First launched in 2017, Signal Hill Canadian Whisky is an ode to the historical landmark in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada where 1700s British and French forces once battled to control the area. It is also where Guglielmo Marconi received the world’s first transatlantic signal in the year 1901.
Photo credit: Jodie Leishman
To Newfoundlanders and Canadians alike, Signal Hill is undoubtedly a significant landmark. Also significant in its own right is the whisky that bears its name, which features a blend of column-distilled corn whisky and pot-distilled barley whisky and is separately aged in Canadian whisky barrels, new white oak and ex-bourbon barrels before being proofed down with pristine Newfoundland water.
In Signal Hill Founders Select OP (Overproof), the story continues; only this time instead of 40% ABV, the down-proofing process comes to a screeching halt (pun intended) at 56.3%. This is is said to deliver more bold character without compromising on the characteristically smooth flavor profile of Signal Hill Original.
Shelf appeal-wise, a teal green motif is added to help distinguish the OP bottle from the OG.
It listed as a limited batch bottling.
SHELF APPEAL RATING (Note: does not count toward final score, out of 5):
APPEARANCE: Clear. Dark amber.
NOSE: Aromas of cherry cough syrup and dark honey announce their presence first, and are soon accompanied by lemon essential oil, vanilla and salty beach air. Oak char is buried beneath the aforementioned.
PALATE: To accompany the salty beach air aroma, prominent molasses on the palate quickly conjure up thoughts of a dark Spanish-style rum. Heavily-oaked red wine meets the brown sugar profile of a Jamaican all-spice dram. Mouthfeel is creamy with a faint silty texture – almost like sipping an Old Fashioned cocktail that was made with a cane sugar cube that has not yet become 100% dissolved.
FINISH: Medium-long, warming and pleasant. Oak transcends further into the finish with ample earthy cacao and a hint of crushed red chilli flakes. Last to gently fade is a caramel sweetness.
ABV: 56.3%
PRICE: $60 CAD
AGE: NAS
CASK(S): Canadian Whisky, White Oak, Ex-Bourbon
ENJOY: Neat, with ice, or in a cocktail.
RATING:
Conclusions
In the Canadian province of Newfoundland, it’s said that rum outsells all other spirits 2:1.
Admittedly, my experience with the Signal Hill Founders Select OP had me thinking about rum at times. I have reason to believe that this was intentional, for apart from the rum-like notes to be discovered in this release, Signal Hill Spirits opted to apply the term “overproof”, a term more commonly found on a bottle of rum than a bottle of whisky.
Being familiar with the original Signal Hill Whisky, the Founders Select OP is very much “the original with the volume turned up”, and not an entirely different animal. An A/B test demonstrated that many of the original flavor notes are still there, but the added 16.3% ABV has resulted in a greater complexity with thankfully no unwanted heat or rough edges.
This does not sip like 56.3%.
The word “smooth” is still applicable here, but it is not the defining characteristic as it can be with a great deal of Canadian whisky.
No matter where ya longs to (that’s Newfoundlander for where you’re from), Signal Hill The Founders Select OP is definitely worth a try.
Photo credit: Jodie Leishman
…And For Those So Inclined: A Recommended Cigar Pairing
An “overproof” east coast Canadian whisky with some rum notes? Does that pair well with a cigar? Um, yup.
Pair the Signal Hill Founders Select OP Canadian Whisky with a Drew Estate Liga Privada T-52 cigar. A unique stalk-cut Habano wrapper assists in delivering ample earth, spice and black pepper, which marries exceptionally well with the molasses, cacao and all-spice dram-forward profile of the OP. The addition of the cigar opens a tidal wave of earthy chocolate, cinnamon and robust dark roast coffee.
– Kurt Bradley
Reviewed October 9th, 2023
