Unlike other Canadian whiskies that are typically blended after the aging process, all Canadian Club whisky is blended before maturation.
Thus, the Canadian Club 20 Year Old is no exception.
‘The 20’ features a blend of rye, rye malt, corn, and barley malt spirits. It is the same liquid as CC’s trademark 6 year old expression, Canadian Club Premium and the 12 year old Canadian Club Classic – only aged much longer. The extra time spent resting in a white oak cask proves to deliver a level of richness that is not experienced in the younger releases, while proving to still retain the smooth character that is trademark to Canadian Club.
SHELF APPEAL RATING (Note: does not count toward final score, out of 5):
APPEARANCE: Clear. Mahogany.
NOSE: Though the nose is not super telling, gentle aromas of nail polish, dried fruit, bran muffin and maple syrup eventually appear, and are followed up with rye and a slightly floral note reminiscent of creme de violet.
PALATE: Smooth, rich mouthfeel. Medium sweetness. The sweetness of dark burnt brown sugar accompanies oak, molasses and bright notes of straw. At mid palate, candied nuts, nutmeg and ample rye spice are present.
FINISH: Medium length finish with subtle spice. Slightly drying. Oak, rye, and a lingering brown sugar richness that parlays into a final faint umami soy sauce-like note.
ABV: 40%
AGE: 20 years
CASK(S): Seasoned white oak
PRICE: $70 CDN
ENJOY: Neat or in a cocktail.
RATING:
With prominent notes of rye found on both nose and palate, the CC 20 shows why much of the world still stubbornly chooses to call Canadian whisky “rye”.
Conclusions
No cola required.
With the exact same liquid as the younger expressions and no fancy finishing process employed, the Canadian Club 20 Year Old effectively demonstrates that good things come to those who wait.
For Canadian Club, the extra aging time of 8-14 years proves to deliver an extra layer of richness and a decent amount of added complexity. At 40% however, it leaves you wondering how maybe a little extra spared ABVs would have gone a long way for something so mature.
Nonetheless, this is a delightfully smooth aged Canadian whisky with enough added complexity to make it stand out from its younger counterparts as something to be enjoyed neat or possibly in a cocktail. With prominent notes of rye found on both nose and palate, the CC 20 shows why much of the world still stubbornly chooses to call Canadian whisky “rye”.
…And For Those So Inclined: A Recommended Cigar Pairing
Pair the Canadian Club 20 year Blended Canadian Whisky with the Liga Undercrown cigar by Drew Estate.
The Undercrown features a dark San Andrés wrapper which delivers a rich oily texture and a sweet and spicy taste, which pairs well with the spicy rye-forward profile of the whisky. The Undercrown further delivers notes of fresh ground coffee, hickory, vanilla beans, and pepper in a medium to full-bodied smoke.
– Kurt Bradley
Reviewed March 10, 2022
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 lives in Toronto, Ontario.
