Malt Messenger Bulletin April 2, 2025 – Announcing a New KWM Exclusive Canadian “Berbon”
We are launching our 2nd ever KWM exclusive cask from Bridgeland Distillery today, and the timing is no coincidence, as it is a cask of Canadian Bourbon – Taber Corn Berbon, to be specific!
Though Tariff Day, what the orange idiot is calling “Liberation Day,” is here, we still don’t know what it will mean. Even if Canada gets off lightly, our relationship with our southern neighbours will never be the same. Canadians are rightly upset, and we’ve seen it played out in sales at KWM. Understandably, our American wine and especially Bourbon sales have all but ground to a halt.
Like Scotch, Bourbon is more than just a word. It is a legally protected term referring to a specific style of American whiskey, which can only be made in the United States. But like Scotch, there is nothing preventing distilleries in other countries from making Bourbon-style whisky…
Canadian whisky has never been more exciting than it is today, and that is especially true of the craft whisky scene here in Alberta. Canadians and Albertans have a lot to be proud of. Well before the threat of tariffs, we’ve been doing what we can to help raise the profile of this burgeoning industry.
Like other Canadians, we’ve gotten our “elbows up” in recent months, but talk, as they say, is cheap. So we’ve decided to put our money where out mouth is…
A couple of months back, we started talking with our friends at Bridgeland Distillery about the prospect of collaborating on another exclusive whisky. Evan and Harmony paid them a visit a few weeks back and returned with a sample from Bridgeland’s oldest cask of their Taber Corn Berbon.
If you have been patriotically holding off on purchasing a bottle of Barrel Proof American Bourbon, we have good news for you… You can have your Berbon and drink it, too!
Happy Canadian Berbon Day… I’ll let Evan take things from here.
Sincerely,
Andrew Ferguson
Introducing: Bridgeland Taber Corn Berbon KWM Cask
Evan here.
There are currently many people seeking alternatives to American Whiskey and Bourbon to taste and purchase. Not surprisingly, this is mostly thanks to tariff disputes with our neighbors to the south. Or, perhaps it has more to do with their current leader’s policy, which seems to consist of threatening the economy and sovereignty of other nations and intentionally pissing off their most steadfast allies. Regardless of the reasoning behind such acts, it has become a tough pill to swallow for many.
I am a Bourbon lover myself, nearly to the degree I love Scotch Whisky. I originally slotted into that role for two reasons: Andrew didn’t like Bourbon much, and my predecessor Hunter did. In my time working with Hunter, there were many hours spent with him passionately extolling the virtues of Bourbon and American Whiskey. I would half-listen while attempting to get work done, but I must have absorbed some of what he said – or at least his passion for it. A trip to Kentucky with Andrew in 2017 helped solidify my love for this style of whiskey and the people who make it.
That love has been challenged over the past few months, sadly. Luckily, there are plenty of Made In Canada alternatives to be had from craft distilleries here in Alberta and in other provinces as well.
Bourbon/Berbon – What’s in a Name
Bourbon is a style of American Whiskey that has laws and regulations both backing how it is made, aged, and bottled. The name Bourbon is also protected by trade agreements with many other countries; where it is recognized as a unique product exclusively produced in the United States. This is similar to rules on Champagne, Port, Scotch or Irish Whiskey, etc.
The rules for making Bourbon Whiskey – in a nutshell:
· Corn must be the primary grain used to make the whisky. Other grains can be used as well, but Corn has to account for at least 51% of the mash bill.
· The resulting whiskey must be matured in charred casks made from new oak staves. Refill casks, or casks that once held wine or spirit prior are not allowed (this becomes a grey are where cask finishing is involved, but I digress).
· Blah blah must be produced in the United blah blah blah, etc.
While Canadian distilleries cannot produce whisky and label it explicitly as Bourbon (especially if they want to, they can defiantly definitely pay homage to it. And many do, sticking to using corn as the primary grain and charred new oak casks for maturation as well.
I have seen and tasted quite a few Bourbon-style whiskies from other Canadian distilleries. One of my favourites has been Bridgeland Distillery’s Taber Corn Berbon 101.
The Significance of Taber Corn
Taber, Alberta is known as the “Corn Capital of Canada”. The area around Taber has a climate that seems almost purpose-built for growing the crop, and it is well-known for it. Bridgeland Distillery’s Taber Corn Berbon – like all of their whisky releases – are more evidence that Canada and Alberta grow some of the best grains in the world.
The folks at Bridgeland invited Harmony and I over to their distillery a few weeks ago, to try something. As is often the case, we ended up trying many ‘somethings’ in our time there. Daniel, Jacques, and the rest of the Bridgeland crew have some fantastic spirit aging away, and have quite a few plans for future releases.
What struck Harmony and I most from our tasting session was the liquid in this bottle. We did not have any plans on selecting a cask when we headed over, but after tasting this, we had to have it. Luckily, Andrew agreed, and then the notion of adding “NO COLOURING, NON CHILL-FILTERED AND NO TARIFFS” to the back label just added to our excitement for it.
We have teamed up with our friends at Bridgeland Distillery to bottle our first-ever Canadian “Bourbon Style” whisky. At five years old, it is the oldest bottling of Bridgeland’s Taber Corn Berbon so far, and at barrel proof, 62.5%.
Bridgeland Taber Corn Berbon KWM Cask – 62.5% – At Least 51% Taber Corn plus Wheat and Malted Barley – 5 Years Old – Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Full of brown sugar, sliced peaches, cherry juice, baked apples, cinnamon and cedar planks along with corn husk, whole-grain toast, Red Rose tea, and candied ginger. Palate: Big and rich, with plenty of heat upon first sip. Silky smooth on the tongue even with the spice and warmth, though. Big Red cinnamon chewing gum, honey roasted almonds, sponge toffee and Crunchie Bar, a touch of nutmeg and clove, and plenty of juicy fruit notes such as cherries, peaches, pears, some ripe banana, and a dash of apple cider. Finish: Warming and smooth with a dash of drying wood spice and chocolate coated hazelnut coming in on the finale. Comment: This is as Bourbon (or Berbon) as it gets, and that isn’t just an ‘Elbows Up’ comment. Personally, I would put this up against Makers Mark Cask Strength, Bulleit Barrel Proof, and other high strength Bourbons and I think it would show very well. If this is how good a five-year-old barrel pick can be, I am excited to try older versions Bridgeland’s Taber Corn Berbon in the future!” – $96 (500ml)
