Forty Creek’s The Forager is a lighter-bodied Canadian whisky that is infused with wild botanicals that are more often reserved for the creation of gin. With surprising complexity on the palate, it’s a creative spirit that serves as a testament to the relatively unrestrictive and uninhibited nature of the Canadian whisky industry.
APPEARANCE: Clear. Light gold.
NOSE: Aromas of fresh juniper, mandarin orange and pine appear first, with Bartlett pear, oil paints, coriander and a light vanilla custard also joining in.
PALATE: Smooth with a medium sweetness. Juniper and dried blackberries arrive the front palate and soon are accompanied by lemon peel, vanilla and a dry Bran Flake cereal (a particular note which I find is present throughout many of Forty Creek’s releases).
FINISH: Delicate, medium finish. Smooth with a touch of pine and raisin.
ABV: 40%
AGE: NAS
CASK(S): Ex-bourbon oak
ENJOY: In a cocktail, but also nice neat or on ice.
RATING:
Aromas of fresh juniper, mandarin orange and pine appear first, with Bartlett pear, oil-based paints, coriander and a light vanilla custard also joining in.“
CONCLUSIONS
Forty Creek’s The Forager Botanical Whisky is a smooth, lighter Canadian whisky that at first glance seems like it might turn out thin and excessively delicate, but actually reveals a surprising amount of complexity. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a flavored whisky as it hasn’t been sweetened and colored like your typical flavored whisky. Borrowing from gin, it obtains some aroma and flavor from the process of botanical infusion, using Juniper, mugwort, labrodor tea, sweet fern and spruce tips as its ‘foraged’ Canadian-grown botanicals.
Though enjoying neat or on ice both work fine, this is an excellent cocktail spirit, and turned out to substitute very well for gin when mixed with Fevertree’s Elderberry Tonic Water and a lime wheel. Taking things a step further, we concocted a Torched Botanical Whisky Fizz, another cocktail delight with The Forager that incorporates a torched rosemary sprig.
If this were procured in Scotland, I wonder what they would call it. Certainly not whisky as it clearly doesn’t adhere to Scotland’s 2009 Whisky Regulations. In Canada however, experimentation like this is perfectly acceptable, and thus Forty Creek Master Blender Bill Ashburn has forged a very unique and versatile expression in The Forager.
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– Kurt Bradley
Kurt Bradley is the founder of The Gentleman’s Flavor, to which he is also a contributing editor, host and curator.
Kurt is a certified Whisky Ambassador accredited by The Scotch Whisky Association and has achieved Level 2 Award in Wine & Spirits Education Trust with distinction.
He’s a lover of good Canadian whisky.
