Of Tempests & Teapots

The things over which some people will get their shorts in a knot. When Crown Royal released the latest in its Blenders’ Series, whisky lovers were given an opportunity to sample the source of those woody, vanilla tones that set this top-selling, and sometimes mysterious, whisky apart.

Although Crown Royal is decidedly Canadian, one of the component whiskies included in the blend is made using a typically American process. As well as their Canadian-style single grain whiskies, Crown Royal also mingles in whiskies made from a corn-rich mash bill, much as bourbon is made in the US.

Descriptively, they named this new whisky “Bourbon Mash.” Government authorities approved the name for US release and the bourbon industry raised no concerns. The whisky, which incidentally is a luscious, approachable vanilla-laden beauty, began appearing on store shelves across America, and all was well with the world.

However, a few bloggers, perhaps smelling click-bait potential, began complaining of government incompetence and producer conspiracy. It is not clear whether the US government withdrew approval of the name before or after the folks at Crown Royal shrugged their shoulders and changed it, but the whisky will remain in production, now labelled as “Blenders’ Mash,” in the US.

Crown Royal is the best selling whisky in America next to Jack Daniels. No one was going to be confused by the name. Nevertheless, it’s been changed. Still, a mad rush by speculators to snap up remaining bottles while they can, seems ill advised. There may be a few people out there willing to pay a premium for label variants, but they can simply buy it at their leisure in any liquor store in Canada where it is still called “Bourbon Mash.”

This is well-made whisky and it is not going away any time soon, north or south of the border. That’s good news because whether the label says Blenders’ Mash or Bourbon Mash, this is a richly flavourful addition to an already much-loved brand of whisky.

A review of this new whisky is posted here: http://www.canadianwhisky.org/reviews/crown-royal-blenders-mash-40.html

Reviving the Kinsip Cooperage

Whisky fans who worried about the future of the whisky program at 66 Gilead, when Sophia Pantazi and Peter Stroz sold their Prince Edward County distillery, can breathe a sigh of relief. Now owned by Jeremiah Soucie and three members of his family, the popular microdistillery has a new whisky called “Cooper’s Revival.” Initially, it will be for sale in the distillery gift shop.

The team renamed the distillery “Kinsip,” and redesigned the packaging and labels and now they have reopened the on-site cooperage. Cooper, Pete Bradford is back making bespoke whisky and wine barrels, one by one, toasting them on his ancient, single-burner outdoor cooper’s furnace & kiln. If you happen to visit on a Saturday, have your camera ready. It is a photo opportunity not to be missed.

 
Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Dave Broom (left) is the world’s foremost whisky writer and great proponent of Canadian whisky. Amber Light Productions currently has a kickstarter campaign underway to fund a movie that will feature Dave telling us about about Scotch and Scotland. They are about 90% there with just 5 days remaining. Would you like to see your name in the credits? Head to Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1186204465/the-amber-light

Briefly . . . 

News that New Orleans-based Sazerac Company has installed a column still in its bottling plant in Old Montreal has been greeted warmly by the Montreal spirits community and Canadian whisky connoisseurs. Blender, Drew Mayville, a 40-year Canadian whisky veteran will oversee operations. Mayville apprenticed for 22 years in the Seagram’s blending lab near Montreal, and was their last distiller before the company was sold. There is a lot more to this story as readers of the Whisky Advocate blog will soon learn. Watch http://whiskyadvocate.com/news/ over the next week or so for details.

Thank you Dave Mitton!

Corby global brand ambassador, Dave Mitton spends a lot of time on the road. It is his passion to spread the gospel of Corby whiskies in 12 countries. How gratifying to learn that my book, Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert keeps him company. Airplane sightings anyone? Post them on Twitter or Instagram. Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert is available in book stores and from most on-line sellers.