Canadian whiskies similar to Gibson's 18 YO?

@Nelom Canadian Club 20 years, cheaper to.

@Astroke Really? Interesting. I may just have to give it a shot. Thanks!

Wiser's 18 yr old

@Nelom, CAVEAT EMPTOR! The bottle of CC @Astroke mentioned may not be the same batch as the one you will purchase. CC 20 YO is notorious for batch variance. 2011 and 2012 were stunners. The 2014 batch was terrible when first opened with off putting sour sherry notes, and remained that way for nearly a year. After ten months the remaining half bottle has improved. I would upgrade my original rank from 63 to 81. Perhaps @Astroke might provide the bottle code or box code. I returned two bottles earlier this year and picked up CR Monarch in exchange.

To answer your original question, Danfield's 21 YO. They are so very much alike that I dare you to tell the difference in a blind taste. I am so very confident that you couldn't do it 4 out of 7 times that I'd buy you a bottle of Danfield's if you could.

@paddockjudge

Where would you buy it?

@Nozinan, Where would I buy it? Where else? Magasin Paddockjudge.

@paddockjudge

Probably the only place you could find it. I have sampled Danfield 21, and as far as Canadians go, I like it.

@paddockjudge the CC20 was the 2014, gone now. Not as good as I had hoped after reading reviews of the 2012 but was ok. Would have said Danfields 21 but have not seen that around for a while. Sitting on 1/4 of a gassed bottle waiting for the next release. Closest one I could think of that was available. Maybe Confederation Oak.

Everone: Thanks for all the discussion regarding CC 20 YO. Most enlightening.

@hawkscotch: Wiser's 18 YO is on the to-buy list already, so I'll find out eventually. Thanks.

@Astroke: You're the second person I've seen mention Confederation Oak as being similar to Gibson's 18 YO, so that's definitely on the list now too. Thanks.

I just picked up a bottle of Pike Creek and while it's by no means an exact match, there's some nice similarities between it and Gibson's 18 Year Old.

The Pike Creek is a bit spicier for sure, but the fruitiness and creaminess that I so love about the Gibson is also there. The finish of the Gibson is longer as well. Overall though, I'm quite pleased with Pike Creek and since it's only $40 I don't mind making it my daily drinker, while the Gibson (at twice the price) will continue to be more of a weekend choice.

That said, my quest of finding a close facsimile to the Gibson is not over, so if anyone has any additional suggestions I'd be all ears.

@Nelom Well if you are anywhere near Stoney Creek, head to Eastgate Mall LCBO , the Gibsons 18 is on clearance there for $54 All this talk about Gibsons 18 and now the LCBO has it on their discontinued list, well I picked up 2. Actually having a glass and this reminds me of Highwood Ninety, but not as good IMO.

@Astroke Yeah, it's that discontinued notice that prompted me looking for similar whiskies.

I'm not near Stoney Creek unfortunately, but it sounds like I'm going to have to make my way over to Bowmanville at some point, as that's the nearest store with Ninety in stock. Unless I can special order at one of my local LCBOs... Hmm, it's worth a try.

@Astroke, At that price I'd buy a case of Gibson's 18 if I were near Stoney Creek. The discontinued flag is likely the precursor for a label change. Will Venerable 18 keep the age statement?...12 YO Gibson's is now Rare.

Never seen Gibson's Finest 18, but I did see a listing for Gibson's Venerable 18--is there a difference?

@Spitfire, There was a label change last year. It is the same juice. Distilled and aged in Valleyfield, QC; however, that aged juice is now bottled at Walkerville and has recently been distilled (aged and bottled) there.

@Spitfire, "Gibson's Finest" is the brand. "Venerable" is the current label for their 18 Year Old bottling, which used to be labelled "rare." Making this slightly more confusing is that their 12 Year Old bottling is labelled "rare" now. They also have a third label, "sterling," which doesn't carry an age statement.

So as it currently stands, their offering is as follows:

Gibson's Finest Venerable 18 Year Old Gibson's Finest Rare 12 Year Old Gibson's Finest Sterling

@paddockjudge, I too had that thought, that perhaps a label change is in the works and that's why it says "discontinued" on the LCBO website. The one thing that makes me wonder whether that's the case, is that Gibson's website only lists the 12 YO and the Sterling, with no sign of the 18 YO at all. I've e-mailed them and inquired about it, but never heard back.

@Nelom, This is top secret shit!...so very much a secret that they don't know what they are doing. Asking too many pointed questions could undermine their launch for the new package.

I'm curious to see if the age statement stays or if Gibson's longest aged whisky will be known as Venerable.

There was a time when Sterling contained some verrrry old whisky in the mix, circ. 1987/88. There was a temporary shortage of Gibson's 12. In an attempt to placate thirsty Gibson's 12 drinkers the Sterling Brand was born. It was so well received that it was kept as a core item. Today's Sterling is likely a six yr-old. The very first batch had whisky much older than 18 years as well as some young juice. I never knew why this was a stunning blend until Davin took the time to explain to me what had actually occurred during the Gibson's shortage of 12 year-old whisky in the late 80's.

Nice to see you managed to capture a bottle of the 18 YO.

Keep buying them!

@paddockjudge I noticed on the Nova Scotia online inventory that they still refer to their stock as Finest Rare 18 with the old bottle picture. I will check into that when I get there this summer, be nice have one of each label unopened, (albeit temporary)

@paddockjudge Not just one. :)

i.imgur.com/3iGZJQs.jpg

@Nelom, I'm liking it!