Loch Fyne Whiskies ‘New in Stock: Littlemill 21yo’
Littlemill 21yo Official Bottling 46% abv
£108.00 inc vat
£90.00 ex vat
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk
The legend returns
Colour: Rich gold
Nose: Sherry is the dominant aroma, accompanied by classic Christmas cake ingredients of raisins, sultanas, almonds and marzipan. You could nose this all night, the possibilities are infinite.
Palate: Rich and creamy, bursting with flavour. Great oily texture like the previous edition. Concluding with a hint of treacle and salt. A whisky full of rich flavour that will not let you down.
Finish: Goes on and on, deliciously sweet. Develops on the tongue for eternity, evolving continuously.
In Brief…
Age 21 YO
Casks Fresh Sherry & Refill Sherry
ABV 46%
Availability Limited Worldwide
Greetings from the Pacific Coast! I’ve been out west for a few days attending and participating in the Victoria Whisky Festival; Canada’s finest whisky festival. It attracts whiskies and brand ambassadors from all over the world who put on an impressive list of Master Classes and a great festival tasting. I’ll share more of my thoughts on this weekend’s happenings on the store blog in the coming weeks. Today I find myself heading towards Vancouver at a leisurely pace, where I will be conducting another tasting tonight. I’m back in Calgary tomorrow for a Glendronach Vintages Vertical tasting of whiskies from Batch 6 (and a bottle from the yet to arrive batch 7).
Our 2013 Burns Supper is also coming up, taking place this Friday at Fort Calgary. It will be unlike any of our previous Burns Suppers in that participants will have the chance to help us select a future single cask whisky bottling for KWM. If you’ve never attended one of our Burns Suppers before, you owe it to yourself to come check it out. We combine the elements of a traditional Burns Supper (toasts, poetry, song, Highland dancing, and haggis) with a tutored whisky tasting led by a distillery’s brand ambassador. This year’s special guest is Mr. Michael Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail/Benromach. Michael will be guiding us through a range of 6 whiskies from Benromach Distillery, and its parent company Gordon & MacPhail, one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent bottlers. There is only one catch, the deadline to register for the event is the end of the day today.
In addition to some information on Tuesday’s Glendronach tasting and Friday’s Burns Supper, I’ve also highlighted a few Burns themed whiskies to help you mark the birth of Scotland’s favourite son. There are notes on the Burns Blend, Burns Single Malt and Cutty Sark Tam O’Shanter. I’d also like to make note of the Bowmore 1985 26 Year which may not last until the next full Malt Messenger.
Finally, this weekend is our annual Year End Sale. I’ll have a Bulletin out on Friday with all of the deals.
I hope you enjoyed this Malt Messenger Bulletin, and that it finds you well! Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy .
Slainté!
AndrewFerguson
GLENDRONACH VINTAGES VERTICAL – BATCH 6 + 1 – Tuesday January 22nd – $80
We will be sampling six Glendronach single cask, cask strength bottlings including five from Batch 6 and one from Batch 7 that was flown over just to be included in the tasting. Of the Batch 6 bottlings, all but the 1971 has sold out. We only received 6 bottles of each. 5 of the 1971’s have sold, and I’ve just been offered another case. The whiskies are as follows:
Four of these whiskies will never be available again for purchase let alone sampling!
SCOTS WHAT HAE- Our 8th Annual Robbie Burns Supper w/ Michael Urquhart – Friday January 25th – $99
Our Robbie Burns Supper has become a bit of a Calgary institution over the last 8 years. Every year we have a special guest presenter from the Scotch whisky industry. Past guests of honour have included: Richard Patterson (Dalmore), Peter Currie (Springbank), Jamie MacKenzie (Bowmore), George Grant (Glenfarclas) and Andrew Gray (Bruicladdich) to name just a few. We take the elements of a traditional Burns Supper (the Address to a Haggis, Immortal Memory, Toast to the Lassie with Reply, poetry and song) and add to it Highland dancing and a whisky tasting. It is always a memorable event. This year our special guest is Michael Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail/Benromach Distillery and we will be sampling a range of single malts including:
Terry Lauder, who’s been to 6 of our previous 7 Burns Suppers, will be making a triumphant return this year, and Mary Ann Houston will be with us for the 7th consecutive year reprising her role as piper. We will also be adding a new element to this year’s dinner, a cask selection. Attendees will be invited to turn up early (6:15) to help us select a cask of Benromach single malt to be bottled for our store. The formal dinner will begin at 7:00PM sharp.
