A Can’t-Miss Pair of Age-Stated Stunners
“Tasting both of these whiskies side by side leaves only the conclusion that there is no blueprint for Rare Perfection. Who can conclude that a Van Gogh is more perfect than a Monet? Perfection can certainly be achieved in more ways than one.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer
Proving once again that our spirits team is at the top of their game, they’ve just come through with a pair of ultra-rare, age-stated Canadian whiskeys. This set comes from our venerable friends at Rare Perfection, the same group that brings us the highly coveted Very Olde St. Nick bottlings, the last round of which sold out in a flash just before Christmas. Both whiskeys were distilled in Waterloo, Ontario from four-grain mashbills then aged in a small, very cold warehouse until they were acquired by the folks at Rare Perfection. Collectors who’ve been savvy (or lucky) enough to get their hands on some of the Very Olde St. Nick will know the impeccable standards that Rare Perfection applies to their selections. The cold storage environment tempers the influence of the wood, resulting in beautiful, refined profiles that are as serious and utterly distinctive as they come. They’re also incredibly limited, and a can’t-miss opportunity like this is unlikely to come around again anytime in the foreseeable future.
Rare Perfection 14 Year Old Canadian Whiskey (750ml) ($159.99)
The Rare Perfection whiskies are just that — exceedingly rare and just about as perfect as whiskey gets. The careful selection for this brand is unmatched in the industry. Nationality doesn’t apply — if it’s a true rarity and the whiskey is great, it can be bottled. You know the palates making these choices are good, since it’s brought to you by the folks at Preservation Distillery in Bardstown — the same people responsible for the Very Olde St. Nick and Wattie Boone bottlings. This current release of Rare Perfection is a story of relationships and serendipity. The barrels for Rare Perfection 14 and 15 were found in the back of a unique warehouse when the new owners took stock of their purchase. Due to mutual friends in the business, the principals of Rare Perfection received a call about these sublime casks. After sampling them without any information they were blown away and asked for specifics. Turns out these ancient casks were made of new charred oak and filled with a Waterloo, Canada distilled four grain bourbon mashbill. They then aged in the single level warehouse which maintained extremely cold temperature year round. Because of this atypical bourbon aging environment the interaction with the wood was dramatically slowed and the final result after 14 and 15 years is indeed Rare Perfection.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 30, 2020
It’s remarkable how different this is from its older brother. The nose evokes a deeper, sweeter feeling. The aromas are decadent and nutty. Mounds of candied pecan and walnut atop fudge and hard toffee all drizzled in a butter cream frosting. Wood spice plays more of a secondary role on the nose, but has the same soft yet full presence as the 15 year. Labeled “Overproof 100.7” there is no lack of punch here, but it does evoke the sense of a velvet glove wrapping a confident handshake rather than an iron fist. The flavors dance around, flitting from crushed nuts to sliced fruit and then expressing all of the complexity of a cigar box fresh from the walk in humidor. The four grain mashbill seems to show up more in the 14 year old – there is a hint of fresh cut grass from the rye, like driving past a beautiful golf course in the summer after they’ve mowed. At the same time, the softer wheat component seems more present as well, while the 15 year shows more sweet corn. Tasting both of these whiskies side by side leaves only the conclusion that there is no blueprint for Rare Perfection. Who can conclude that a Van Gogh is more perfect than a Monet? Perfection can certainly be achieved in more ways than one.
Jordan Stone | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 30, 2020
Those crazy Canucks at Rare Perfection have created a very special whiskey. A 4 grain mashbill aged in a cold North American warehouse resulting in a soft and smooth buttery feel. The smell is butterscotch. The taste is like a warm bowl of cornflakes with vanilla. Any bourbon aficionado should consider tasting this northern gem! This is worth the price. Just great!!
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 23, 2020
Coming from an undisclosed distillery and sporting a bourbon-style mashbill, this is an interesting Canadian whiskey. The nose is basically dessert for me. Pecan praline, brown sugar, melted butter, and dark raisins meld and and just keep coming. There’s a touch of oak spice on the nose, but the sweets dominate. For being over 100 proof, this whiskey is darn smooth. There’s more cinnamon and gingersnaps on the palate than on the nose, but this is easy to drink and still rocking the pecan confection angle full blast. The finish moves to a pleasant mix of salty and sweet, and the flavors stay on the tongue forever.
Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 23, 2020
Both the Rare Perfection 14 and 15 year old are two of the most unique and delicious whiskeys I have tasted, EVER! These whiskeys were originally intended to age for a short period of time, but were forgotten about in the distillery’s sale and the extra time resulted in a fascinating drink. The palate of the 14 year old is buttery with strong coconut notes, Madagascar vanilla bean, brown sugar, and tropical fruit. Almonds, butterscotch, and cinnamon linger on the end, but very little wood tannin comes into play. This is without a doubt one of the best whiskeys I have ever tasted and am a little sad I may never come across something like this again, it is that unique.
Rare Perfection 15 Year Old Canadian Whiskey (750ml) ($189.99)
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 30, 2020
There simply aren’t enough superlatives to adequately describe this whisky. The uniqueness of the four grain bourbon mashbill, the extended aging in new charred oak, the cold warehouses, the unfiltered and cask strength bottling, all contribute to a sublime drinking experience from start to finish. It begins when you pop open the bottle – you immediately are greeted with intense caramel and vanilla before you even pour the whisky into your glass. With a pour and a swirl without even bringing the glass to your nose you’re assailed by complex cedar and oak notes, sweet spices, more Madagascar vanilla, Cassia, and a sensation that every corner of your nasal cavity has been filled. Nosing the glass more carefully reveals a pantheon of fruits ranging from crisp apples to decadent candied citrus and exotic tropicals all bathed in fresh sweet cream. It reminds me a bit of decades old single grain from Scotland, but with much more intensity. While it wouldn’t be hard to spend hours nosing this, the palate is where things really start to get interesting. Cracked peppercorn melds with toffee, chocolate, caramel, and vanilla fudge. Incredulity forces a glance at the 119.7 proof on the label – it can’t possibly be that high – but there it is. The whisky carries all of the power of 60% ABV with the grace and subtlety of a master blender’s heavily proofed back nosing glass. The wild fruits abound and the fine wood tannins roll gently around providing structure and verve. The finish is long and lingering, a reprise of the epic dram that seems to have effortless evaporated from your glass.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 25, 2020
This is our second bottle of Rare Perfection and the people from Very Old St Nick tell us that it’s coming from the same unnamed Canadian distillery with the same bourbon mash bill, but they’re not giving us much more info than that. It is, however, notably different in that it’s cask strength. Coming in at 119.7 proof, it should appeal to our customers who are always looking for those whiskeys straight from the cask and ready to light their fire. This bottling has a lot of similarities in profile to the 14 year old bottling, but with a couple fun deviations. Still dominant is a luscious dessert character with candied pecans taking the fore. This cask strength version also has aromas of bananas Foster, dark caramel, some red fruit notes, and more spice. The spice really comes through on the palate. This undoubtedly has something to do with the higher ABV, but the spice isn’t just hitting you as alcohol burn. There are peppery elements and clove that really coat the mouth and add a delightful tingle. The dessert elements continue through the palate as well, but the finish is a pleasant warm fuzz of spice medley and nuttiness. Impressive.
Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 23, 2020
The palate on the 15 year old is slightly more viscous than the 14 year old, and the higher proof obviously adds a bit more of a punch. The flavors seem amplified in this bottling versus the delicate profile of the 14 year. Baked sweet grains with burnt caramel and lemon round out the palate and create a spirit that is unbelievably delicious. This is truly a rare find.
