Tucked away on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia is the Shelter Point family farm. Among ‘field-to-glass’ touting Canadian whiskies, Shelter Point is currently leading the charge (“field to flask” as they prefer to say). The ‘DL’ (Meaning District Lot) indicates the very lot in which the single-grain barley was grown on the farm. The coordinates to the exact field are included on every bottle within this limited release of 1400 bottles.

With the Shelter Point Farm and Distillery looking onto the Pacific Ocean, “sunsets and sea air” are listed as the “unofficial” ingredients in every bottle.

This non-chill filtered whisky is made from two row barley in a copper pot still.

SHELF APPEAL RATING (Note: does not count toward final score, out of 5): 

APPEARANCE: Clear. Honey.

NOSE: Aromas of Turkish apricot and green apple leap out first. Stained honey oak furniture and creamy caramel accompany. The caramel on the nose grows increasingly powdery toward the end of the glass. 

PALATE: An oily texture provides a rich, coating mouthfeel. Medium sweetness. Creamy caramel candy and Turkish apricot demonstrate that the nose is on par with the palate here. The oily mouthfeel parlays into a tingle of cinnamon hearts candy as a light bit of rose shows up on the back palate. 

FINISH: Long, warming and pleasant. Cinnamon, burnt brown sugar and some cigar tobacco linger last. 

ABV: 46% 

AGE: NAS

CASK(S): American oak

ENJOY: Neat, with ice, or in a cocktail. 

RATING:

This rich, 46% abv whisky brings ‘District Lot 141’ within the Shelter Point Farm to life in liquid form, using nothing but two-row barley, yeast and fresh water.“

Conclusions

With a its unique flavor profile, the DL 141 would pair superbly with an assortment of dried fruits, apricot preserve, 72% dark chocolate, soft cheeses and grapes.

Shelter Point are currently among a handful of burgeoning Canadian craft distillers that are farming their own grains onsite for a true farm-to-glass approach that effectively showcases the local terroir. This rich, 46% abv whisky brings ‘District Lot 141’ within the Shelter Point Farm to life in liquid form, using nothing but two-row barley, yeast and fresh water.

For a heightened experience, pair Shelter Point’s Montfort Lot DL 141 with the E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic cigar. The 2018 Cigar Aficionado Magazine ‘Cigar Of The Year’ is crafted from all-Nicaraguan tobacco. Medium-bodied with creamy textured notes of earth, sweet tobacco, cocoa powder, and spice.

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.