Review #72: Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Rye Whisky, (Hiram Walker), 2012 release, 43% abv

I've heard about this one.

It was good to see this in stores. Of course, since this is upstate NY in 2014, I'm finding the 2012 release. That must be about right. Excited about this one -- I suspect there are a lot of good Canadian ryes that don't make it down here (Whistlepig excepted).

nose: take a while in the glass to open up. at first it's like nosing tree bark -- some pine, eucalyptus, and cinnamon, but mostly just tree. Rye bread. Could be a little leather and tobacco in there, too. Nettles. Then some spicy cinnamon and orange blossom comes in. But it's definitely more woody and medicinal than spicy and sweet.

drying palate. it's curious: it doesn't have a big extracted oak feeling, and it's not particularly bitter, but it feels very dry. otherwise, like sucking on shoe leather soaked in cherry cough syrup.

finish: drying and a little spicy, with a little vanilla at the end.


Suddenly I find myself in favor of blending. This is certainly a quality product, but I don't find it enjoyable in any particular way. It feels like an experiment, or a lesson, or an obligation.

score: 80