For the 4th straight year we will be holding our event in the Officer’s Mess at Fort Calgary. It is a beautiful room, and they always put on an excellent meal. There are still a few tickets left for purchase in store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php . Ticket sales close at midnight tonight.
Robert Burns – The Man
Robert Burns-AKA Rabbie Burns, Robbie Burns, the Ploughman Poet, Bard of Ayrshire and to Scots, simply The Bard-was born on January 25th 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland. Widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, he is without doubt Scotland’s favorite son. Every year the date of his birth is celebrated in Scotland and around the world in the Scottish Diaspora; which incidentally includes all native Scots, descendants of Scots, and those who wish they were!
Poor and little-known during his life time, Robert Burn’s fame has grown steadily since his death. His poetry and other writings are every bit as evocative and relevant today as they were in the late 1700s. He gave voice to the common man, where there was none before, and was one of the pioneers of the Romantic Movement.
2009 was the 250th Anniversary of Burn’s birth, and was celebrated in Scotland as”Homecoming 2009″
The Burns Supper
Celebrated for more than 2 centuries, the Burns Supper has changed little since his death in 1796. The dinner opens with a general welcome, followed by the Selkirk Grace. The piping signals the entrance of the Haggis which is ceremonially cut open to the reading of Burns’ famous ode, “Address to a Haggis”. The Immortal memory, a recounting of the life of Robert Burns is given and then a couple of toasts. The dinner concludes with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”.
But that’s not enough for the KWM Burns Supper. We blend a whisky tasting into the evenings events, along with some traditional highland dancing from the Springbank School of Dance. This even will appeal to both novice and seasoned Burns Supper attendees. And one need not love whisky to attend, but it doesn’t hurt!
Gordon & MacPhail / Benromach Distillery
Gordon & MacPhail is one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent bottlers. From humble origins in 1895 as a grocer the business has gone on to become an important player in the Scotch whisky industry. G&M’s stocks of old and maturing whisky are the envy of the industry, having bottled two 70 year old whiskies and a 60 year old in the last three years. Long before single malts caught on outside of the Highlands, G&M was bottling and selling single malts from their shop in Elgin. The family business has retained its Elgin storefront, but there is much more to the business today.
Benromach distillery was founded in 1898 in the town of Forres west of Elgin. Benromach is the smallest of the Speyside’s more than 50 distilleries. Closed in 1983, Benromach was in a poor state when it was purchased by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. It took the new owners nearly 5 years to get it up and running again. Unable to exactly reproduce the original style of whisky the distillery settled on producing a lightly peated Speyside malt more traditional to the region a century ago. The distillery was officially reopened by the Prince of Wales in 1998 and bottled its first single malt in 2004.
Michael Urquhart
Michael Urquhart is Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, a family firm which also owns Benromach distillery. A Keeper of the Quaich since 1999, he was made a Master in 2012 in recognition of his service to the Scotch Whisky Industry. Michael heads the export function of the business and travels extensively promoting Gordon & MacPhail and Benromach whiskies. Michael led the team that developed and launched Gordon & MacPhail’s Generations range, which included two seventy year old single malts, the oldest whiskies in the world. Both were launched to international acclaim at Edinburgh Castle in 2010 and 2011. In 2012 he launched a 60 year old to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
BURNS WHISKIES
Here are a couple of Scotch whiskies with which to celebrate this Friday. The Burns Bottlings are done by the Arran distillery and help sustain the World Burns Federation. The Cutty Sark Tam O’Shanter is a deluxe (single malt lover’s blend) blend paying tribute to the origins of the Cutty Sark brand name. It is beautifully presented and is a stunning whisky. It’s heart is Macallan with some Glenrothes and Highland Park. It was named one of Whisky Advocate Magazine’s Top 10 new whiskies in their fall edition.
BOWMORE 1985 26 Year – $534.99 + GST
I haven’t had a chance to write-up this new Bowmore formally just yet, but by the time I do it may be gone, only 30 odd bottles found their way to Alberta. We received 15 and have already sold more than half of them! There’s been a sample bottle staring at me from my desk at home for months and while I haven’t properly sampled it yet I’ve tasted it twice, most recently at last week’s MS Calgary Whisky Festival. It is very floral like the 1983 bottling we had about a year ago, but with some spice and dark fruit this time. 747 total bottles have been produced from a mix of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks bottled at a cask strength of 52.3%.
YEAR END SALE THIS WEEKEND! – Friday January 25th – Sunday January 28th
Details to follow on Friday!
——————–
If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.
All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change, and don’t include GST. In the event of discrepancies, the point of sale will be taken as correct.
Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.
Slainte!
