A London, Ontario Distillery claims WHISKY OF THE YEAR honours at the 2024 CANADIAN WHISKY AWARDS
More than two dozen accolades were presented at the prestigious 14th annual event
VICTORIA, B.C. (January 19, 2024) – Paradigm Spirits’ 2022 Heritage Collection was named Canadian Whisky of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Whisky Awards, held Thursday, January 18, in Victoria, B.C. The 19-year-old blended whisky was awarded top honours by a panel of 10 judges, who tasted and scored nearly 200 competing whiskies in blind tastings.
Made from 100% Canadian corn, 2022 Heritage Collection spent 19 years maturing in new American oak barrels. The whisky-makers at Paradigm then blended in a touch of classic Oloroso sherry, a recognized practice under Canada’s whisky-blending regulations.
“This is remarkable whisky,” says Davin de Kergommeaux, chair of the judging panel and author of Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert. “Long maturation in oak imbues it with sublime complexity and elegance, while meticulous blending animates its fresh, fruity top notes.”
Canadian Whisky of the Year was just one of more than two dozen awards handed out at this year’s 14th annual edition of the Canadian Whisky Awards. Other honours included:
- Corn Whisky of the Year – J.P. Wiser’s 18-Year-Old
- Wheat Whisky of the Year – LMD Whisky Release no.0005-Straight Wheat
- Rye Whisky of the Year – GrainHenge Arrowwood
- Single Malt Whisky of the Year – Two Brewers Release 41
- Blended Whisky of the Year – Wayne Gretzky Distillery No.99 Maple Cask Whisky
- Mixed Mash Whisky of the Year – Crown Royal Aged 30 Years
- Whisky Spirit of the Year – DEVINE Distillery Ancient Grains ‘Young Whisky’
- Alternative Grain Whisky of the Year – Last Straw Distillery Rice Whisky
- Flavoured Whisky of the Year – Crown Royal Golden Apple Aged 23 Years
- Cream Whisky of the Year – Forty Creek Original Cream
Held annually since 2010 at the Victoria Whisky Festival, the Canadian Whisky Awards recognizes the very best Canadian whiskies. An independent panel of experts scores each whisky in blind tastings, based on ranking criteria that reflect the industry’s highest standards.
The Canadian Whisky Awards is fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry. In order to qualify for competition, all whiskies must be distilled and matured in Canada.
For more information and the full results of the 2024 Canadian Whisky Awards, visit canadianwhiskyawards.com.
For images, please see: canadianwhiskyawards.com/media.
Media Contacts:
Davin de KergommeauxLaura Chair, Canadian Whisky Awards media@canadianwhiskyawards.com
