The Gentleman’s Flavor TOP CANADIAN WHISKIES OF 2024

1. Found North
Cask Strength Aged 19 Years Batch 009

(62.3% ABV | Blended Whisky | $258 CAD)

‘The Southern Touch on Northern Liquid’

If you’re a lover of rich whiskies bottled at cask strength, then there’s a strong possibility that you’re familiar with Found North, who have made a big splash through carefully selecting mature Canadian whiskies and meticulously blending them to arrive upon a wonderfully complex and uncompromisingly robust finished product.

Batch 009 is a blend of 8 (yes, eight) whiskies aged between 19-26 years. Comprised of 91% Corn, 8% Rye, and 1% Barley, it was matured in ruby port, new and used American and Hungarian Oak Casks.

Distilled in Canada, it has been aged in Canada and the U.S., making it an interesting one in our list that features exclusively Canadian whiskies blended by an American operation, chiefly, brothers (and founders) Zach and Nick Taylor) who are seasoned veterans within the U.S. whisky industry.

Simply put, the Batch 009 was found to exhibit an unmatchable multi-layered complexity with a lovely liquid density whilst still remaining incredibly approachable and not “hot” given its elevated ABV.

Prominent notes of burnt, dark caramel unfold alongside maple on the nose, before cedar and creamy milk chocolate get in on the action.

A voluminous and mouth filling palate explodes with rich, sumptuous dark chocolate and cinnamon heats before a lively mix of nuts, oak char and maple-flavored coffee become present.

Notes of crushed red chilies and additional cinnamon dominate on an exceedingly long, elegant and warming finish.

Though not impossible to obtain, getting your hands on a bottle of Batch 009 at this juncture will likely require combing through secondary markets.

Godspeed.

2. Canadian Club
Invitation Series 18 Year Old High Proof

(58% ABV | Blended Whisky | $89.95 CAD)

‘CC: Rich & Bold’

The second successful release in the Invitation series, this whisky also marks the first time that a whisky with an age statement of 18 years has ever been released by Canadian Club in the over 160-year history of the iconic brand.

Caramel leaps out at you first on a sumptuous nose that is loaded with baking spices, Werther’s butterscotch candies, soft leather, creamy peach candies, and even a hint of coal.

The palate delivers with Brio Italian herbal cola, mesquite and chili spice, oak, dark espresso, and delightfully bitter baker’s chocolate.

A medium-long finish is mouth coating, and shows tones of burnt toffee, lingering baking spice, and oak char.

The 18 Year High Proof is the full-bodied, higher-ABV whisky that many have been waiting for from CC, and now that it’s arrived – it doesn’t disappoint.

3. Sons of Vancouver
Realms of Rye Citrus & Botanicals, Release No. 1

(59.4% ABV | Rye Whisky | $215 CAD)

‘Rye of the Tiger’

Presently focused solely on rye whisky, the Sons of Vancouver Distillery whisky program is ushering in a new era of richness and complexity to Canadian rye.

After gently poking your nose into a Glencairn glass filled with the Realms of Rye Citrus & Botanicals Release No. 1, you’ll at once encounter decadent chocolate and Brazil nuts, which is buttressed by rye spice and warm, baked apples.

A palate that is wickedly rich unfolds with soft caramel, candied orange and coffee but also baking spices, oak and apple.

A long finish manifests an essence of well-aged cognac, an abundance of oak, and a final touch consisting of sticky toffee pudding.

Despite its bright and fresh-sounding name (“Citrus & Botanicals”) this is a rich and robust whisky that has been aged in ex-bourbon and new American oak casks with a deliciously darker profile that one might expect – – and there ain’t nothing wrong with that.

4. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery
Laird of Fintry Cask Strength (Lot 11)

(56% ABV | Single Malt Whisky | $85.99)

‘Cask Strength yet Balanced’

At a time when whiskies labelled as ‘barrel-proof’, ‘cask-strength’, ‘un-cut’, ‘over-proof’, etc. have become more popular than ever, it’s always pleasing to witness when a release of this nature establishes a form of balance.

