Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve

The Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve, by Kittling Ridge from Grimsby near Lake Ontario, matured on new Canadian oak that was heavily charred. The Canadian oak, according to owner John K. Hall, contains a larger quantity of vanillins because of the colder winters.

The nose is not quite as sweet as anticipated. It is even somewhat meaty from smoked ham and tart as lime juice. Then some tobacco, vanilla and caramel, but rather soft. Very malty and not as hot as you would expect from a rye whisky. A lot of buttercups and hints of a drying fire. Dry.

It is mouth coating, but not creamy. The sweetness of the vanilla soon turns sourish like gooseberries. Quite some pepper. Breakfast cereals. Lightly smoke from the oak. Wood shavings. Barbecue Sauce! You know, the kind you use to cover your ribs in before putting them on the grill. This is pretty good.

The finish is medium long, light on the spices and drying from the casks.

This Forty Creek is the other way around. The nose is okayish, but the palate is very good. It even wond the Canadian Whisky of the Year Award in 2010 and 2012. With thanks to my Canadian friend Jean-Francois for the sample.