Andrew Ferguson
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Owner & Operator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
CHIVAS AND CANANA PRESENT: A PARTNERSHIP INSPIRED BY FRIENDSHIP
Canana directors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna to create two films inspired by friendship
Chivas Regal, the original luxury whisky, is excited to announce a unique collaboration with Canana – the arthouse Mexican production company, founded by life-long friends Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Pablo Cruz, and led by Julián Levin. Chivas has partnered with Canana to produce two short films about modern male friendship, the first of which is set for release in January 2013, followed by the second in early February.
The collaboration marks the second phase of Chivas’ successful ‘Here’s to Real Friends’ campaign and will see Canana bring modern brotherhood to life with a story about three life-long friends told in two short English language films – the first film directed by Diego and the follow up by Gael. This is the first time the two directors have worked together in this way, each directing a story around the same characters. Both films are produced by life-long friends Julian Levin and Arturo Sampson and written by childhood friend, Alonso Ruizpalacios, staying true to the friendship theme.
Set in Mexico, the films explore themes of trust, forgiveness and acceptance in friendship as they follow the adventures of three life-long friends. A comic yet thought provoking story unfolds in the first film as the characters re-connect and explore how they have changed individually – and what impact this has on their relationship. Viewers will have to wait until the release of the second film, directed by Gael, to see what happens to these friends over time.
An exclusive trailer for the project, which gives fans a sneak peek into the world of Canana and the real life friendships that inspired the films, can be viewed at www.chivascanana.com.
Commenting on the collaboration, Canana founder and director of the first short, Diego Luna said, “We founded Canana so that we could work with our friends to make films in a way that felt different. Gael is like a brother to me, so it will always be exciting to work hand in hand.”
Adds Gael Garcia Bernal, “This is the first time Diego and I have worked together in this way – directing a film each, which work in succession as part of the same story. We have different directorial styles so it will be interesting to see how that comes across interpreting this story with the same characters.”
Created by brothers James and John Chivas and shared by friends around the world, Chivas understands that friendship and brotherhood are a vital source of inspiration and support for men.
Global Brand Director for Chivas Regal, James Slack said, “The partnership with Canana is an exciting project for us. We wanted to work with a company that understood friendship in the same way that we do. We were founded by two ambitious brothers and their values of generosity, brotherhood and friendship have remained at the heart of Chivas. Canana mirrored these values, founded by friends who followed their shared passion and found success. We look forward to seeing the reaction to these films from our Chivas fans around the world.”
More about the partnership, including an introduction to Canana and the makers of the films, can be viewed at http://www.facebook.com/ChivasRegal.
Notes:
About Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.9 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.
About ‘Real Friends, Make Time’
Chivas Canana Present was inspired by ‘Here’s to Real Friends’, the latest installment of the Live with Chivalry campaign, featuring two short films about friendship directed by Academy Award® winning short filmmaker Joachim Back. The two cinematic films focus on the trials, tribulations and idiosyncrasies of modern male friendships, celebrating the stories that bind real friends together.
For further information please visit http://www.facebook.com/ChivasRegal
About Canana
CANANA was founded in 2005 by Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Pablo Cruz, and most recently joined by partner and CEO Julián Levin. Over the past 7 years, CANANA has produced over twenty films including Abel, Luna’s first feature length film, Sin Nombre, Miss Bala, directed by Gerardo Naranjo, and most recently, the English language film, Chavez, directed by Luna and based on the life of Mexican-American labor union organizer César E. Chávez.
In 2012, CANANA expanded its operations in the U.S. with Canana L.A., bridging the talent pool between Latin America and the U.S. with such projects as A Man Must Die, a political thriller produced in collaboration with Focus Features, with Naranjo set to direct. In México, CANANA added both a television arm, which produced Soy Tu Fan, starring Ana Claudia Talancón and Niño Santo, and a distribution outlet, CANANA Presenta, which has been releasing international art house films in Mexico for six years across all platforms, with a catalogue of more than 50 titles, including the award-winning NO, Pina, and The White Ribbon. The partners’ passion for film has also reflected through Documental Ambulante, a traveling documentary festival that has taken over 200 documentaries to communities across México, having recently completed its 8th tour.
Whisky Ramblings Via Video #31
Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, thinks winter is the ideal season for peated whisky. But instead of trying a full blown Islay whisky, he goes back to basics, putting two mildly peaty whiskies head to head. Join him for this battle between two very affordable bottles: The Six Isles versus Black Bottle. Enjoy!
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
Distilling in New Zealand goes back to the earliest Scottish settlers in 1838, and the distilling industry thrived around New Zealand, and particularly in the Dunedin and surrounding Otago region right through until the 1870s, when government influence saw many close down.
