ralfy review 1071 – Isle Of Harris ‘Hearach’ @46%vol:

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

Our March 2025 Auction ENDS TONIGHT!

Place your bids  until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 23rd March 2025.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Macallan – 40 Year Old (1979 Fine and Rare)

Cadenhead’s – Cask Strength Collection (6 x 70cl)

Karuizawa – 35 Year Old Emerald Geisha (Cask #8518)

Lagavulin – 37 Year Old (1976)

Highland Park – 40 Year Old (1958)

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

COUNTDOWN COLLECTION 2025 RELEASE INFORMATION

The Countdown Collection is a celebration of the endurance, adaptability and unwavering commitment to producing whisky of the highest quality using traditional methods. The whiskies in this five part series are a tribute to the generations who have contributed to the success of Springbank under the steadfast leadership of J. & A. Mitchell.

The Countdown Collection series will feature one special bottling released each year from the distillery in the lead up to our landmark anniversary. Each edition will be limited to just 500 bottles available via ballot to Springbank followers around the world.

These whiskies are just one part of what will be a wider celebration of this huge achievement for the distillery which has remained independent throughout its 200 year history.

A variety of special events, experiences and prizes will be on offer in the lead up to and during our 200th Anniversary Year in 2028 so there is lots to look forward to and share with all those who have supported and taken interest in the distillery, or simply enjoyed drinking the whiskies made here over the years.

We hope you will join us on this exciting and inclusive journey, counting down the years to this momentous milestone.

JOIN US FOR A LIVE DISCUSSION

We will be hosting a live tasting at 7pm (GMT) on Monday 24th March to discuss the upcoming release and ballot. Streaming live on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.

NOSE

The third release in our Countdown Collection series opens with notes of red apple, peach and raspberry, with a touch of dunnage and a caramel note developing over time.

PALATE

Creamy on the palate with a subtle oaky element, there are notes of lemon rind, kiwi fruit, clotted cream and leather.

FINISH

The finish is sweet with notes of soft fudge and tea leaf.

MARCH 2025 AUCTION ENDING SOON!

Just in case you overlooked them, here is a little look at a few little gems in this month’s auction. Check them out before it’s too late! Starting with this Oban 19 Year Old 1995 Manager’s Dram. Annually released from a single distillery in that portfolio, the Distillery Manager is tasked to choose the finest casks from that distillery to produce this yearly malt which is then bottled at Cask strength in limited numbers. This is a cracking example.

Or how about this rare commemorative expression, released in 1997 to mark the 199th anniversary of Aultmore Distillery, listing the staff that worked at the distillery at the time of its centenary. This is bottle number 27.

Dalbeallie Dram was bottled in honour of the local train station situated beside the distillery nestling in near proximity to the River Spey. The train station actually played and important part in the history of the much loved Speyside distillery with the trains carrying consignments of Spanish Sherry Casks to the distillery. Released in 2018 during the annual Spirit of Speyside Festival, Dalbeallie Dram was received with great acclaim amongst the whisky fraternity. Completely matured in Sherry Casks and bottled at Cask strength, only 1,000 bottles were produced!

Or how about this stylish bottle of Rosebank, distilled in 1981 and then bottled at Cask strength in 1997. Bottle number 603.

These are only a few of the old, limited and collectable bottles featured in our March 2025 Auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 23^rd March from 8pm GMT.

Russell’s Reserve “HIKO-A-MON” K&L Exclusive (Warehouse TY-F, Level 4) Single Barrel #24-0443 Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $74.99 View

Russell’s Reserve “Shooter’s” K&L Exclusive (Warehouse TY-G, Level 4) Single Barrel #24-0946 Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $74.99 View

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

NEW IN AND EXCLUSIVE:
GREEN SPOT 10

Green Spot is a renowned single pot still Irish whiskey named after the practice of Mitchell & Son, who marked aging casks with coloured paint spots. A green spot indicated a 10-year maturation. This now famous style of malted and unmalted barley, has garnered acclaim for its quality, which is why we’re delighted to have released this outstanding exclusive. It offers a perfect balance of fruity whiskey and creamy, spicy bourbon cask influence. Expect juicy tangerine, pear, and apple pie notes, with fragrant clove and cinnamon. A splash of water reveals more citrus oils, vanilla, and the signature pot still spiciness. Get it while you can.

