How Fucked-up is the LCBO?

@OdysseusUnbound, angry is only a suggestion, directed at Lot 40 CS Third Edition, not you. It was intended to be an upgrade to your grimace. I am not a fan of this year's release, it may be the French Oak in conflict with the pot still rye, but I'm not buying a full box this year. Babe Ruth hit 714 regular season home runs and struck out 1175 times trying. I too give a tip of the hat to Don Livermore for trying something different.

In my opinion W23 is the real deal. It ticks all the boxes for Canadian whisky. A brilliant blend, top of it's category when comparing apples to apples. What exactly are you referring to when you state "...and an statement that’s not necessarily honest according to Jason Hambrey..."? Not to be harsh, but you are being highly critical for not having tasted/nosed W23.

@paddockjudge Hambrey suggests that the rye component is younger than 23 years old, but that it likely represents less that 1/11th of the total volume, thus making it acceptable to use the 23 year age statement. In and of itself, this isn’t a dealbreaker. I’m willing to try the whisky, no doubt about it, but in my experience a high percentage of double distilled base corn whisky in third or fourth use barrels isn’t something I’m likely to enjoy enough to warrant buying a bottle blind at $150. That’s not an indictment of the whisky itself, nor is it a comment on its quality. That style is not something I crave. That’s all I’m saying, nothing more, nothing less.

I rated Canadian Club 40 Year 88 or 89 points, but I wouldn’t buy a bottle of that either. It’s a well-made whisky, it’s an interesting whisky (which also contains some younger rye, according to some sources) but it’s not something I crave or want to own.

@paddockjudge yes, it is a glorious event, this new wealth of top tier Canadian whisky.

@OdysseusUnbound, those are the rules, 1/11 is acceptable for Canadian whisky....and warmly welcomed. There are many Canadian whiskies I don't like, many, many more than what I do like. Experienced oak is very common in single malt production and BLENDING of first-fill, second etc. and is likely the standard for profile selection.

@paddockjudge But pot distilled malt is pot distilled malt, high proof column distilled corn is high proof column distilled corn. Apples to apples, right? Again, I don’t mean for my comment to sound like an indictment or a harsh criticism. It’s simply been my experience that high proof column distilled corn in experienced barrels doesn’t yield a profile I crave. In the case of Wiser’s 23, I might be wrong. God and my wife know I’ve been wrong before. I’m happy to try a sample when I get the chance.

@talexander, I'm available to pitch in and help you with your burden of newly acquired old bottles.

@OdysseusUnbound Both of is got samples of the Lot 40CS from @fiddich1980. I’m still not sure I want a bottle but by the time I decide it will be sold out. So when I stopped by a KGBO north of the city to pick one up for a friend, I picked one up for me. I will definitely keep the receipt.

The W23 is worth a taste. I don’t think I gave you a sample and I apologize. I will fix that next visit.

@OdysseusUnbound, I have no issue with what you crave, enjoy, or refuse to buy. Don't forget, barley distilled in pot stills needs more than just used oak to transform the distillate into a good quality whisky. It requires the influence of wine charged casks (too bad the 1/11 rule wasn't available to Scottish producers), bourbon soaked first-fill barrels, and a lower entry proof which ultimately drives up production costs. Double distilled corn is not as fussy, a dollop of good quality rye can improve it quickly. DD corn is not a poor quality whisky, only one which you do not enjoy...and tend to criticize.

@paddockjudge If I implied that DD corn is somehow inherently bad whisky, I apologize. It is not my intention. You are correct in your assessment that I don’t enjoy it, just like many people don’t enjoy peated malts, or 100% first fill ex-bourbon matured malts (both of which I tend to enjoy).

My comment was, in my mind, the equivalent of someone saying “I don’t like peated whiskies, ergo I won’t be buying any Laphroaig Cairdeas”

@OdysseusUnbound thanks goodness I like good examples of all of them, Malts, peated and not, sherried and not, bourbon, and Canadian. And the occasional non-Canadian rye.

@Nozinan There are plenty of Canadians I really enjoy. Even some which contain lots of DD corn (and maybe some younger rye), like the Wiser’s Seasoned Oak, which grew on me over time. So there have been exceptions, but that one involved virgin oak. Most of the Canadians I enjoy tend to be high rye or all rye, and usually involve virgin oak or first fill ex-bourbon.

@OdysseusUnbound, point well made. I'm always open for discussion and not afraid to ask questions...I just usually skip the asking and the afraid part.

I enjoy all styles of whisky, some more than others. It is definitely a mood or a seasonal trend that influences what I put in my glass. Off the top of my head, I currently have thirteen peated whiskies in my cabinet, all of which I enjoy, but peated whisky is not my favourite style. Thirteen is likely more than the number of bottles some peat heads have in their cabinet, in total. I can identify with your lack of enthusiasm for a particular style of brand of whisky. I'm not a big fan of Wild Turkey. I currently own two bottles, Decades 17 YO and Rare Breed. They are interesting, but not in my wheelhouse.

Cheers, to those whiskies that we enjoy!

@paddockjudge my best friend recently castigated me for suggesting all things Wild Turkey. He bought a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 10 Year and a Rare Breed while on business in Atlanta....and he hates both although he says they’re “drinkable” in his egg-nog.

Cheers my friend. I’m always up for some spirited discussion. And for some bad puns.

@OdysseusUnbound Good Baby Jesus Lord!!!

@OdysseusUnbound, HaHah, I could drink those WTs without egg-nog. It may take me a while to get through them, so perhaps they should be long pours.

@talexander It’s my own fault. He’s told me more than once that he doesn’t like the “high test” stuff like I do. He liked Redbreast 12 (40%) more than the Cask Strength, since the CS was too strong..... even with ice

@paddockjudge It may be my most favorite Canadian Whisky ever

@Astroke, I hear you! It is exactly what I’m looking for in a Canadian whisky.

I need to vent. I was in the LCBO today and saw the price of Lagavulin 16 is now 145$. I remember in the not so distant past when it was 124$. Done venting.

For those of you who like Jura the price has been reduced by 15$ until early January

@PeterG7 I blame Nick Offerman

@PeterG7 $104 plus 5% GST at Zyn. I direct you to the title of this thread...

Shameful

@PeterG7 I don’t know what is going on in Canada but Lagavulin 16 is going for $85 US in Pennsylvania.

@Nozinan I saw that on the Zyn sale. Should have grabbed one, but the finance department is getting a little twitchy about my whisky spending lately. 16 bottles between the KWM sale, the Craft Cellars sale and the Zyn sale.

@BlueNote I hear you. Between several orders I have overdone it myself. I'm glad Lag 16 doesn't tempt me.

@BlueNote, I fired “formerly known as the finance department”. Her most recent handle is Secretary of War. I’ve taken over the treasury and declared a surplus. I think if I stay under 500 bottles Détente will rule.

@Nozinan I'm actually liking the 8 YO better.

@paddockjudge Nothing wrong with a bit of creative Cabinet (and cabinet) shuffling.

@BlueNote me too

@BlueNote I've gone pretty far over budget, and my department of finance is totally corrupt. She, I mean they, want me to buy more whisky, not less.....