Canada Archives - Whisky a Day

Whisky #530: Shelter Point Single Malt

May 26, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Shelter Point Single Malt. Vancouver Island, Canada. ABV: 46%. Tasted while out sailing on Sydney Harbour, $140 (bottle).

Colour: Golden, but not as deep as this amazing sunset.

Nose: Grassy hay-like notes, unbaked dough, and freshly sawn timber.

Palate: Thin mouthfeel. Sweet on the tip of the tongue but a fuller, more savoury sensation at the back of the palate.

Finish: Toasted woody notes, malt and caramelised onion jam to give a sweet finish.

Comments: While the majority of Canadian whiskies are primarily rye or other grains, the guys at Shelter Point decided to buck the trend a little and make a single malt in the Scottish style from malted barley. Using barley grown on their own farm on Vancouver Island then distilled in traditional copper pot stills on the same site, it really is a paddock-to-bottle kind of single malt.

This is the type of whisky that grows on you. When I first cracked the bottle open I was a bit ambivalent, but each time I’ve gone back for another dram it’s definitely grown on me.

Whisky #192 – Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old Blended Canadian Whisky

August 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old Blended Canadian Whisky. Ontario, Canada. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at the Brass Monkey Hotel, $10.30.

Colour: Deep copper. I think. Hard to tell in this light.

Nose: Soft sweet aniseed and sawdust.

Palate: Toffee and aniseed. Syrupy mouthfeel.

Finish: Brett remarks that “it’s not the worst aftertaste”. What a compliment. Sweet, shortish finish for me.

Comments: Unsurprisingly, Brett doesn’t rate it as one of his favourite drops and neither do I. There’s a suggestion that the Canadians don’t do whisky right; suggest Canadian Club stick to clubbing seals.

Whisky #64: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

March 27, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky. Canada. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Botanica Bar, $12.

Colour: Light bronze.

Nose: Pine cones; honey scents. Although being Canadian maybe I should be saying maple syrup.

Palate: Smooth entry, sweet creamy vanilla flavours.

Finish: Medium length, sweet aftertaste, no real heat or spice. Smooth.

Comments: Maybe tastes a little like maple syrup and melted ice cream on hot pancakes. Is that description a little more Canadian for your liking??

Whisky #51: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur. Canada. ABV: 33.00%. $55 (bottle), tasted at my friends Tim & Claire’s place.

Appearance: Bright golden colour, syrupy – sticks to the side of the glass.

Nose: Like sticking your nose into a bunch of cinnamon sticks. Or maybe crushing them up and snorting one up your nose.

Palate: Sweet & overwhelming cinnamon & clove flavours explode in your mouth.

Finish: Oily hot spice at the tip of the tongue. Kind of a similar sensation to eating some chilli chocolate (not saying the flavours are chocolatey, just the sweetness followed by the heat after sensation).

Comments: My first Canadian of the year, also the first whisky liqueur, though at 33% ABV it’s more akin to a traditional whisky. Cinnamon aromas are too strong to really enjoy it.