The Gentleman’s Flavor TOP CANADIAN WHISKIES OF 2023

#1 – Two Brewers Single Malt Special Finishes Release #36

• NOSE – Honeydew melon and maple syrup provide a welcoming initial aroma to this golden-hued whisky. Soon, marshmallow, subtle oak, green apple and baking spices are also evidenced.
• PALATE – Hazelnut becomes intertwined with tart Granny Smith apple and hint of English sponge toffee before apricot, dry rolled oats, and baking spices become apparent.
• FINISH – A medium finish delivers gentle caramel, mocha and oak.

Summary:

The Two Brewers Release 36 features a blend of 7 and 8 year whiskies that have benefitted greatly from a (first fill) ex-Moscatel sherry cask finish for a period of two months. This elegant and bright whisky simply dazzles on the nose, and is as much (if not more) of a pleasure to nose as it is to sip. The fruit-forward nose is complemented by a delightful confectionary-forward palate that establishes a perfect balance between sweet and subtle tart elements.

Had the sherry finishing process been longer, it may have dominated this whisky, but instead it lends the perfect amount of influence to this bright, highly elegant, and super-unique Canadian single malt that is worthy of best in show.

#2 – Madlab Single Malt Small Batch (Batch #8)

• NOSE – The nose is warmly greeted with a friendly aroma of baked apple cinnamon pie. Cornbread follows shortly thereafter, alongside fried plantain chips, oak char, caramel, mesquite, and finally a hint of straw to round out some highly complex aromatics.
• PALATE – Red delicious apple skin mingles with spicy mesquite before anise, oak and dark maple syrup take move in.
• FINISH – A medium-long finish commences as slightly bitter but thankfully evolves into a final touch of oak, maple, and cayenne pepper.

Summary:

With a youthful age statement of merely 3 years, this extremely Small Batch Single Malt from British Columbia’s Mad Laboratory Spirits yields the complexity and sophistication of a spirit three or four times its age.
The corn and mesquite warmth of its profile will win the admiration of a bourbon drinker, while the brighter fresh fruit notes of apple and a hint of straw will speak to lovers of Irish and likely Scotch too.

A slightly bitter finish kept this ultra-special whisky made from 100% BC-grown malted barley (and mad science) from capturing top honors.

If you can get your hands in this batch before it’s gone, you’ll be mad thankful that you did.

#3 – Last Straw Distillery Rice & Rye

• NOSE – The upfront presence of brown rice tea and suede informs you that this isn’t your typical whisky. Oak appears, and is found nestled into brown sugar, baking spices and blades of dark green grass. 
• PALATE – A medium-thick viscosity mouthfeel delivers honey on overly-toasted bread, a slight savory rice note, and a slight black tea astringency, before 5-spice seasoning tingles the tongue. 
• FINISH – A prolonged and warming finish (aka ‘long’) exudes black tea, oak, burnt brown sugar and a slight taste of hops before gently fading. 

Summary:

At first, we were unsure if this was Last Straw Distillery release was technically a ‘whisky’ by Canadian regulatory standards. After digging a little deeper, it turns out is. Well, kind of.

It has been aged in re-charred ex-bourbon barrels for 4 years 9 months (a whisky must be aged for a minimum of 3 years). It is technically made from “cereal grains” (55% Argentinian long grain rice, ethically sourced from farms in Cordoba and 45% Ontario rye sourced from small family farms in York and Simcoe Counties). What we’re unsure about however, is how much it “retains the character of, flavors and aromas of Canadian whisky” – or whatever that means.

In distilling a highly unconventional grain such as Argentine wild rice rice and then choosing to marry it with rye whisky, Vaughn, Ontario’s Last Straw Distillery have created a highly complex, well-balanced and at times savory whisky that partly eschews (there is rye in there after all) what a typical Canadian whisky is typically made from.

It is our belief that this experimentation has undoubtedly paid off.

#4 – Canadian Club Invitation Series Sherry Cask 15 Year

• NOSE – An initial whiff conjures up childhood memories of fuzzy peach slice candy, and is swiftly accompanied by fresh baked Sultana raisin muffins with clove spice and subtle oak.
• PALATE – Mocha mingles with burnt brown sugar, Christmas baking spices, dark berries and oak.
• FINISH – An impressive medium-length finish adds weight to this low 40 percentile ABV expression, which delivers molasses, date squares, oak and cherry lozenges.

Summary:

Those familiar with the internationally celebrated Canadian Club profile will quickly identify it as such, but may find themselves somewhat gobsmacked at the additional layers of dark fruit complexity brought forth by the Sherry cask finish.
The Canadian Club name is classic for good reason; it consistently delivers exceptionally balanced, approachable, and masterfully blended whiskies.