SHOP NOW

Scarabus Sherry Cask Edition

Inspired by an alchemy of craft and cask, time, sea and air. A whisky for those with a curious mind and an eye for detail. Bold and honest about its Islay origins and just a little mysterious about everything else.

Lochlea releases its smokiest whisky yet with final

seasonal release:

Ploughing Edition (Third Crop)

Lochlea Distillery in Ayrshire is releasing its last ever seasonal limited-edition release; the third and final Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) – a culmination of the three-year series concluding this year by the award-winning distillery. 

This final release of Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) is released during winter on the farm when the fields are ploughed in preparation for spring’s sowing season in the months ahead. It showcases the distillery’s signature fruit and cereal-forward spirit with a peated twist.

Lochlea’s seasonal releases have been much-celebrated amongst the whisky community and beyond around the world since launching with the First Crop series in 2023. The limited-edition range has been instrumental in showing the farm-to-cask distillery’s innovation and creativity, not only within cask maturation but also with spirit style.

Of the four whiskies in the seasonal range, Ploughing Edition is the only spirit with a distinctive smoky profile, achieved through it being matured exclusively in 100% ex-Islay 200 litre casks.

The powerful peated casks coupled with the extra year of ageing from the Second Crop combine to produce the smokiest of Lochlea’s whiskies released to date, with delicious flavours or green apple, toffee and malted biscuits, alongside the mouthwatering smoky taste. 

Lochlea’s Master Blender, Jill Boyd – who joined the distillery team at the end of 2024 – commented: “We are delighted to share our third and final crop of Ploughing Edition – which also marks the end of the seasonal releases range. The range has been very well received over the past three years and has allowed us to tell our story with genuity and passion. “

“As a small farm-to-cask independent distillery growing all of our own barley here on the farm, it’s been imperative for us to talk about the importance of the land, the seasons and the farming calendar and the effect this has on our spirits. The seasonal Releases has showcased just how our spirits can evolve and change, influenced by the time of year and what profile of whisky we are looking to create to bring out the best of that season.”

“We hope whisky lovers have enjoyed joining us on the journey with the seasonal releases and will seek out this final release before it all disappears! We look forward to sharing more exciting innovations in the near future that tells another part of our Lochlea story.”

Lochlea’s seasonal releases are as follows:

• Ploughing Edition: released in winter when the fields are ploughed in preparation for spring.

• Sowing Edition: inspired by spring when the seed is sown for the year’s barley crop.

• Harvest Edition: timed with annual harvest on the farm.

• Fallow Edition: reflects the season of autumn on the farm when the fields are left fallow to rest after a busy harvest.

Availability & pricing:

Like all Lochlea’s whiskies, Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) has no added colouring and is non-chill filtered – it has been bottled at 46% and has an RRP of £51.50. Available from Lochlea stockists from 27^th March 2025 onwards and, like all the other seasonal releases, it is only available whilst stocks last. 

Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) – Tasting notes: 

Nose: Fresh green apple, sweet toffee and comforting notes of signature Lochlea cereal

Palate: More fresh fruit, giving way to wonderful savoury smoke and malted biscuits

Finish: Moreish fresh coastal notes of sea salt and a long lingering hint of peat

ABV: 46%

RRP: £51.50

Lochlea’s core range product:

Lochlea also has a core whisky expression available all year round – Our Barley. This unpeated single malt has been matured in a combination of three different casks: first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques, all of which add depths of flavour to the spirit. Launched in July 2022, Our Barley has received much acclaim as a superb example of a young non-age statement (NAS) Lowlands whisky, made entirely from the distillery’s own home-grown barley.

About Lochlea Distillery:

Lochlea was originally a 222 acre livestock farm before being purchased by Neil and Jen McGeoch in 2006. After much consideration of the future of the farm and a successful trial to grow its own barley in 2015, the couple transformed the land and existing farm buildings into a fully-operational distillery in 2017 and started distilling the following year. The farming side has remained a unique part of Lochlea, with the move into barley production – paving the way for Lochlea to be one of the very few fully grain-to-cask distilleries in Scotland. It also has a rich Scottish heritage with strong links to Robbie Burns, with the bard having worked and lived on the farm a several years.

For a full list of Lochlea stockists, visit: Lochlea Distillery stockists