Canadian Mist Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye

Also, as with the standard Collingwood offering, the packaging is atrocious.

Is this a review of the Collingwood 21yo? scotchblog.ca/scotch_blog/2014/…

If so, thanks for confirming a pass on this one. You know something isn't right with a Canadian whisky when the over-exuberant Mr Canadian whisky himself gives it only 4.5 stars (his average rating is 4.4)! IMO, an average CW in a perfume bottle is not worth $57.

@65glenfarclas, agreement on all points except the last one; $57 is a small price to pay for this fixer-upper. It is a 'must have' bottle, if for no other reason than it can never be duplicated in our lifetime. This is so 'special' that it should eventually achieve cult status. I hosted a tasting last night of 14 expressions and this was the 14th sample; definitely not the last dram of the night, but nobody revisited it.

@paddockjudge, a "fixer-upper" that "nobody revisited"? And you say it is a "small price to pay" for a "must have bottle"? I'm confused.

65glenfarclas, you shouldn't be confused. I was very clear with my explanation. I have included a direct quote below, in its entirety and without paraphrasing. Alternatively, I do not have the same measure of frugality as you when it comes to Canadian whisky purchases; I am willing to buy another at $57.

"It is a 'must have' bottle, if for no other reason than it can never be duplicated in our lifetime. This is so 'special' that it should eventually achieve cult status"

@65glenfarclas, yes that Scotchblog review is the same bottle (Jeff liked it a lot more than I did!) And I know quite a few smart, discerning connosieurs who really enjoy it. Just not me! But it is worth a try, if only - as @paddockjudge says - it is a once-in-a-lifetime whisky. Try a dram from someone else's bottle...

@paddockjudge, the other night you generously provided me with a sample of your Collingwood 21 Year Old rye, from a bottle that had been open for about 8 months. I'm tasting it as we speak, while reading my notes above from over a year ago. While the perfumy (FWP, anyone?) floral notes are still there, they are a little more muted...but alas, my opinion of it is not much different. Very soapy, bitter, too herbal and overall unpleasant. Given the strong nose has mellowed somewhat, I might score this one a 68 or so. Regardless, thank you for providing me with this sample and allowing me to revisit it!

@talexander, It is amazes me that Collingwood 21 YO was selected as Canadian Whisky of the Year at the 2015 Canadian Whisky Awards...it was not unanimous...perhaps there were so many poor quality whiskies sampled that this one actually tasted good.

This whisky should be revisited once a year to remind us how something which has gone so wrong can yet fool so many people.

I cannot get past the maple influence. It does not bring a smile to my face, but it does intrigue me. Was this whisky so far 'gone' that it could not be released at a higher proof?...and maple? It certainly needed some restoration or it would have been released without the maple treatment.

Yo should be pleased that I didn't give you a full bottle!

Funny, I don't get a lot of maple on it. Now that you mention it, I do get a hint of it, but not a lot.

This one is definitely a bloody enigma!

It is a whisky, wrapped in French Whore Perfume, inside an enigma.

Perhaps it is a Russian Maple influence, in the Churchillian style.

The smell and taste of boiled cabbage were what predominated for me with Collingwood 21 yo Rye. An interesting experience...and a cautionary tale. MMMMM...mmmm...rye whisky which smells like boiled cabbage.

I'd rather smell boiled cabbage, cuz then I can eat it.

This would pair well with kielbasa!

I would rather not smell boiled cabbage. It probably ranks just above cooking gefilte fish...

Now steamed cabbage with butter, salt and some bacon lardons... That I could get interested in...