The Willowbank Distillery was opened by the Baker family in 1974 after approaches to the New Zealand government allowed more favourable regulations. The Bakers commenced distilling whiskies and marketed blends including Wilsons and 45 South.
The large Canadian multi-national Seagrams improved the still and processes after purchasing the distillery in the 1980’s, marketing the single malts as Lammerlaw, named after a nearby mountain range, the source of the pure water from which the whisky was created.
Production ceased in 1997 as Seagrams rationalised their world wide business and the business was sold to Fosters who mothballed the company in 2000, and sent the silent stills to Fiji to make rum!
The New Zealand whisky company purchased the last 600 barrels of mainly Lammerlaw malt and the whisky has been maturing in the towering seaside bondstore in Oamaru’s famous heritage precinct ever since.
Dunedin Double Wood / 10 Year Old / New Zealand
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
Dundedin Double Wood 10 year old, distilled at the Willobank Distillery, New Zealand.
Aged in American oak barrels for 6 years and finished for a further 4 in French oak ex New Zealand red wine barrels. This is a master blend of 70% single malt whisky, and 30% premium grain whisky, bottled at 40% abv.
£69.00 (£57.50 ex vat)
Click here to buy Dunedin Double Wood / 10 Year Old / New Zealand
Milford 15 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
Aged in oak cask for 15 years, this single malt whisky from New Zealand was distilled at the now mothballed distillery, Willowbank. Bottled by The New Zealand Whisky Company and rebranded under the name Milford.
£52.95 (£44.13 ex vat)
Click here to buy Millford 15 Year Old / New Zealand Whisky
New Zealand Single Cask 1988 / 23 Year Old
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
From The New Zealand Whisky Company is this single malt from 1989. Distilled at the famous Willobank Distillery of Dunedin, this Kiwi malt has been aged for 23 years, before being bottled in 2012 at 56.4% vol.
Was £116.40 (£97.00 ex vat)
Click here to buy New Zealand Single Cask 1988 / 23 Year Old
New Zealand Single Cask 1989 / 22 Year Old
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
Distilled in 1989 on the South Island of New Zealand, at the famous Willobank Distillery of Dunedin. This New Zealand single malt, aged 22 years was bottled at a cask strength of 52.8% in 2012.
£105.80 (£88.17 ex vat)
Click here to buy New Zealand Single Cask 1989 / 22 Year Old
New Zealand Single Cask 1990 / 21 Year Old
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
Bottled by The New Zealand Whisky Company, this single malt from 1990 was distilled at the Willobank Distillery of Dunedin. Aged 21 years in barrel 90, bottled at a cask strength of 61.7% vol.
£96.00 (£80.00 ex vat)
Click here to buy New Zealand Single Cask 1990 / 21 Year Old
New Zealand Single Cask 1993 / 18 Year Old
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
A cask strength whisky from the New Zealand Whisky Company, distilled in 1993 in the South Island of New Zealand, at the famous Willobank Distillery of Dunedin. Aged for 18 years in barrel number 21 before being bottled in 2012 at 51.9%.
£86.60 (£72.17 ex vat)
Click here to buy New Zealand Single Cask 1993 / 18 Year Old
New Zealand’s 1987 / 24 Year Old / Touch Pause Engage
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
New Zealand’s 1987 – Touch, Pause, Engage. Distilled in 1987 and aged for 24 years in oak barrels, before being bottled in 2012 at 50.4%.
This single malt captures the triumph of a nation as it was distilled in 1987, a landmark year in New Zealand. It was the year of the first Rugby World Cup, won by the triumphant All Blacks.
£148.00 (£123.33 ex vat)
Click here to buy New Zealand’s 1987 / Touch Pause Engage
The South Island Single Malt / 18 Year Old
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
Aged for 18 years in American oak, ex-bourbon barrels this whisky was distilled in the South Island of New Zealand, on the site of the old distillery in Dunedin. The label, features a 3D like image effect of the ‘Water of Leith’ Distillery.
£78.95 (£65.79 ex vat)
Click here to buy The South Island Single Malt / 18 Year Old
The South Island Single Malt / 21 Year Old
New Zealand Single Malt Whisky
The New Zealand Whisky Company
Aged for 21 years in American oak, ex-bourbon barrels this whisky was distilled in the South Island of New Zealand, on the site of the old distillery in Dunedin. The label, features a 3D like image effect of the ‘Water of Leith’ Distillery.
£98.00 (£81.67 ex vat)
Click here to buy The South Island Single Malt / 18 Year Old
NEWSFLASH!!!
