Canadians similar to Confederation Oak

Amusingly, in that other thread, Forty Creek Confederation Oak is one of the ones suggested as maybe being similar to Gibson's Finest 18 Years Old. :)

In addition to @Astroke saying it might be similar, in @JasonHambrey's review of Gibson's Finest 18 YO, he says that "the rich, complex, and creamy nature of this gives Forty Creek Confederation Oak a partner in crime, in terms of rich complexity and subtlety."

So yeah... maybe try Gibson's Finest 18 YO. :)

Here's @JasonHambrey's review: insearchofelegance.net/blog/2016/…

@Nelom, FC Confed Oak Lot 1867 and 1867B were both special. The more recent batches, up to and including F were all finished in the same barrels as 1867 and B. The two earlier iterations are more likely to 'resemble' G 18 than the other Forty Creeks. The later batches were finished in barrels that were getting 'tired'. The original Lot 1867 spent two years in the new casks...the rest of the batches spent time in used barrels.

Find Danfield's 21 and you will find the G 18 doppelganger...in my opinion, superior to G 18, but I enjoy a touch more oak in my whisky...good clean oak, not the small barrel or open-ended staves like Woodford Double Oak, Maker's 46, or Collingwood 21.

@Nelom I fully intend to try G 18--when and if I can find it. Thanks for the review.

@paddockjudge My one and only bottle of FC CO is lot 1867-F, and while perhaps it did sit in "tired" casks, I still find it wonderful stuff. As I doubt I will ever come across an original batch bottle, I am content with the CO that I have. I would, however, like to find some other Canadians that are as good (and possibly even available to me here in BC).

@Spitfire one day, when you come to toronto, you will be able to tate the original Lot 1867...

@Nozinan, @Spitfire we should do a flight of FC Special Release Limited Edition unicorn juice at one of the Summits. I know @tfahey1298 would be interested in such an exercise. I think the Connosr Team could pull off all eight iterations of unicorn juice...or nine, or ten depending when we do it.

@Nozinan @paddockjudge I do get to TO on the odd occasion, for business. Might not be for another few years, though--and not sure I want to travel that far solely for a whisky tasting.

On the other hand, BC is beautiful almost any time of year... :-)

@Spitfire, We'll get back there, eventually. Texas next year with @newreverie after New Mexico this year with @Benancio.

@Spitfire

I'm with you. The idea of getting on a plane for whisky alone doesn't sit well with me. To be sure I'm happy to mix whisky with another trip (I'll bring stuff back from trips - Vancouver was a recent goldmine) but for us Canucks a flight anywhere plus lodging and entertainment, well, that's essentially a family vacation, and with little kids, I want them on that vacation with me.

But if you're in the province for business, no reason not to mix business with pleasure...

@Nelom, agreed, FC Confed Oak is a lovely whisky, all iterations. There are some similarities between Gibson's 18 and the early batches of FC Confed Oak, most notably the creamy texture, especially Lot1867 as @JasonHambrey points out. I should know, that sample came from my cabinet.

@paddockjudge BTW, There is still a lot of Confederation Oak around these parts. I'm going to have to check my bottle and find out what version I have. I may need to go hunting for an original or at least a B.

@paddockjudge so it turns out mine is from batch 'C'. So the hunt is on.

@paddockjudge Mission accomplished. Picked up an original 1867 today. I also know where an 1867B is too.

@newreverie,

that is an incredible find. Lot 1867 has been sold out for at least four years in its own backyard. You would do well to capture Lot B as well. Some FC fans rank Lot B ahead of the original. I like them both and give the edge to 1867

@paddockjudge The thought occurred to me, but I also picked up 2 bottles of talisker 175th anniversary today. Believe it or not they were bottled in 2005. It is my favorite scotch.

Lot 1867 and 1867-B are incredible whiskies. Terrific find. I have found them, in both non-blind and blind tastings, to be superior. 1867-F is probably my third favorite, having tasted A-F.

I agree with the others, Gibson's 18 and Danfield's 21 are good bets. G-18 can be fairly oaky at times, compared to Confed Oak. I've had one batch of Double Barrel in 2013 which was superb and might have been able to spar with Confed Oak, but the recent batches all taste too young. Though it's a bit different in character, Crown Royal Reserve can be quite good, with a similar body to Confed Oak - though it is creamier and fruitier and not quite as spicy. It's not quite as good - it is still very good and relatively easy to find.

@paddockjudge - we've already done a Forty Creek Limited Editions run! However, if we were ever able to line them up including Private Casks and Small Batch, that would be epic.

@JasonHambrey,

I believe we can source a bottle of FC John's Private cask No.1 to fill in the Forty Creek Roster. We must include tfahey1298 at this session, he gets big enjoyment from FC. Coincidentally, earlier today @Nozinan had expressed an interest in sampling some FC John's PC No.1 from a fresh bottle. Perhaps this fall, after the10th FC Limited edition is released, we might put together a table with 10 chairs and 10 bottles.