Within a sea of face-melting, hot, high-ABV releases out there, Okanagan Spirits’ Craft Distillery deftly pulls off delivering a whisky that is at once cask strength with a veritable flavor explosion whist remaining wonderfully smooth going down with little to no bite.

A quick whiff delivers pliable soft taffy candy, almond oil, hickory, and a generous helping of dark berries. A subtle hint of black licorice also makes its presence known.

On the palate, red licorice explodes alongside oak and powdered chocolate, before hickory and clove reveal themselves.

A delightfully lip-tingling, long finish unfolds, leaving clear remnants of toasted caramel, oak char, and bright cinnamon.

Having experienced both the lottery-release original 2024 Laird of Fintry as well as the Laird of Fintry Cask Strength, this year, Cask Strength is king.

Thankfully, as it does not require lottery allocation like the OG, the Cask Strength Heritage Edition release is readily available – for now.

5. Pike Creek
22 Year PX Cask Finish

(45% ABV | Blended Whisky | $199.95 CAD)

‘Dark, Fruit-Forward & Deliciously Decadent’

This 22 year old expression sits among the finest releases culled from Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore’s explorations in whisky finishing. Here, a blend of mature corn and rye whiskies were introduced to Pedro Ximenez (PX) casks to deliver a whisky that is at once rich and decadent with an assortment of flavor notes that are very analogous and complimentary to each other.

Originally limited-released in November of 2021, it re-appeared again in late 2024, with bottles selling at the 200 dollar (CAD) mark.

The nose initially unfolds with rich honey and is swiftly followed by dark field berries and creamy vanilla custard before oak char, a hint of tarragon and the essence of red wine pleasantly manifest.

A smooth palate delivers a creamy, syrupy mouthfeel accompanied by a gorgeous complexity of flavor. Notes of crème brulee usher in first, with also dark berries, English sponge toffee, and ample oak.

A medium-long finish tingles the lips and warms the chest with furthering sponge toffee and demerara sugar coating the back of the throat.

Though capable of being enjoyed year-round, this special whisky will truly hit the mark sitting by a fire on a cold winter day.

6. Two Brewers
Release No. 43 Peated

(50% ABV | Single Malt Whisky | $136 CAD)

‘For the Love of Peat’

The forty-third Single Malt Whisky release from Whitehorse, Yukon’s Two Brewers features 80% peated malt rounded out with some pale, honey, and Vienna malts.

This release bursts on the nose with soft saddle leather, ripe & juicy green melon, a hint of smoke, and a generous helping of powdered vanilla cookies.

The palate’s foremost note is leather, which is followed up with a surge of ginger spice, thick, bright honey, vanilla, and oak.

The finish truly hangs on for ages, with prominent black pepper, smoke, oak, and a subtle touch of cold brew coffee.

Since release numero uno, it seems as though Two Brewers can do no wrong in the eyes of a swelling group of Canadian Whisky aficionados.

With a formula of only numbered, limited-run releases, the only drawback is once they’re gone – they’re truly gone.

Lovers of Islay Scotch who also enjoy bright Speyside or Highland releases shouldn’t sleep on this.

7. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery
Orchard Saison Whisky

(43.5% ABV | Single Malt Whisky | $70 CAD)

‘The Heavenly Nose’

Made from exclusively malted barley, the folks at Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery refer to this Master Distillers Series release as a “new world style single malt”, as the wash/wort was finished to the level of a beer (in this case, a Saison) before being double-distilled and barrel aged in custom-toasted and charred white oak for 8 years before being slowly gravity-filtered through newly-emptied and deconstructed charcoaled jOkanagan Spirits’ Apricot Brandy Casks.

The end result is one of the most heavenly noses on a whisky you’ll ever have the pleasure of whiffing. If there was an award for best-smelling Canadian whisky, this would be the de facto Grand Champion, as the nose laps up waves of vanilla ice cream, bright apricot, and Bartlett pear, with fresh cut grass, rich Demerara simple syrup and Worther’s caramel candies.

Not to be overlooked, the medium-sweet palate ushers in bright, fresh peach cobbler, late-harvest vidal ice wine, warm oats with a pear nectar-like taste and texture to the mouthfeel.