As you know our Open Day this year is scheduled for Thursday 23rd May. As a special wee treat for Society Members we are planning an exclusive tasting for Society Members in the Tasting Room on the afternoon of the 22nd May of the proposed “summer” bottling for the Society so that they can be involved in choosing the next cask.
If you are going to be in Campbeltown on that date please let us know so that we can give you details of time etc.
Slainte
Janet (please contact Janet to join the Society)
P.S. We are in the process of picking a cask to be released shortly.
For the Springbank Society
J & A Mitchell and Co Ltd, The Tasting Room, 9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, Argyll, PA28 6HZ
Tel : + 44(0) 1586 555492 Fax : + 44(0) 1586 551110 website http://www.springbankwhisky.com
Benromach sales blossom as Gordon & MacPhail invests for future growth.
Benromach, Speyside’s smallest distillery, experienced exceptional sales growth in 2012 and its rise is set to continue with investment in a new bottling line in 2013.
Benromach’s overall sales were up by 40% in 2012 and exports increased by 55%. The handmade single malt, which includes Benromach 10 Years Old as part it its portfolio, experienced particularly strong growth in sales to China, Sweden, the USA and France. Sales in the UK increased by 13%.
Handcrafted by just two men, Keith Cruickshank and Mike Ross, it is no small feat for such a small distillery to increase its market share so much in one year.
Michael Urquhart, Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, the family-run company which owns Benromach, commented: “As the smallest distillery in Speyside, Benromach is punching above its weight in terms of sales growth.
“Benromach’s single malts are becoming increasingly popular with people who want a whisky with a distinctive traditional Speyside style. We worked very hard to promote ourselves throughout the UK this year, resulting in a 13 percent increase in sales.
“Internationally, our importers in the USA have been letting more people in on the secret of Benromach, while in Sweden and France, new listings of Benromach with large drinks distributors have made an impact.
“China is our biggest success story of 2012. The Benromach 10 Years Old has really taken off over there, spurred on by success in the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition, where Benromach 10 Years Old gained a top award.”
To support the continued growth of Benromach, parent company Gordon & MacPhail has invested £540,000 in a new bottling line in Elgin and building works to improve production efficiencies. Gordon & MacPhail has been an independent bottler of single malt whiskies for over 100 years and the installation of the new line will free up the existing main line to deal with greater volumes of Benromach.
Notes:
About Gordon & MacPhail:
Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.
Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts and has a stock-holding of more than 700 whiskies. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
About Benromach
Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment, and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.
The Benromach portfolio includes the award-winning Benromach 10 Years Old and the first fully certified organic single malt – Benromach Organic.
Canadian Whisky Brings Home the Gold
VICTORIA, Jan. 17, 2013 /CNW/ – Canadian whisky maker, John K. Hall makes the best whisky in Canada. That’s the verdict of seven independent whisky experts who awarded Hall the coveted Canadian Whisky of the Year Award at the third annual Canadian Whisky Awards. Results of the annual blind tasting competition were announced Thursday evening at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, B.C.
Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve, a three-time winner, was also named Connoisseur Whisky of the Year in multiple markets, along with winning a gold medal. In announcing the awards, Chairman of the Judges, Davin de Kergommeaux, dubbed it “the best whisky yet from Forty Creek Distillery.”
Other top winners included Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 year old, and Canadian Rockies 21 year old.
The awards also recognized the 2012, flavoured whisky phenomenon. All of the major whisky makers have moved to address the growing demand for flavoured whiskies with Gibson’s, Forty Creek, and Kruger Wine and Spirits being given particular mention.
Awards of Excellence were given to Kruger Wine and Spirits for Sortilège, Diageo for Crown Royal Maple, and Beam Inc. for Alberta Premium Dark Horse.
“What a year to be a whisky lover,” said de Kergommeaux as he introduced the winners. “Canadian producers have really upped their game and we see the results here tonight.” Canadian whisky sales were up four percent in 2012 and we’ve had double-digit growth in sales of high-end Canadian Connoisseur whiskies,” de Kergommeaux continued, “The time has come to recognize the excellent quality of Canadian whisky.”
A complete list of the winners is available at http://www.canadianwhisky.org/
Notes:
About the Canadian Whisky Awards
Each year the Canadian Whisky Awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies and encourage distillers to maintain the highest standards for making whisky. To be eligible, whiskies must be distilled and matured in Canada. An independent panel of whisky writers, bloggers, and journalists selects the winners after blind tasting each whisky. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the Canadian Whisky Awards are fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry.
