One of the beautiful things about purchasing whisky in Canada is the ability to obtain 10 year+ age statement whiskies at a consistently affordable price in comparison to the likes of scotch, bourbon and other big international varieties. Heck, it’s the only country of the world’s 5 biggest whisk(e)y nations where a person can get their hands on something that is over four decades old for barely over three hundred bucks.
Pike’s Creek’s 10 YO Rum Barrel Finish features a blend of rye and corn whiskies. Aged in oak casks in a non-climate controlled warehouse, the whisky is stated to be exposed to Canada’s severe temperature swings before it’s finishing process in rum barrels.
At $35 CDN (approx. $28 USD at the time of writing), it’s is one of the nation’s most affordable, high quality 10 year expressions and sips like something priced at almost twice that amount.
APPEARANCE: Clear. Dark amber.
NOSE: Top notes of oak are accompanied by some vetiver, molasses and salt. A second whiff delivers the aforementioned along with raisin bread, caramel, raw almonds, candied orange peel and a very subtle grassy note.
PALATE: Smooth with creamy viscosity. Medium sweet. I’m presented with initial notes of a robust espresso coffee, rye spice, vanilla, maple syrup and oak. Citrus pith, molasses and cigar box become evident as well.
FINISH: Medium, warming and mouth coating. Rye becomes buried within crème brûlée. Oak and coffee linger last.
ABV: 42%
AGE: 10 Yr
CASK(S): White oak barrels, ex-rum barrels
ENJOY: Neat, with ice or in a cocktail.
RATING:
A dark amber whisky with a wonderful creamy complexity that successfully shows off it’s rum influence; so much in fact that your brain has moments where it thinks its sipping something imported from the Caribbean.”
Conclusions
A dark amber whisky with a wonderful creamy complexity that successfully shows off it’s rum influence; so much in fact that your brain has moments where it thinks its sipping something imported from the Caribbean. Every now and then a whisky expression comes along that is value priced and sips like something that is 20 – dare I say $30 more.
With rum cask finishing being all the rage as of late, this one hits the mark, and effectively shows off what a wonderful influence it can have on the water of life.
For a perfect cigar pairing, enjoy Pike Creek’s 10 YO Rum Barrel Finish with an exquisite E.P. Carrilo La Historia cigar.
See more Canadian Whisky Reviews
– 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 lives in Toronto, Ontario.
