A World of Uncertainty Forces Us To Look Within For Answers
Evan here – a focus on Canadian Content seems like a good idea given the current political climate, doesn’t it? The current uncertainty we all live in sucks for a multitude of reasons. It is hard to focus just on whisky when talking about that – but hey – that is why this newsletter exists. Also Whisky is both my job and my passion, so here we go!
There was a time when Canada was the focal point for much of what happened with Whisky anywhere in the world. Some of the biggest brands in whisky and spirits were owned by a Canadian Multinational Conglomerate. The big whisky companies of the world today – especially powerhouses Diageo and Pernod Ricard – would not be what they are without Seagram’s. The company had a massive footprint both nationally and globally for a majority of the 20th Century.
Seagram’s was the largest owner of booze brands in the world in the 1990s. Crown Royal? That was Seagram’s. So was Martel Cognac, Absolut Vodka, Four Roses, Makers Mark, Fireball, Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet, Glen Grant, BenRiach (back then without the capital R), and many, many more. Seagram’s was absolutely massive, also having minority control of companies outside of alcohol at its peak such as DuPont. In the mid 90s, it’s interests in DuPont were sold and then MCA/Universal Pictures was acquired.
Seagram’s went under in the year 2000 – now a quarter-century ago. Its companies and assets were mostly split between contemporary alcohol behemoths Diageo and Pernod Ricard.
There is a lot to be proud of with Canadian Whisky. Its history now goes back more than 225 years. The largest distillery in Canada is also the largest in all of North America: Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario. It was founded back in 1858 and currently pumps out around 55 million litres of alcohol annually. That means it produces as much spirit than Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, and Macallan every year.
Canadian Whisky as a category is still a big deal internationally. Crown Royal is one of the top 20 best-selling whiskies in the world.
Some – or possibly much of the lustre and appeal of Canadian Whisky has been diminished over the past 25 years thanks to a lot of global competition becoming more available on our shelves. The whisky boom we have been lucky enough to live in for a good deal of that period has created much more competition. Other whisky styles and categories such as Single Malt Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon and other American Whiskey, etc. have seen exponentially increasing sales and consumer attention over that time.
Long gone are the days when your average liquor store whisky shelf contained Crown Royal, R&R, Alberta Premium, and maybe four or five other whiskies such as Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Grants, J&B Rare. Possibly, there were bottles of Glenlivet or Glenfiddich 12 available if you really wanted to splurge.
Nowadays, there is a stupid amount of choice even on small liquor store shelves. When you visit shops like Kensington Wine Market, the choice morphs into a disorienting insanity with hundreds and hundreds more options in front of you.
How does your average Canadian Whisky compete with that? For the most part, the category does not compete at all. It doesn’t even attempt to. It has stagnated, languishing and remained comfortable with a diminished importance and almost no footprint in the premium whisky realm.
Canadian Whisky as a category still has a lot of work to do both within Canada and internationally to get away from the idea that it is all just bargain-basement bland whisky.
The good news is, there are plenty of Canadian Whisky options out there that run entirely counter to that concept. You just have to know where to look.
Below is a small dive into what Alberta has to offer specifically.
A Look At (a few-definitely not all) Alberta Whisky Distillers
Bridgeland Distillery – Calgary, Alberta
Bridgeland Distillery was founded in 2018 and resides right within — get this — Bridgeland in Calgary, Alberta. If you are looking to go there – and I suggest you do – it is on the corner located on the corner of Marsh Road and Edmonton Trail. It is situated just a few blocks north of the Bow River and Memorial Drive.
The Distillery is owned by Daniel Plenzik and Jacques Tremblay, who originally met while taking a course on distilling in the Okanagan. The duo’s distillery produces a wide variety of spirits distilled from grain and also grapes. One of the things that sets Bridgeland apart is the reuse of different casks that have matured their brandies and whiskies to add character to other aging spirits. For example: reusing casks that previously matured their brandy to then mature or finish some of their whiskies.
There is plenty to recommend from Bridgeland Distillery. A good place to start would be with their Single Blend Whisky; which is an in-house blend that combines their various whisky styles. A new, custom blend is given a limited release each year.
