Sometime during this current whiskey boom that has essentially gone on uninterrupted for the past 12-15 years, a new term emerged:
‘shelf appeal’.
Most likely a riff on the term curb appeal (which is used to describe the visual allure of a house when viewed from street level), shelf appeal indicates that a particular object (in this case, a bottle) embodies a certain stunning visual quality when observed while sitting upon one’s shelf.
The shelf appeal of Sazerac’s Caribou Crossing is – bar none – of the charts. A total glistening gem. Similar to the Blanton’s Bourbon bottle, Caribou Crossing features a miniature bronzed Caribou on top of its cork that compliments an equally elegant, stout, decanter-like bottle.
But what about the actual liquid?
Read on, as we delve into this Canadian whisky that travels from Alberta, Canada to actually get blended at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort Kentucky. It is blended twice annually by Canadian-born Master Blender Drew Mayville; also known for blending Sazerac’s Royal Canadian Small Batch.
SHELF APPEAL RATING (Note: does not count toward final score, out of 5):
APPEARANCE: Clear. Light maple syrup.
NOSE: Very bright, but subtle. At first whiff, gentle aromas of orange creamsicle and melon rind stand out against a backdrop of honey, celery, raisins, coconut cream and an undeniable hint of lemon zest.
PALATE: The mouthfeel is very delicate and striking. It has the same ultra-soft mouthfeel as Fiji brand water. The sweetness of maple syrup and Terry’s Orange Chocolates are felt on the front palate, with creamy caramel candy following and faint oak on mid-palate.
FINISH: Short. Milky coffee with Demerara sugar; a touch of nutmeg and burnt caramel.
ABV: 40%
AGE: NAS
CASK(S): American oak
ENJOY: Neat or in a cocktail.
PRICE: $99 CDN
RATING:
Conclusions
One unique feature about Caribou Crossing is that it is a Single Barrel Canadian Whisky. This means that unlike most Canadian whiskies, it is blended together prior being put into a barrel, instead of traditionally coming out of multiple barrels and being blended prior to bottling.
Caribou Crossing certainly embodies that trademark ‘smooth’ characteristic that sees a lot of Canadian whisky receive both ample praise as well as a tonne of flack for. CC is a relatively light whisky, with just enough nuance and character to be enjoyed neat or in a cocktail, but would quickly become insignificant if served with ice.
If you’re looking for a whisky with more body and punch, keep walking (no, that was not a subtle hint to drink Johnnie Walker instead).
However, if you want to enjoy a relatively sweet, approachable and soft-textured whisky that like any good Canadian citizen makes its presence known politely, than you may enjoy what CC has to offer. Definitely something you can enjoy a few of in one sitting.
Gloriously gorgeous bottle and presentation aside (it comes in a purple felt bag within a box), at $99 CDN (roughly $73 USD at time of writing), for me this is a ‘quite-glad-I-tried-it-but-won’t-need-to-stock-any-any-time-soon’ kind of whisky.
The liquid inside does not fully live up to the shelf appeal hype.
…And For Those So Inclined: A Recommended Cigar Pairing
For a superb cigar pairing, enjoy Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky with the Número Uno Le Premier cigar by Joya de Nicaragua.
The Joya Número Uno Le Premier is a slim, Churchill-sized vitola that features an impossibly smooth Connecticut wrapper. It delivers a floral notes, cream and sweetbread with a slight white pepper and mineral quality. Being on the mild-to-medium end of the spectrum in terms of body and strength, the Número Uno lends itself well to the very delicate ‘maple, chocolates and fruit’ essence of Caribou Crossing.
– Kurt Bradley
Reviewed June 19, 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.