A medium finish lingers, tickling the tongue and back of the throat with Manuka honey and oak.
Tropical, bright, elegant and almost dessert-like, this limited-release “hopped” whisky is unlike anything we’ve had before and well worthy of its position in our annual top 10.

8. Wayne Gretzky Estates Distillery
Craftsmanship Series Single Grain Oats

(63.24% | Single Grain Whisky | $99 CAD)

‘No. 99 @ 63.24%’

Since establishing their own cooperage and bringing Australian-born Master Distiller Tim Wilson on board, Wayne Gretzky Estates Distillery has been making some First Team All-Star moves in the whisky dept., and has been carving out an invigorated taste profile that has a swelling number of whisky lovers on board with higher ABV releases made from single grain such as rye and now – oats!

At a whopping 63.24 % ABV, this Craftsmanship Series whisky is truly a bold step for a No. 99 release.

The nose imparts big notes of warm, overripe banana-flavored oats, followed by peaches, dark honey, powdery vanilla and a restrained hop note.

The palate sees dark honey segue into dry, toasted oats. Mocha emerges, and is buttressed by hickory and oak char.

A long, warming finish smacks of crème brulee, persisting oak, and coffee.

There’s a thick density to the liquid and a flash of undeniable heat here, but nothing that detracts from the experience much. The oat character really pushes through the distillation process and lends itself well to the final product.

A highly enjoyable and adventurous Canadian whisky that will appeal to whisky nerds and casual drinkers alike.

More please.

9. Crown Royal
Single Malt

(45% | Single Malt Whisky | $90 CAD)

‘The Big Brand Does Single Malt’

When it comes to the international presence of Canadian whisky brands, there are none bigger than Crown Royal. In fact, according to The Spirit Business, Crown Royal (which is owned by Diageo) is the 4th biggest-selling brand of whisky in the world.

Having said that, what happens when one of the world’s biggest selling whisky brands, which traditionally produces a blended whisky, tries their hand at a single malt for the very first time?

Aged in newly charred white oak, the result is a sophisticated, and expertly balanced Canadian single malt whisky with a lovely, bright, toasted malt-forward character.

The nose welcomes you with honey and baking spices up front, white grape juice, powdery vanilla with toasted oak, as well as a hint of green apple.

Toasted barley mingles with lemon custard early on the palate, while burnt caramel, green apple and oak follow closely behind.

Coffee manifests on a medium-to-long length finish which also shows further tones of oak.

When you’re one of the world’s biggest brands, it comes as no surprise that the final result is a well-balanced and sophisticated initial take on a single malt whisky.

10. Forty Creek Distillery
Maplewood Select

(45% ABV | Blended Whisky | $85.99)

‘A Smooth and Familiar Friend’

After uncorking the tall, wide bottle that has become easily identified as the trademark vessel for practically all the higher-end, limited-release, Forty Creek whiskies, you pour some out.

After observing the golden amber-like color of the liquid, you take a quick whiff followed by an introductory sip and are immediately reminded that, yes, you are unquestionably drinking a Forty Creek whisky.

Bill Ashburn and the team at Forty Creek are known for consistently releasing incredibly smooth and highly approachable Canadian whiskies that have all have a familiar “feel” to them.

They have built a very loyal following of die-hard “Forty Creekers” who they possibly don’t want to disappoint by veering too far off course. So, they apply a modest sprinkling of something to make it ever-so slightly different.

The Maplewood Select (45% ABV), which has been finished with kiln-dried sugar Maplewood, features a classic Forty Creek profile with raisin, maple syrup, vanilla, candied orange peel, dry bran cereal, and oak, but also includes some new-to-the-fore notes consisting of fresh chopped ginger and some Arabica coffee that appears on the finish.

It’s safe terrain. It has no rough edges to speak of, and as a result it has managed to crack the top 10 on our list.

The formula works, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

To potentially ascend a little higher on our list, we’d be overjoyed to see something even more adventurous from Forty Creek.

For now, if you’re looking for an easy-sipping, silky-smooth Canadian whisky with more than adequate complexity, look no further than Maplewood Select.

It is smooth Canadian whisky personified.