#5 – Hansen Distillery Dark Cloud

• NOSE – Dark chocolate-covered cherries are immediately present, and are quickly greeted with a hint of leather and cinnamon before some coconut and rosewater peek in. 
• PALATE – Dark maple syrup and cinnamon are evidenced on the front palate before leather, oak, dark molasses and clove show up. The palate evolves to a taste of cognac with dark plums and bright red licorice. 
• FINISH – A decidedly long and very warming finish leaves lingering burnt caramel with oak. 

Summary:

With a family tradition steeped in Depression-era moonshiners, Edmonton’s first craft distillery has created an exceedingly rich, robust and full-bodied single-grain whisky.
Time productively spent in multiple casks show why Hansen Distillery are a burgeoning Canadian force when it comes to creative finishing processes. Clocking in at 60% ABV, be sure to try this with a pinch of water to unlock even more flavor.

#6 – Shelter Point Single Malt The Ten Year

• NOSE – A dry, Champagne-like initial impression is swiftly followed by Granny Smith apples and an element of oil paints. A sweet marshmallow note appears alongside hibiscus flower prior to the arrival of tree bark.
• PALATE – An elegant, oak-forward palate is supported by dry apple cider, spiced caramel, powdery vanilla, a slight salinity and dunnage mustiness, frequently present in Scotch.
• FINISH – A delightfully long finish reveals milk chocolate-covered cherries, sustained oak and burnt caramel.

Summary:

We surmise that if even a seasoned Scotch drinker were to consume this Shelter Point Single Malt whisky blind, he or she might deduce that it hails from Bonnie Wee Scotland.

As a result of the coastal influences of its Vancouver Island birthplace, this refined and highly aromatic single malt whisky (that is definitely not from Scotland) exhibits a series of elements that are often found within many highly-lauded Scotch expressions.
Utilizing locally-grown two-row barley and pot still distillation, this is exemplary Canadian take on Single Malt Whisky.

#7 – Signal Hill Founder’s Select OP

• 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.

Summary:

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.

#8 – Bearface Wilderness Series 02 Miltenach Island Release

• NOSE – Campfire marshmallow and caramel produce a s’mores-like initial aroma. Puffed wheat cereal and honey follow, and are underscored by the essence of heavy char.
• PALATE – Medium sweetness and viscosity provide a sweet, gently coating mouthfeel. Golden honey, wheat and char fuse to create a Honey Shreddies-like essence which is accentuated with cinnamon and oak.
• FINISH – Oak, cold brew coffee, and caramel provide a medium-long, warming and pleasant finish. Lingering caramel sweetness coats the throat and is the last to gently fade.

Summary:

The Bearface Miltenach Island Release appears to be where Master Blender Andrés Faustinelli’s seemingly tireless experimentation has really hit its stride, as there is nothing that stands out as a detractor from being an excellent Canadian whisky. It’s profile is medium sweet – which for some may be a touch too sweet, but that simply boils down to personal preference. At 42.5%, it thankfully drinks a pinch hotter than its official abv, which compliments its wonderful complexity.

#9 – Okanagan Craft Spirits BSV Pipe Finish

• NOSE – Red licorice is the first to make its presence known before crème Anglaise, banana and cinnamon also make an arrival. The nose fades into dark fruit and a slight bit of straw.
• PALATE – The sweetness of strawberry-flavored licorice evolves into a cherry cola note before evolving into sponge toffee and subtle cacao.
• FINISH – A medium-length finish delivers plum, cold brew coffee and fresh hazelnut.

Summary:

Oak, which is almost always present in a whisky, is seemingly absent in this Okanagan Craft Spirits expression. Despite trademark oak being M.I.A., the ruby-rich influence of port has left an indelible mark across the nose, palate and finish of this lovely deep mahogany-colored, red licorice lover’s BC craft whisky.

#10 – Wiser’s Wood Series Hickory Expression 13 Year

• NOSE – Raspberries, maple syrup and bacon conjure thoughts of a bountiful breakfast plate. Lemon pith is accompanied by powdery vanilla and toasted oak.
• PALATE – As with the nose, bacon strips drenched in maple syrup are first to the fore. Powdered vanilla cookies appear shortly thereafter, and are followed by warm toffee and subtle oak.
• FINISH – A medium length finish delivers a hint of mesquite and a slightly bitter black tea astringency that is smoothed out by a final whisp of sweet Manuka honey.

Summary:

Out of the gate, this The J.P. Wiser’s Wood Series Hickory Expression presents itself as “traditional Wiser’s profile whisky” before it takes a delightful turn as a result of the hickory influence. The finish is where the magic truly culminates with this 40% release, that stands up on its own neat, or serves as a delightful base to a warming Maple Old Fashioned cocktail.