CANADIAN WHISKY NEWS

Speaker Favours Scottish Producers Over Canadian

Geoff Regan, Speaker of the House of Commons and MP for Halifax West

There are so many exciting happenings to report about Canadian whisky (e.g. see Gibson’s below), that it is hard to keep up. However, it seems our political leaders still suffer from the classic Canadian inferiority complex. If it is made in Canada, no matter how good it is, it is not as good as the same thing made anywhere else.

Today, Sun News reported that Speaker, Geoff Regan has selected a new official Scotch for Canada’s House of Commons. Yes, once again a foreign whisky is Canada’s official whisky. It will be poured and presented as a gift at all kinds of official events funded using Canadian tax dollars.

This will happen despite the reality that Canadian whisky makers generate $5.8 billion in GDP annually; that Canadian whisky outsells Bourbon, Irish whisky AND Scotch combined, in North America; and that right around the world knowledgeable whisky connoisseurs are turning more and more frequently to Canadian whisky. Canadian whisky is poised to be the “next big thing” in whisky everywhere but in Canada’s own House of Commons.

Most whisky aficionados enjoy a good single malt Scotch. Mr. Regan has selected Aberlour 12 year old and he’ll get no quibbles over that. It is very tasty. However, true whisky aficionados know that while Scotch is a safe introduction to whisky there are so many other equally great whiskies available these days. Some of these are made here in Canada.

For the $75 that the Speaker’s whisky costs, he could have had three bottles of Canadian Club 100% Rye or two of Forty Creek Barrel Select.

Gibson’s Venerable 18 year old, Gooderham & Worts, Wiser’s Legacy, Crown Royal Reserve, Pike Creek (which many mistake for Scotch), Lot No. 40, Collingwood, Alberta Premium Dark Horse or any of the winners of the Canadian Whisky Awards are all available in that price range, most of them well below it. And all are equally enjoyable, and worthy ambassadors for Canadian producers.

Even if Mr. Regan and his parliamentary colleagues who helped select Canada’s official whisky are stuck in the era of Scotch-is-best, they did not have to look abroad to find worthy drams for their celebrations and gift giving.

In Whitehorse, for example, Yukon Distillery produces superb single malt whisky that is very much in the Scotch single malt vein. British Columbia’s, Pemberton Distillery is drawing accolades for its single malt whisky, as is BC’s Shelter Point Distillery (reviewed below.)

Toronto’s Still Waters Distillery makes single malt whisky that competes nose-to-nose with Scotch on flavour and price (and their rye is spectacular.) Still Waters was recently voted one of the three best micro-distilleries IN THE WORLD by an independent panel of whisky experts, heavily weighted with Scottish judges. And it is pretty difficult to get more Scottish than Glenora distillery right there in Mr. Regan’s home province of Nova Scotia.

However, today it is Canadian whisky in the traditional style that is winning awards and gaining new converts here at home and right around the world.

Mr. Regan, you’ve bought your whisky, had special labels printed, and have begun distributing it. Canadians are patient and forgiving people, so go ahead and use what you have on hand. But please, when those bottles are gone have a look at some of the great whiskies made right here in Canada. The whisky world is changing and Canada’s producers are leading the charge. Help Canada’s whisky makers turn that $5.8 billion GDP into $8, $10 or $12 billion.

Slainte, Mr. Speaker, Canadian slainte!

Note: By press time, Mr. Regan’s office had not returned a call asking for comment on why he had selected Scotch, rather than Canadian whisky, as Canada’s official parliamentary whisky.

Gibson’s Finest Bold 8 Year Old 46%

Canadian whisky lovers who have waited patiently for a new Gibson’s whisky are about to be amply rewarded. Gibson’s Finest Bold is exactly what the name implies. A rich nose redolent of rum, kola beans, vanilla, and sweet rye, ably predicts the robust palate. It is just loaded with similar notes along with a hot pleasing spiciness and the classic grapefruit pith finish.  Bottled at 46% abv, this 8 year old is just lovely whisky, sure to be another winner from Gibson’s. And since summer is upon us try it too with cola or long over ice. Available in Alberta, BC and Ontario for now. Get some.

Shelter Point Artisanal Single Malt 46%

Patrick Evans grows barley on his farm near Campbell River B.C. Then, Scottish Distiller, Mike Nicolson – ex-Diageo – turns it into single malt whisky in two copper pot stills that Evans brought in from Scotland. Complex, beautifully balanced whisky, it smells of cereal, dry grass, and Werther’s caramels. On the palate it is rich and mature with more cereal and just a smidgen of red licorice. Evans planned to release this whisky last summer. However, it was not quite ready when he and Nicolson tasted it, so they chose to give it another year and we are glad they did. Another world-class single malt made right here in Canada.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert published May 2012 and May 2014 by McClelland & Stewart, an imprint of Penguin Random House, Toronto, Ontario, Canada