Canadian Club Invitation 18Yr High Proof
$91.99
Like the 15 Year Old Canadian Club, this is also part of the Invitation Series and is apparently a limited release. It is bottled at an impressive 58% ABV, which must be the highest proof ever for a bottling of Canadian Club.
Producer Description: "Enjoy the smooth, well balanced taste of CC Classic aged for 18 years, bottled at a higher proof for a full bodied Canadian whisky."
Pivot Spirits Rye Whisky
$87.99
Made from Rye grown in Lars - the distiller's own farm. Distilled by Pivot Spirits in Rolling Hills, Alberta. Bottled at 46%.
Producer Description
"The modern, high-yielding hybrid rye varieties cultivated by Lars on our irrigation farm yield a true Canadian classic whisky! Velvety, smooth, and mellow, this whisky boasts oak notes and flavours of baking spices and caramel. This nod to Alberta agriculture is the perfect addition to any whisky collection."
About Pivot Spirits
Pivot Spirits was founded in 2018 and resides in Rolling Hills, Alberta — about a 30-minute drive south of Brooks. If you zoom in on Rolling Hills from a satellite image on Google Maps you will see where the name Pivot Spirits comes from: all the fields in the area have the tell-tail rounded and circular shape of pivot irrigation. The distillery is co-owned by Lars Hirsch and Rachelle Fiset. Lars is an irrigation farmer with fields just across the roads from the distillery and the distiller as well. Just about all the grain used at Pivot Spirits uses for making Whisky, Gin, and other spirits comes from his fields. The only exception to this is when Lars uses corn, which he gets from his neighbours. Pivot Spirits does not malt or roast any of the grains it uses — it comes directly from the field, is ground down, and made into a mash.
Sheringham Whisky
$61.99
This Canadian whisky from Vancouver Island has been made with malted barley, wheat, and rye, matured in new American oak casks for at least 3 years before bottling at 45%.
Producer Description
"Jason’s passion for whisky lies in the journey from grain to glass, where slow craftsmanship and traditional methods shape its character. This approach results in a whisky that beautifully marries natural elements with the artistry of its maker. Crafted in Sooke, British Columbia, using BC grain, this whisky’s mash bill of rye, wheat, and malted barley is distilled in small batches and aged for at least three years in new American white oak barrels."
Baldur's Whisky 003 Bourbon Style
$104.99
Release 003 from Baldur's Whisky/Last Mountain Distillery is a Bourbon Style dram. Made from a mash bill of 68% Corn, 21% Rye, and 11% Malted Barley. It was matured for 6 years in charred new oak casks before being bottled at 45.9%. Only 266 bottles for this batch.
Baldur's Whisky is made by Last Mountain Distillery, which was founded by Colin and Meredith Schmidt. The distillery resides in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Established in 2010, Last Mountain was the first micro distillery to launch in the province; in a garage no less. The equipment was moved to its current building a year later. Last Mountain creates a multitude of spirits including Gin, Vodka, Rum, and whisky.
Park Distillery Banff Rye Whisky
$63.99
While we have seen some small batch and small bottle limited releases of whisky from Banff's Park Distillery in the past, this is the first regular release from them. Bottled at 45%.
Producer Description
"Banff Whisky is a blend of three distinct whiskies made from 100% local Alberta rye aged in new American oak . The five year whisky on the front end adds black currant, candied ginger, and sweet baking spices. The six year on the mid palate contributes cinnamon shortbread and toffee. The seven year whisky on the finish lends rich vanilla and cigar box. These flavors will linger on the palate well after the last sip. The art of the blend is to balance these three distinctly different profiles, resulting in a delicious, layered, and complex whisky."
Sons of Vancouver Realms of Rye 3 Mentho
$169.99
Realms of Rye Release 03, was bottled at 59.6% after maturing in ex-Bourbon and new American oak casks. Called 'Mentol & Evergreen',
Producer Description
"The much anticipated third release from the Realms of Rye series, dives deeper into the flavour spectrum of rye grain. This expression was expertly blended by the whisky-making team at Sons of Vancouver Distillery, with barrels carefully chosen and married to evoke vegetal flavours of menthol & evergreen.
