the nose, with oodles of vanilla and a hint of buttered toast. The creamy flavors continue on the palate, but it quickly turns spicy from its decades of interaction with the oak and finishes aggressively peppery. It’s pleasant enough but quite simple and I didn’t detect any of the plum or caramel notes referenced in Blair’s Expert Review.