Wizards of Whisky winners: Canada

I have to admit to something of a whisky blackspot when it comes to Canada - or at least I did before this year.

In my early books I skirted round a whisky nation for which I had little real love. For my two books published this year, 1001 Whiskies To Try Before You Die and The Whisky Opus, I employed Canada's top whisky writer David De Kergommeaux because I felt Canada deserved better coverage than I could offer.

And then something strange happened. Through Davin's writing I started to get a feeling for Canadian whisky. Canada itself started to come out of its shell and new and interesting whiskies started to appear, and earlier this year I attended the great whisky show in Toronto, where I was very impressed with the organisation of the event and the interest of the enthusiasts who attended.

And during that trip I went to Kittling Ridge with Davin and spent a great day with wonderful whisky maker John Hall, the man behind the Forty Creek range of whiskies.

The Canadian Wizard Whisky category was a one horse race and Kittling Ridge has swept the board. But it's not surprising because the whiskies are not only fine advocates for their country, but show diversity and creativity in their creation.

Here, then, are the results.