Exciting new Canadian whiskies coming in September

Such a shame, apparently these vile sample packages are only being sent out for reviews, no retail. All I can think about is how much money they spent on putting together such a nice presentation for reviewers and the missed opportunity to sell them to connoisseurs.

@Mancub, I asked the question about sample packs being made for retail trade and it was not viewed in a positive light...however, it was received with enthusiasm.

@Mancub And how would a whisky blogger get his hands on some of these samples?

@paddockjudge It's a fantastic idea, a great gift or addition to a collection. It gives us the opportunity to sample all of the new bottles before shelling out gobs of money in the dark. I guess that's the point, give them to the "experts" and reviewers and they will tell us which bottles to buy. We mostly purchase based off reviews and recommendations anyway, am I right? Just a shame.

@OdysseusUnbound Reach out to a brand ambassador maybe? I'm not part of the tight nit whisky circle within Toronto that seems to be connected.

Also, I was told that some of the Northern Border Collection could possibly reach the US. No further details were given though.

Here is the website Breaking Bourbon, they have a release calendar for new Whisky releases in the US. Scroll down to the end of October. Lot 40 CS.

www.breakingbourbon.com/release-list.html

@Astroke concerning. I thought it would only be released in Canada

@Nozinan As did I, hopefully this is available online (doubtful) or there are more than enough bottles to go around. (2-3 in my case :)

@Astroke There will not be enough for everyone to have as much as they want, I fear. I don't remember off hand but when they told us the number of bottles that were to be distributed across Canada.... the math just wasn't there...

Looks like there is only going to be about 2000 bottles of each sent across the country according to a response from Don Livermore on this Instagram post.

"about 325 cases of each. 6 bottles per case."

www.instagram.com/p/BY5nVoLnvTu/

@boatracer so 2000 bottles of each spread thin over 10 provinces and 3 territories. Good luck to us all

@Nozinan And since I don't live in Ottawa or Toronto, I might be lit out of shuck....

@OdysseusUnbound If I have access, you'll have access. But I don't guarantee I'll have access.

@Nozinan I doubt it will even get to Beautiful BC.

@BlueNote You got Union 52...

I've been so stoked about this collection of whiskys being released, I have a huge place in my heart for Canadian whisky it's my old flame, I feel there is going to be a riot (well a really polite Canadian riot) over some of these bottles.

It seems that Corby has let it drop that this might become an annual thing, kind of like the BTAC. I think if this is a success it might embolden Dr. Don and team to release some of the more experimental things they have been working on.

There is a great post over on Jason's blog about his visit to Hiram Walker and a blending session led by the good Doctor. He mentions some interesting component whiskys and experimental things insearchofelegance.net/blog/2017/… I hope it's ok for me to post this, I mean I am shamelessly plugging someone else's blog at least

Does anyone have inside scoop on the planned release date? Also quickly besides the ever popular Lot 40 what are people really lusting after and why?

@cricklewood @BlueNote All I know is that Dr. Don said the 2000 (+/-) bottles of each expression would be distributed in every province.

If some comes my way I'll let you know.

@cricklewood, I was on the all-day tour that you mentioned. Two rocket scientists (no shit), a Phd in distilling, and me. Some of the pics are mine. That awesome bottle of Dissertation with the engraving and cool background, that pic was taken at my home the day after the tour.

Release date for Northern Border Rare Collection is at the discretion of the LCBO. There will be a dog and pony show (pop-up shop) in mid-October for 4 weeks in Toronto as well as on-line ordering. That's all I know for Ontario.

The blending session alone was about an hour-and-a-half. We nosed approximately 60 - 70 whisky samples. I blended a Classic Canadian using 30 YO double distilled corn aged in bourbon barrels (68.3% abv) with 11 YO Rye (Lot No 40 at 54.5% abv new wood aged) in a ratio of 3:1 and a few drops of 4 YO barley (61.1%abv) aged in new wood. This was bottled at 50% abv. The result was better than what I had imagined.

An amazing day.

RYE, and a little something I blended in honour of @Pierre's Birthday.

@paddockjudge, that sounds like quite the visit and more fun than what one would experience at many distillery tours. Did you get to take away a sneaky sample of your blend? at one point would you care to share some of your insight on this visit, or just a more detailed report?

I am really hoping this ushers in a new wave of releases for the Canadian market, the big producers have such large stocks of maturing whisky. We've seen that said whisky bottled at a respectable abv and matured in good wood (yes I said good wood ) can bring many accolades from our neighbors south of the border, it's about time they make it more available on home turf as well.

Reviews are starting to trickle out...

Chip Dykstra and Davin DeKergommeaux are not at all in agreement on the 35 YO:

• Chip: therumhowlerblog.com/whisky-reviews/…

• Davin: canadianwhisky.org/reviews/…

Any Connosr members that have tried it care to chime in on which review they agree more with?

@Nelom I try to take Davin's reviews with a grain of salt. He is clearly knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to Canadian whisky, but I can't help but read the bias in his reviews. He gives very generous, and in many cases, exceptional scores to most Canadian whiskies.

I tried it. It's good. it's not my preferred genre. I won't buy it for me but I would buy it for others...