"Release 03 ‘Menthol & Evergreen’ provides a stroll through a lush forest of conifers, wild herbs, and dense moss. The character of the rye grain provides notes of eucalyptus, pine needles, dill weed, and sweet grass. Maturation in ex-bourbon and new oak barrels provides a backbone of mint chocolate, green walnut, and cut lumber.
"Following the precise standards set for the Realms of Rye series, all the flavour in this whisky comes from the fermentation, distillation, maturation, and blending process alone."
Hibiki Harmony
$154.99
*Currently Limited - 1 Per Customer Maximum*
The base of the whisky, Japanese single malts and grain, have been matured in American oak casks. The dressing is the more rare and complex Sherry and Mizunara (Japanese oak) notes. The single malts have been sourced from Hakushu and Yamazaki and the grain whiskies from Chita. This is the first Suntory whisky made available in Canada in more than 2 years.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: clean, floral and grainy with a touch of juicy malt; delicate fruits, melon and kiwi with lots of vanilla and subtle spices.
Palate: juicy, fruity and floral with toasty American oak and rich spices (Mizunara?); lots of fruits here, more melon and kiwi, silky grains and chewy malt mingle with orange peel and vanilla bean.
Finish: long, toasty and silky with fading fruits, spices and sugars.
Comment: Japanese blends never seem to disappoint, and this one is no exception. It is very elegant and complex. Hopefully we get more than promissed...
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood.
Palate: honeylike sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate.
Finish: subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak).
Millstone 100 Rye Whisky
$108.99
Made from a mash of 51% malted and 49% unmalted rye grains, the whisky is 100 months old, 100 proof and 100% rye. This is a single rye whisky and has won awards from the Wizards of Whisky and Whisky Magazine. In 2016 it won Best Dutch Rye Whisky.
While not historically known for their whisky, the Dutch have been distilling as long as anyone in Europe. Most famous for genever and brandy, some of the distilleries there have taken to producing whisky. The Zuidam family began producing genever and other liquors in 1976 in the town of Baarle-Nassau on the Belgian border. Patrick van Zuidam, the second generation, began experimenting with whisky distillation in 1996, and started laying down barrels. The distillery produces both malt and grain whiskies, including a powerful rye. While they have borrowed and been influenced by the whisky makers in other countries, they are making a distinctly Dutch whisky. In one curious aspect, they mill their own barley in traditional windmills.
From the Distillery: “The new spirit is aged for a minimum of 100 month on new American oak barrels. The nose has rich notes of citrus fruit and spices with delicate tones of honey combined with vanilla and oak. The taste is rich fruity, honey sweetness and delicate spicy notes and a long peppery vanilla and oak finish.”
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Cloves, pine needles, coffee grounds and earthy spices. Maple syrup, ginger snaps, pumpernickel bread, dried dill, mint leaves, black liquorice, raspberries and blackberries and orange rind. Dark rye bread toasted with honey.
Palate: Black tea, black liquorice, ginger molasses cookies, nutmeg, blackberry compote, root beer, pumpernickel bread again, hints of citrus and mint.
Finish: Slightly drying. Spice, earthy components and black liquorice along with hints molasses sweetness mingle to the end.
Comment: This is a very earthy rye whisky. Not quite like anything else I have tasted from Canada or the USA. It is dark, dense, earthy and delicious.
Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky
$74.99
A step up on the Iwai Whisky from the Mars Shinshu Distillery, in Japan, the Iwai Tradition is 75% malt and 25% grain, bottled at 40%. We are looking forward to trying this one too!
Producer Description: "This is malt driven spirit is truly a reflection of contemporary Japanese whisky. Incredibly balanced, soft and layered. A blending of sherry, bourbon and wine casks with hints delicate hints of peat make for a harmonious whisky that would make Iwai-san proud."
Producer Tasting Notes: "Ripe Cherry, honey toffee with a beautiful ginger spice."
About Mars Distillery: "Situated between the north and south Japanese alps, Mars Shinshu is Japan’s highest whisky distillery, at nearly 800 meters. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949 in Kagoshima. That was the southernmost whisky made in Japan until 1984, when all whisky production was moved to the current location in Nagano."