Bridgeland’s releases are updated regularly as the distillery and their casks continue to mature. Here is what we have from their current lineup:
Bridgeland Glenbow Single Malt Whisky – 45.5% – 500ml Bottle – “Coming from a single distillery via a single malt house, sourced from a single field of a single farm.This barley comes from field NE4-37-27-W4M at Hamill farm and has been malted at Red Shed Malting in Penhold, Alberta. Bow Glacier Water, premium ingredients married with our passion is where this whisky begins.”$75
Bridgeland Innisfail Single Pot Still Whisky – 44.1% – 500ml Bottle – Bridgeland Distillery continues to experiment and expand its whisky portfolio – this time with a nod to the Irish. This Single Pot Still Whiskey is made with a combination of malted and unmalted barley that has been triple-distilled. $67
Bridgeland Taber Corn Berbon Whisky 101 – 50.5% – 500ml Bottle – Made from a mash bill of 60% Taber Corn, 32% Penhold Barley, and 8% Penhold Wheat. This is a great Bourbon alternative for those looking to support local. Matured in new American Oak barrels with a #4 Char. Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Plenty of cherry notes along with banana, apple cinnamon oatmeal, brown sugar, toasty, polished oak, husked ears of corn, and a touch of mint and black pepper. Palate: Strawberry syrup, cherries and cinnamon spice up front along with peaches and cream, apple cider, Twizzlers, and a dash of nutmeg and clove. Finish: The clove, nutmeg and toasty oak notes make you think this might be drying but it remains quite juicy on the fade. Comment: I enjoy the 45% version of the Taber Corn Berbon quite a bit, but the 50.5% ABV makes this bottle even better. It is a great strength that concentrates the aroma and flavour without losing complexity.” $72
Bridgeland Single Blend Whisky 2024 Edition – 44.1% – 500ml Bottle – Bridgeland Distillery has released a custom blended whisky for the past two falls. This 2024 Edition is a marriage of their Rye Whisky, Taber Corn Whisky, and Single Malt whisky. All whisky was distilled, aged, and blended by Bridgeland at their Distillery in Calgary, Alberta. $67
CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR BRIDGELAND DISTILLERY BOTTLES HERE
Wild Life Distillery – Canmore, Alberta
Like many craft distilleries, Wild Life had aims to make whisky from the get-go but knew they would have to make more than just that to survive. The Distillery was founded in 2017 by Matt Widmer and Keith Robinson, who ensure no spirit they produce plays second fiddle. Wild Life creates and bottles a slew of spirits and other products that are crucial for the home bartender, including a fantastic lineup of gins, tonic syrups, and bitters.
Wild Life has already undergone one big upgrade in its life: The original still house and its 500 Litre Alembic Still was replaced in 2023 by a new facility that has more than 6 times the space that also contains a new, larger still.
We are here to talk about whisky though, and even in this endeavour, Wild Life’s range is diverse. The Distillery distills and matures spirit made from wheat, rye, and malt-driven whiskies. Each style typically sees at least one release per year. This is what we currently have on our shelves:
Wild Life Wheat Whisky – 45.3% – This whisky shows a style that I wish we would see more big brand Canadian Whiskies emulate. It is rich and full of flavour, yet still smooth and easy drinking in style. It is incredibly well-crafted, making a great gift for that relative who you really feel needs to move on from the bog-standard Gibson’s or Crown or R&R and try something more exciting. $80
$42 for a 375ml Bottle regular price – on sale for $35.69
Wild Life Rye Whisky – 45.9% – made with 88% Rye and 12% Malted Barley and matured for at least 3.5 years in 53 gallon American White Oak casks. Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Nutmeg, Caramel, Fig Palate: Rye, Toasted American Oak, Spice Finish: Dancing Rye, Leather, Soft Tannin.” $82
Wild Life Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky – 46.1% – Bottled at 46.1%, this Sherry Cask-Finished bottling of Wild Life’s Single Malt Whisky is 4 years old in total. It was first matured in ex-Bourbon barrels before being finished in ex-PX Sherry casks. Producer Tasting Note: Nose: Chocolate Covered Raisins, Chewy Dried Figs, Caramelized Brown Sugar. Palate: Baking Spice, Raisin Bran, Rounded Malty Notes. Finish: Lovely Texture and Length, Fruit Leather, Soft Blend of French and American Oak. $90
CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR WILD LIFE DISTILLERY BOTTLES HERE
